there is hope !!
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Attributes/effects of alcoholAlcohol is a gifted chemical. Depending on how much is consumed, it can act as a food, a drug or a poison. It has positive and negative effects. Physical Effects can be grouped into immediate and long-term: Immediate Effects
Long
Term Effects. Prolonged
use causes massive memory loss, disintegration of vital organs, vocabulary and
language impairment, disintegration of the muscular system, eventual loss of
brain cells, loss of balance and coordination, and a reduced life expectancy. In some instances it can be helpful to the cardiovascular system. Some studies show that those who drink in moderation have an additional two years expectancy. Alcohol
is a neurotoxic agent at lower doses than was previously recognised, and does in
fact destroy brain cells. Even light to moderate drinking may impair such
high-order cognitive processes as abstracting, adaptive ability, concept
formation, and learning ability. Memory suffers, too, and drinking interferes with the brain's ability to process new information and commit it to memory. The following is
from http://www.henryfordhealth.org/13008.cfm
Alcoholism
is one of the major causes of nutritional deficiency in the United States. The
most common deficiencies are of pyridoxine
(vitamin B6), thiamine,
and folic acid. Deficiencies in these nutrients cause anaemia (low blood count)
and neurologic problems. Korsakoff´s syndrome ("wet brain") is caused
by nutrient deficiencies related to absorption problems caused by heavy use of
alcohol, rather than by the drinking itself. Alcohol
intoxication also impairs two major organs involved in metabolism and nutrition:
the liver and the pancreas. The liver detoxifies harmful substances and the
pancreas regulates blood sugar and absorption of fat. Impairment of these two
organs results in an imbalance of fluids, calories, and electrolytes. Other complications include permanent liver damage (or cirrhosis), seizures, diabetes and severe malnutrition. Laboratory tests for protein, iron, and electrolytes may be indicated to determine if there is liver disease in addition to the alcohol problem. Post-menopausal women who are alcoholic are at high risk of osteoporosis and require calcium supplementation. Psychological Under construction.
Excerpts from an article by www.health24.co.za (about June 03) See the complete article at http://www.health24.co.za/centre.asp?subcontenttypeid=49&show=main&conditionID=3624 Pre-menopausal women who drink a glass or two of wine or beer a day could significantly reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes, a new Harvard study claims. Light drinking - a protective effect "There are better preventive measures to lower the risk for type 2 diabetes, like not smoking and increasing physical activity - obesity is the overwhelming risk factor for the disease. But it appears that light to moderate drinking of wine or beer has a protective effect," says study co-author Goya Wannamethee. The results of the study, which was supported by grants from the American National Institutes of Health, appear in the June 9 (2003) issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Creating the wrong impression "Instead, I would rest on other large studies, where we know for certain that increasing physical activity and reducing weight are the best ways of reducing risk for diabetes," Giangola says. No drinking, light drinking and hard liquor The women who drank between one or two glasses of wine daily had a 40 percent reduction in risk for developing type 2 diabetes, compared to those who drank no wine. Those who drank a similar amount of beer had a 30 percent reduction in risk. Drinking the same amount of hard liquor did not bring a similar benefit - only a 20 percent reduction of risk. Further, while those women who reported drinking more than two glasses or wine or beer daily still had a 22 percent reduction in risk for developing type 2 diabetes compared to non-drinkers, those who drank more than two drinks of hard liquor more than doubled their risk for the illness, the researchers found. "The numbers are small, and we cannot say with certainty that the effects of wine are actually different from spirits in having an effect of lowering insulin level or other biological factors relating to diabetes," Wannamethee says. Lifestyle characteristics Another reason for the lesser effects of hard liquor, Wannamethee says, could be that the small number of hard liquor drinkers in the study were quite heavy drinkers and had a much higher total alcohol intake than the heavy beer and wine drinkers. General health On the up-side for those people who enjoy drinking, studies have shown that moderate drinking, especially when the drink is taken with food, combined with good exercise, can relax the mind and body.Last updated 05 January 2006
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