Alcohol Facts

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Via: Canada Drug Center

Now, we discuss about Alcohol Effects. Alcohol and health effects of alcohol on the body can be short term or long term effects. The consumption of alcohol and health related problems can occur over a short time frame, while other conditions and long term effects of alcohol on the body may only happen following years of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol comes into direct contact with the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines as well as being absorbed into the bloodstream. Health problems can begin as headaches, feeling nauseated, sore throat or indigestion. However, if alcohol abuse continues, these and other alcohol and health symptoms can develop into more serious illnesses and diseases.

Here are examples of short term health effects of alcohol on the body:

1. Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Hangovers – excessive alcohol consumption can result in the body trying to protect itself by getting rid of the alcohol and vomiting. Alcohol and health and the central nervous system are related since alcohol affects a person’s sense of balance and orientation, leading to a feeling of nausea and/or dizziness. Hangovers are partly due to the body’s dehydration caused by alcohol consumption, and hangover effects of alcohol on the body may be felt a few hours after consuming alcohol.

2. Adverse Interactions with Medications – alcohol is known to interact negatively with at least 100 medications. For example, antihistamines taken with alcohol can increase the drowsiness that this medication by itself can cause. Large doses of the painkiller acetaminophen taken together when consuming alcohol increases the risk of liver damage.

3. Loss of Muscle Control – slurred speech is one of the effects of alcohol on the body. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are alcohol and health effects that can lead to falls and accidents.

Dealing with drug abuse treatment can be difficult and easy at the same time. The reason is each person has different level and sources of their drug abuse. So, some people will be easy to handle, while the others need longer time to be free from the addiction. Fortunately, there are some treatment programs and approaches currently available to deal with drug abuse patients. For example, there is detoxification, counseling, career development, training, and social life skills encouragement. Usually, the addicted person has to follow counseling and testing to know the level in dependency of the drug. The result determines the most effective treatments to be applied.

However, there are some treatments which are expensive. The ability to pay for the treatment is not the same from one to another. The complete treatment will deal with the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspect. Then, the therapies will be needed to deal with special patients. After several times, the rehabilitation center will inform the patients family about the progress achieved so far. The constant monitoring and assessment will be done be continuously. It is expected that the patients are able to reestablish normal brain functions as the individual and prevent them from craving for alcohol or drugs.