Alcohol is absorbed by blood vessels in the stomach and is carried by the blood throughout the body and brain. Excess and prolonged intake of alcohol can cause irreversible damage to the body and at times can even cause death, though there are no specific numbers that define at what point "excessive" or "prolonged" alcohol intake becomes alcoholism (see Resources below). However, alcohol intake does increase the risk of heart and liver diseases and can also cause peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders and high blood pressure.
Background
Alcohol is formed by fermenting sugar and yeast; its main ingredient is ethanol, which is also used as a solvent in medicines and colognes. Alcohol abuse is one of the main factors responsible for mortality rates across the world. Statistics show that in the United States, around 10 percent of the male population and 3 percent of the female population suffer from alcohol-related health problems (see Resources below).
Types
Excessive and repeated consumption of alcohol can lead to neurological complications similar to those seen in Alzheimer's (alcoholic dementia), and also to cancers of the liver, throat, mouth and stomach. However, alcoholism has even worse effects on the liver.
Examples of the many liver complications that can ensue from alcoholism include fatty liver, which is basically the accumulation of excess fat (consumed through alcohol) in the liver; alcoholic hepatitis, in which the liver becomes swollen and tender (this disease can develop even at an early stage of alcoholism and does not necessarily result from prolonged alcohol consumption); and liver cirrhosis, in which the liver hardens and forms scar tissue and nodules---rough, circular bumps---which can result in liver failure.
Diagnosis
The damage caused by alcoholism cannot be diagnosed through a specific test; rather, a series of tests are conducted to identify its adverse effects on different body organs. Most cases of alcoholism are detected through the presence of liver diseases, having common symptoms such as chronic weight loss and illnesses, bleeding disorders and dark-colored urine. Some of the tests for specifically identifying alcohol-related liver diseases include urine tests, radiography of the abdomen and a blood count to check for anemia and abnormalities of blood cells. At times, an ultrasound and biopsy of the liver are also needed to check the severity of the disease.
Reversing the Effects
When alcohol is metabolized in the body, it leaches nutrients from other vital bodily functions. Therefore, the nutritional loss from even moderate consumption should be balanced by taking vitamin supplements, particularly vitamin B complex (an alcohol-related disease, Korsakoff's syndrome, is caused by a lack of vitamin B1 in the brain). A balanced diet can also help curb the toxic effects of alcohol on the body by speeding up its metabolism and excretion (see Resources below).
Prevention/Solution
The best way to prevent alcohol-related diseases is to stay away from alcohol altogether. Patients entering the initial stages of fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis can recover by giving up alcohol consumption and eating a healthy diet. However, if a patient has entered a critical alcohol-related disease stage in which reversing the disease is no longer an option, the only option is to stop or delay its further progression. This can be accomplished through a balanced and healthy diet, antibiotics and laxatives that can help with some of the complications associated with these diseases. In cases of advanced liver cirrhosis, a liver transplant is the only chance of survival.
Tags: liver diseases, Resources below, alcohol consumption, alcohol intake, alcoholic hepatitis, alcohol-related disease, fatty liver