Olinda Rola asked:


Alcohol abuse effects can be far-reaching and devastating. The effects of alcohol abuse not only have consequences for the drinker but those around her or him as well. Alcohol abuse effects can be both psychological and physical. Alcohol consumption causes changes in behavior. The physical effects of alcohol abuse can be experienced with as little as one or two drinks. Impaired judgment and coordination needed to operate a car safely may result in the drinker having an accident.

Alcoholism is an illness where alcoholic beverage consumption is at a level that interferes with physical or mental health, and negatively impacts social, family or occupational responsibilities. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink excessively at various times with resulting immediate alcohol abuse effects at the time of excess alcohol consumption.

The immediate physical effects of alcohol abuse can be experienced as soon as ten minutes after drinking begins. With continued alcohol consumption on that occasion, the immediate effects of alcohol abuse worsen and become more serious.

Here are five of the immediate physical alcohol abuse effects:

1. Inhibitions Become Reduced - at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05, changes in a person’s behavior begins to be noticable. Alcohol abuse effects and reduced inhibitions can put a person at higher risk for actions they would otherwise not participate in, such as sexual activity, continued drinking or illegal drug use.

2. Loss of Muscle Control - at the level of 0.10, slurred speech will likely be evident. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are physical effects of alcohol abuse that can lead to falls and accidents.

3. Memory Loss and/or Blackouts - since alcohol depresses the brain’s control mechanisms, as blood alcohol levels increase, periods of time and certain situations and events may not be remembered afterward.

4. Stupor - at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40, a person can hardly function, acting seriously dazed and confused.

5. Coma - at a blood alcohol level of 0.50, a person is at risk for coma, which can be life-threatening. And at this level or higher, respiratory paralysis and death become very much a possibility.

Other alcohol abuse effects that are short-term include nausea, hangovers, headaches and fatigue. The longer a person abuses alcohol over time, the higher the chances of other alcohol abuse effects being experienced and alcohol dependency developing. The most severe form of alcoholism is ‘alcohol dependency’. Physical alcohol dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when alcohol consumption is interrupted, by tolerance to the effects of alcohol abuse and by the presence of alcohol-related illnesses.

Malnutrition can develop from a reduced appetite plus inadequate absorption of nutrients in the intestinal tract and from consuming ‘empty’ calories in alcohol. Calories from alcohol are called ‘empty’ calories since alcohol contains no beneficial nutrients, vitamins or minerals.

And with continued alcohol consumption and abuse over years, many of the body organs will be affected. Alcohol is especially harmful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of breaking down alcohol. Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it destroys the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This condition leads to progressive imflammatory injury to the liver and eventually can result in cirrhosis of the liver.

Additional long term alcohol abuse effects include damage to the brain, high blood pressure, heart muscle damage, nerve damage, pancreatitis, bleeding in the esophagus, erectile dysfunction in men, fetal alcohol syndrome in the offspring of alcoholic women, insomnia, depression and increased cancer risks.

If you or someone you know may have problems with alcohol and you’d like to learn more about alcoholism and perhaps seek help, there are proven resources available. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse effects.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing



Colin

Todd Lange asked:


You can find many centers that offer senior alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky. Such treatments are available for the people over 65 years of age. Senior alcohol abuse remedy is never so easy and due to one or the other reason, elderly people suffer from many health problems during alcohol abuse treatment. It is fact that such alcohol treatment in elderly people may bring complication and that is why; health care provider must be ready to answer such complications before beginning the therapy. Alcohol, though common among all and there is no age bar, alcohol abusing treatment for elderly people is difficult as compared to treating a young fellow having same case.

Here are few of the problems that are encountered during senior alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky:-

Strong refusal

Elderly people who are addicted to alcohol would strongly deny the treatment as compared to the younger ones. It is quite obvious to do so since the numbers of years of alcohol consumption are much more than what a younger alcohol addicted would have. The period of alcohol addiction may come in decades as compared to younger ones who might be consuming it since just a few years. Senior people are more addicted to alcohol and they have become stubborn, not so convincible for the treatment.

Intense detoxifying treatment

Due to longer period of alcohol consumption, the accumulation of alcohol in a senior’s body requires thorough cleansing. Though they get convinced for the alcohol abusing treatment, they will have to undergo detoxifying programs. Such intense detoxifying treatment may cause uneasiness and that is why they may deny further treatment. However, thorough cleansing is done for two main purposes; to prevent various health complications that may be due to heavy consumption of alcohol and to make body not to crave for alcohol anymore.

The problem with alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky is the medicines to the patient with alcohol addiction cannot be given randomly. The people in sexagenarian group may have may have many other health ailments and such coexisting health diseases make it difficult to treat alcoholism since they interfere the medication and other treating techniques. Moreover, a senior’s age may not permit many things that are required in alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky, abstinence being one of them. Sudden withdrawal of alcohol could be disastrous and simultaneously, many medicines are contraindicated because of the age of the patient.

It is a fact that old age brings lots of mental stress and depression and that is why, elderly people generally suffer from some mental ailments. Alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky with such mental problem turns to be more difficult. Detoxification in such condition makes situation even worst since such seniors will strongly refuse to stay away from alcohol. They have already an impression that alcohol can soothe their brains and therefore, it is difficult for them to keep their drink away! In fact, they think that it is the alcohol that keeps them so mentally stable all the time!

Post treatment care

For any treatment follow up is must. One has to follow the instruction given by health care provider. Aftercare, especially in alcohol abuse treatment Kentucky, is very essential. When it comes to seniors, it becomes harder. For them, it is quite difficult to restrict the cravings for alcohol as they have been consuming this since years and it has now become integral part of their lives.

They are rigid to believe and to follow any kind of advice given by treatment provider and they think that therapeutic techniques annoy them a lot. They have accepted the fact that alcohol is the only way to survive or else they lose their physical and mental stability. This mindset never let them to look after the follow-ups. Health care providers, for alcohol abuse treatment in Kentucky, found it very difficult to convince senior abusers to strictly follow the instructions that help them quitting alcohol.

However, treatment providers could find some other ways to make the senior abusers convinced. They call it as behavioral therapy and indirect method to keep the treatment on track and also to please the senior abusers!

For this, seniors are rewarded and congratulated who successfully managed keeping away their addictions for a particular period of time. Health care providers believe that such greetings given in alcohol abuse treatment Kentucky help boosting the morale. Another way to make them happy though on treatment was make them engaged in their favorite sports and other constructive hobbies.



Lyle