Tag Archives: alcohol

Alcohol Abuse in the Music Industry

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Alcohol Abuse in The Music Industry

Drug and alcohol abuse in the music industry has long been sort of an accepted part of the culture.  How many famous musicians have overdosed on drugs and alcohol? How many more have waged battles against addiction, checking in and out of rehab so many times we’ve lost count?

The culture not only tolerates substance abuse, it almost demands it. Many people in the music industry worry if they turn their back on the party they will lose what makes their music good or what makes them appealing to their fans.

But the culture of drug and alcohol abuse in the music industry is undergoing a major transition across the entire musical landscape, according to artists, managers and others in the industry.  There is a higher degree of awareness now, and people are starting to recognize that even recreational use can kill you.

I recently spoke to a women who had spent her entire career working for the music industry. She said,

“It used to be so common, 20 years ago, to drink and do drugs on the job. We’d have entire days devoted towards a certain type of alcohol-like beer Wednesdays or vodka Fridays. Every executive had a full bar in the office and drinking was almost a requirement of the job.”

Then, she says, the landscape started to change.

“The constant drinking slowed, started to become taboo. There was still a group of us who did cocaine every day, but we could no longer do it out in the open. We started going to the bathroom together. Everyone knew what we were doing, but we couldn’t do it on our desks anymore. Executives stopped offering us drinks when we walked into the office. Things just changed.”

Kate* is now in a sober living facility after spending 90 days in an inpatient treatment center.

Part of the change may have to do with the economy, Kate says.

“Everyone is worried about the bottom line, and everyone has to be accountable. When the music industry stopped making as much money, everyone started to focus on productivity.”

More artists have also gone public with their addictions, and addiction is recognized for what it is- a disease. Gratuitous alcohol abuse in the music industry is no longer encouraged and rewarded as it once was.  It is now considered cool for artists to take care of themselves and live a healthy lifestyle.

In the mid-1980s, Aerosmith broke down the door that made it okay for big-name artists to go public with their sobriety. In the years since, several other artists have made their sobriety known.

In the 90’s, the Safe Harbor Room-a backstage area that provides a support system to artists and crew members struggling with addiction issues was instituted at the Grammy Awards. Today, Safe Harbor Room program has been extended to South by Southwest, the NAMM convention, Coachella, Ozzfest, the CMA Awards and other events.

Other programs, like Road Recovery, have made it easier for artists to use a drug-free road crew.

Sources:

http://www.today.com/id/5033438/ns/today-entertainment/t/music-industry-coming-grips-addiction/

http://musicians.about.com/od/beingamusician/tp/Five-Tips-For-Coping-With-Addiction-In-The-Music-Industry.htm

http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/opinion/article_561c10dc-5c20-11e1-b7b9-001871e3ce6c.html

 

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcohol and Diabetes

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Alcohol and Diabetes

Alcohol is processed in the body in a very similar way to fat. Alcohol can also provide the body with almost as many calories as fat too. This means that drinking alcohol in anyone with diabetes can cause the blood sugar to rise. If someone who has diabetes chooses to drink alcohol they should really do it occasionally and only when their diabetes and blood sugar levels are under control.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which the person has high blood glucose or high blood sugar. The reason for this is because their body doesn’t produce enough insulin or because the body doesn’t respond correctly to insulin or a mixture of both. People with high blood sugar will usually experience frequent urination, become very thirsty and become very hungry.

What are the effects of alcohol on diabetes?

Normally, the liver releases glucose to maintain blood sugar levels. But when someone drinks alcohol, the liver is busy breaking the alcohol down, so it does a poor job of releasing glucose into the bloodstream. This can lead to a drop in blood sugar levels if someone is drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. Each alcoholic beverage takes about 1-1 ½ hours to finish processing in the liver. For that entire time, the risk of low blood sugar exists. So, if someone has 2 drinks, they double that time to 2 to 3 hours that they are at risk for low blood sugar. The more alcohol consumed, the bigger the risk for serious low blood sugar.

Alcohol affects diabetes in many ways; here are a few of them:

  • Drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol can cause the blood sugar to rise and excess alcohol can actually decrease the blood sugar level causing it to drop into dangerous levels.
  • Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates that can raise blood sugar
  • Alcohol stimulates the appetite which can cause overeating and can affect blood sugar control
  • Alcohol interferes with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin
  • Alcohol can increase triglyceride levels
  • Alcohol can increase blood pressure
  • Alcohol can cause flushing, increased heart rate and slurred speech

Alcohol can also affect other medical conditions someone with diabetes may have, like diabetic nerve damage, diabetic eye disease, and high blood triglycerides.

All of these effects don’t mean that someone with diabetes cannot drink alcohol. Diabetics who take medication to control their blood sugar levels can first ask their doctor about drinking alcohol. For those that do drink limiting the amount they drink is the key; one drink for women and two drinks for men. Even two ounces of alcohol can affect the liver’s ability to produce glucose.

Alcohol and diabetes really don’t go hand in hand. Diabetes is the inability to process a substance almost exactly like alcohol. Luckily drinking can be moderate and diabetes can be managed as long as the person who is diabetic is knowledgeable, careful and aware. The safest bet when it comes to alcohol and diabetes though is for a person not to drink.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

The Anatomy Of A Hangover

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Anatomy of a hangover

Most people who drink alcohol experience a hangover at least once during the course of their drinking. A hangover is a series of biological changes in the body. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, excessive fatigue and extreme thirst and dehydration.

The anatomy of a hangover: What causes a hangover?

Hangovers are not entirely understood. The symptoms are due to a combination of dehydration, electrolyte and hormonal imbalances, low blood sugar, and direct toxic effects.

The anatomy of a hangover: Dehydration and electrolyte/hormonal imbalance

Dehydration is caused by alcohol’s effect in the brain. It decreases a hormone called vasopressin. This is known as the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) because when it is released in the blood stream, it prevents your body from excreting water in your urine. When it is suppressed from drinking alcohol, your body loses more water in urine. The effect is so strong that for every pint of beer you drink, you can lose up to four pints of water. This causes dry mouth and headache.

With all that water, you also lose electrolytes. When water is lost in the urine, sodium, potassium, and magnesium go with it. Loss of these vital electrolytes can cause feelings of nausea and fatigue.

The anatomy of a hangover: Toxins

The direct toxic effects have to do with the way alcohol is processed in the liver. Alcohol is broken down in the liver first to acetaldehyde, then to harmless acetic acid. Your body requires another chemical, glutathione, to break down acetaldehyde into acetic acid and clear it from your body.  The problem is that when you drink a LOT of alcohol, you run out of glutathione and are stuck with the toxic acetaldehyde in your system while your liver makes more glutathione Acetaldehyde is the main chemical that is responsible for the symptoms of a hangover. It is more toxic to the body than the alcohol itself.

Toxins can also come from the alcohol itself. Congeners are alcohol derivatives that form as a byproduct of the fermentation process that is used to make alcohol. Congeners of alcohol are toxic to the body. They are found in higher concentrations in darker alcohols such as red wine, whiskey, bourbon and brandy.

The anatomy of a hangover: Who gets hangovers?

Every person reacts differently to alcohol. Some people can have one glass of wine and feel terrible in the morning. Other people can drink all night without feeling the effects.  Age, genetics, medications, diet, immune systems, weight and gender all can come into play when it comes to a hangover.

The anatomy of a hangover: How to avoid it

The only foolproof way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol. However, if you’re going to drink, slow down the pace at which your drinking, so your body has time to process it. Also, drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage that you have. Drinking on a full stomach is another good way to stave off a hangover.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/anatomy-hangover/story?id=12509637&page=2

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Why is alcoholism a chronic disease?

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Why is alcoholism a chronic disease?

Alcoholism is not only a chronic disease it is also progressive and in some instances fatal.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is the physical dependence on any mind or mood altering substance and the continued use regardless of consequences. Alcoholism is not a moral deficiency but rather a disease of the mind, body and spirit. Most people who become alcoholic cannot stop using drugs or drinking simply because they want to or “will” themselves to. Most people who suffer from addiction or alcoholism must seek outside help or an outside solution to help them get sober and then remain sober as they journey into recovery.

Like diabetes and cancer, alcoholism is a primary disease. This means that it is not a symptom of another disease, nor is it a personality flaw, moral weakness, mental illness, or lack of willpower. Alcoholism is not the result of drinking too much. Rather, the body of an alcoholic responds quite differently to the ingestion of alcohol than does the body of a non-alcoholic.

How is alcoholism progressive?

There is no cure for alcoholism, but there is treatment. Since alcoholism is a progressive disease, it always gets worse without treatment – it never gets better. Alcoholism causes biological, psychological, social and spiritual problems, and as the disease progresses, the person’s ability to function declines. All of the body is affected. Personality changes are the result from brain impairments to the person’s thinking and functioning. They think, feel, and behave differently than before, yet regard the way they are acting as normal. Social or relationship problems begin to happen in the family, the community, and at work. The alcoholic may handle the loss of his or her spouse and family due to chemical dependency, and withdraw from social contacts which do not involve drinking.

Why is alcoholism a chronic disease?

A non-chronic disease has a relatively quick onset, and the affected person is very aware of its sudden presence. But alcoholism is a chronic disease, meaning that it develops gradually over a period of time – sometimes measured in years. This helps to understand why there may be a long period of time between being well and acknowledging the presence of the disease. Problems or symptoms are present, but they are typically attributed to some cause other than chemical dependence, for instance, a bad marriage, working too hard, “unfair” supervisors, etc. People with alcoholism and family members deny that they have this disease for a long time. It is important to realize that such denial is not the same as lying. Rather, it is a matter of being convinced that problems or symptoms are due to something (anything) other than alcoholism. Denial of the disease is part of the chronic disease process, and breaking through that wall of denial is an extremely difficult process.

So why is alcoholism a chronic disease?

Because it gradually persists without any acknowledgement from the alcoholic that they have it. Alcoholism is not a moral failing but a disease that is in the worst way possible very fatal as well as chronic and progressive.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Kratom and Alcohol

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Kratom & Alcohol

Kratom and Alcohol

Kratom is fairly new to the drug scene. The latest in a line of “legal” drugs to hit US markets, Kratom is quickly becoming a problem in some parts of the country. Kratom is synthesized from an opiate-like leaf of a tree grown Southwest Asia, and its sale is legal in the United States. Its effects are similar to heroin and prescription painkillers like oxycodone and it can be more dangerous than illicit drugs. Naturally, combining Kratom and alcohol can be dangerous. When combined, this mixture has an effect that is greater than either drug on its own.

Kratom and Alcohol: CNS Depressants

Both Kratom and alcohol are classified as central nervous system depressants. Central nervous system depressants slow down the normal activity that goes on in the brain. Combining multiple depressants is dangerous because when they are combined, the depressive properties of Kratom and alcohol increase exponentially. This can easily lead to overdose and death.

Both alcohol and Kratom significantly slow the brain and motor functions of the body, which can also knock a person out. Alcohol increases the absorption of Kratom, making the high happen faster and longer, which is why they are often mixed. Users hope to experience a stronger high.

Drinking while on Kratom slows your heart rate and your breathing. Taking Kratom and alcohol together can slow the system to the point that your heart stops. In addition to alcohol increasing the depressant effects of Kratom in the body, the opposite is true also. Kratom makes alcohol stronger and more dangerous. Kratom increases the absorption rate of alcohol in the body and makes the sedative qualities of alcohol more potent.

Kratom and Alcohol: Effects

Mixing Kratom and alcohol can have a number of different effects. These include things like:

  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • slowed breathing
  • slowed heart rate
  • significantly impaired motor skills
  • tremors

Kratom and Alcohol: Overdose

Kratom is part of a class of drugs known as opiates. 98% of reported opiate overdoses have included the co-use of alcohol and/or other central nervous system depressants. Because of the volatility of the combination of Kratom and alcohol, can stop your breathing, your heart, or cause alcohol poisoning. Any one of these situations can kill you.

Kratom and Alcohol: Dependence

Both Kratom and alcohol are drugs of abuse. They produce euphoria by increasing the dopamine production in the brain. Because of the potent effect of combining Kratom and alcohol, the use of both together increases the rate of tolerance. Tolerance is when your body gets used to a drug and you need more and more to produce the same result. When the body becomes tolerant to Kratom and alcohol and then use is stopped, the body experiences symptoms of withdrawal. The symptoms of withdrawal of Kratom and alcohol together are more extreme than withdrawal from either substance alone. In some cases, it can even be life threatening. People have been known to have seizures and delirium tremens (DT’s) when withdrawing from Kratom and alcohol. DT’s are characterized by rapid heartbeat, fever, and confusion, and, in a certain number of cases, result in death.

Source:

http://alcohol.addictionblog.org/mixing-opiates-and-alcohol/

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Obesity and Alcoholism

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Obesity and Alcoholism

It is fairly well known that indulging in copious amounts of alcohol can lead to a number of health problems physically and mentally. Alcohol can act as a toxin on the body and destroy most of the organs in the human body. Most people don’t think about the fact that alcoholism can lead to obesity too and obesity leads to even more health problems for someone with a drinking problem.

What is obesity?

Obesity is used to describe someone who has accumulated enough body fat for it to become a problem to their health. People who have a body mass index or BMI of more than 30 would be considered obese. It is important to remember that being overweight and obesity are different. To be overweight means that a person is just heavier than expected which could be due to extra muscle; when someone is obese it means they specifically have too much body fat.

What are the dangers of being obese?

  • Obesity is preventable and yet it still causes many deaths today. The dangers of obesity include:
  • Obesity puts pressure on the skeleton and can lead to chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
  • Individuals who are obese are more likely to have heart problems.
  • Obesity increases the chances of developing type two diabetes.
  • Obesity can cause many people to suffer from sleep apnea.
  • Obesity can cause people to become more likely to develop certain cancers such as breast and colon cancer.

So what obesity and alcoholism?

Alcoholic beverages are usually filled with tons of calories that carry no nutritional value to a person’s body. If someone is consuming a few drinks per week on top of what they are normally eating it can quickly cause them to become overweight and then obese. Another problem with drinking is that the calories in alcoholic beverages don’t help with hunger in fact they can make you more hungry, so a lot of the times someone who has been drinking will then eat a large meal adding on even more calories. Also someone who drinks more than normal doesn’t engage in as many healthy activities while doing so which can lead to obesity.

Obesity and alcoholism

Alcoholism can easily lead to obesity. Someone suffering from alcoholism could consume an extra 1000 to 3000 calories per day on top of their diet. Not only that, but someone with alcoholism is not exactly engaged in physical activity very often. People with alcoholism quite frequently suffer from malnutrition also. This is because they are getting plenty of calories through their drinks but they aren’t getting the right nutrients their body needs to stay healthy. Obesity and alcoholism perpetuate a negative cycle of more drinking. Obesity is used to justify alcoholism and those who are obese usually suffer from low self-esteem which can lead to symptoms of depression, causing someone who is an alcoholic to want to drink more due to the comfort it provides. This comfort is short lived because it just adds on the misery.

Obesity and alcoholism can continue to fuel a negative cycle of negative behaviors or they can be used to change a person’s lifestyle. Both alcoholism and obesity can be treated. No one has to continue to suffer the mental, physical and emotional consequences of obesity and alcoholism.

Source: http://alcoholism.about.com/od/health/a/blniaaa050222.htm

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcoholism and Insomnia

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Alcoholism and Insomnia

Alcoholism and Insomnia are tightly linked. Insomnia can happen with regular alcohol abuse and also when you are withdrawing from alcohol. It seems counterintuitive, since drinking alcohol can cause you to feel sleepy, but alcohol abuse can seriously disrupt your sleep patterns. It can cause dehydration and act as a stimulant as well, preventing you from getting healthy sleep. While alcohol can help you fall asleep initially, many people find that it disrupts the second part of sleep. Alcohol is actually said to be worse for your sleep quality than caffeine.

Alcoholism and insomnia is prevalent even when the alcoholic is in recovery. Alcoholics with both short term and long term abstinence can experience sleep problems for many months after they stop drinking. When an alcoholic is in recovery, however, the problem seems to stem more often from inability to fall asleep rather than inability to stay asleep. In this way, it is exactly the opposite from the type of insomnia that is commonly experienced by active drinkers.

Alcoholism and Insomnia: The Danger

One of the biggest dangers of the link between alcoholism and insomnia is that is can worsen alcoholism during active drinking and it can be a factor in relapse during recovery. In active drinking, alcoholism and insomnia can cause a person to drink more and more alcohol just so they are able to sleep at night. Insomnia also gets worse as alcoholism progresses, so it becomes a vicious cycle.

In recovery, alcoholism and insomnia can be a factor in relapse. The insomnia can increase daytime drowsiness and psychological distress. Some alcoholics cannot handle the added psychological stress, and they end up relapsing. Trying to refrain from drinking can take a lot of vigilance, self-control, and self-worth. It becomes even more difficult to do if you are exhausted.

Alcoholism and Insomnia: The Facts

Alcoholism and insomnia are so connected because of alcohol’s effect on the body. Here are some of the ways that alcohol can interrupt sleep:

  • Alcohol dehydrates the body.
  • Alcohol produces adrenaline in the body, which acts like a stimulant and disrupts a person’s sleep.
  • Alcohol interferes with normal sleep patterns by disrupting particular neurotransmitters in the brain which control or regulate sleep.
  • Alcohol can be associated with sleep apnea; a disorder in which the upper air passage narrows or closes during sleep causing you to wake up many times during the night gasping for air.
  • A person whose body has become dependent on alcohol will commonly have insomnia when they quit drinking because alcohol is a depressant.
  • Alcoholics and recovering alcoholics often have poor sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene refers to behaviors that constitute good sleep habits, such as keeping a regular rising time, avoid napping, and refraining from stimulants like caffeine in the evening.
  • Sleep can be improved in recovering alcoholics through using and approach that emphasizes good sleep habits, relaxation, and stress management.
  • Alcoholism and insomnia can lead to relapse in recovering alcoholics; so many treatment centers address this issue specifically through cognitive-behavioral therapies and non-narcotic pharmaceutical treatment.
  • Insomnia occurs in 36-72% of alcoholic patients and may last for weeks to months after initiating abstinence from alcohol.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15018094

http://www.oasas.ny.gov/admed/fyi/fyiindepth-insomnia.cfm

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcoholism and Cocaine

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Alcohol and Cocaine

It is not uncommon for someone who has a problem drinking to also have a problem with drugs including cocaine. In fact in a lot of ways alcoholics find cocaine to be the perfect match with their drinking. Why? Because cocaine dulls the effects of being drunk and allows them to stay awake longer to drink more. While this is help for someone in the grips of alcoholism it can very possibly be fatal in the worst case scenarios.

Alcoholism is a disease that creates an irresistible and overpowering thought about getting drunk or high. Alcoholism is chronic, progressive and fatal. This means that alcoholism if not treated only gets worse, never goes away and can kill the person who doesn’t stop drinking or using drugs. Alcoholism merely perpetuates the use of alcohol and cocaine. Just because someone has alcoholism doesn’t mean they don’t do drugs. Alcoholism merely means that someone has the disease of addiction that causes them to continue using a substance such as cocaine despite all the negative consequences they may be experiencing in their life.

Cocaine is a powerful, addictive, and illicit drug. Once someone has tried using cocaine they cannot say to what extent they will continue to use it. Some of the street names for cocaine are:

  • Coke
  • Dust
  • Snow
  • Girl
  • Powder
  • White pony
  • Rock
  • Crack

Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant that was originally found in the Andes Mountains. It is a very potent stimulant that affects the body’s central nervous system. Cocaine looks like a white powder and can be injected, smoked, sniffed, or snorted as well as taken orally. Cocaine is the second most used illicit drug in the United States. Everyone and anyone can end up using cocaine. Cocaine creates a sense of euphoria and exhilaration in its users. Cocaine users feel invincible, carefree, alert, and euphoric and have tons of energy. The come down or loss of this high usually leaves cocaine users feeling agitated, depressed, anxious, paranoid and with no appetite. The effects of cocaine last around an hour to two hours.

Having alcoholism and doing cocaine can really create a problematic situation for someone in the grips of an addiction. Cocaine is an extremely hard drug to quit just because of the intense craving to want to do more cocaine. Luckily there is cocaine treatment for alcoholism and cocaine detox for alcoholism. These places can really give someone with alcoholism and a cocaine addiction the chance to start off on the right foot in a safe place. Having an addiction to more than one substance doesn’t end well. Using alcohol and cocaine will lead down to a path of unpredictability and unmanageability. That’s why treatment for alcoholism and cocaine is the perfect and most efficient place for someone who has not managed to stay sober on their own either from drugs or alcohol. Alcoholism and cocaine can be a deadly combo so it is best if someone is suffering from alcoholism recognize that cocaine is just another part of the problem and get help.

Source: http://alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/a/cocaine.htm

 

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

What is alcohol rehab and why should I go?

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What is alcohol rehab?

What is alcohol rehab?

Alcohol rehab is the shortened term for alcohol rehabilitation centers. Addicts and alcoholics go to alcohol rehabs to try and stop drinking or using drugs. Alcohol rehab is one of the most effective and powerful ways to break the cycle of alcoholism and addiction. This is why so many alcoholics and addicts choose to go to alcohol rehab when they want to stop drinking and getting high. Alcohol rehab is entirely focused on helping alcoholics and addicts overcome not only their physical addiction but also their psychological addictions to alcohol and drugs. During alcohol rehab, an addict and alcoholic will usually go through stages the first being alcohol detox. After alcohol detox, the addict or alcoholic will go to inpatient or counseling and aftercare. Each one of the processes in alcohol rehab is made to treat a different part of addiction and alcoholism in order to address the physical, psychological and/or social aspects of the disease. An alcohol rehab usually incorporates healing, healthier living and emotion and therapeutic support.

So why should you go to alcohol rehab?  Here are some reasons why you should go to alcohol rehab.

  • The biggest reason you should go to alcohol rehab is because it could save your life. It is no surprising fact that many people die at the hands of their alcoholism and drug addiction. Going to alcohol rehab and getting the benefits of what it is could literally save your life.
  • Another great reason to go to alcohol rehab is that it gives you some time away from the alcohol and drugs. A lot of the times if we are struggling with addiction or alcoholism it can be very hard or nearly impossible to stay clean even 24 hours. At alcohol rehab you will be in a safe place where you don’t have to worry about the staying clean part. You can get some time away in a safe alcohol rehab and get some actual clean time under your belt.
  • Going to alcohol rehab gives you a better chance at staying sober for the long run. Going to alcohol rehab can set you up for long-term sobriety by introducing you to 12 step meetings, people who can help you in your recovery or even introduce you to a therapist and counselor that can help you to continue growing in recovery
  • Going to alcohol rehab is a great way to get connected with other people who have the same goal to stay sober. People who are in alcohol rehab often share information and stay in touch which is a great way to get support in recovery. Have a support network in recovery within alcohol rehab and after it is imperative to staying sober.
  • Going to alcohol rehab can give you your life back. You can gain back everything you have lost if you go to alcohol rehab. This means relationships, your job, your dreams, your health and you can even gain some things you didn’t have when you went in the beginning. For instance you may have new hobbies such as yoga or reading.

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcohol and Your Health

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Alcohol and Your Health

Alcohol and Your Health

Alcohol or ethyl alcohol is the intoxicating ingredient that you will find in wine, beer and hard liquor. Alcohol is made naturally from carbohydrates when certain micro-organisms metabolize them in the absence of oxygen. This process of making alcohol is called fermentation.

When alcohol is consumed it is metabolized fairly quickly. Unlike the food you eat that takes time to digest, alcohol does not have to be digested and can be quickly absorbed. About 20% of alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and can reach the brain within one minute. About 10% of alcohol is let out through breath and urine. After the stomach absorbs the alcohol it then moves onto the small intestine and travels to the liver. The liver cells are the only cells in your body that can produce enough of the enzymes needed to oxidize alcohol at a decent rate. Alcohol affects every organ in the body but its biggest impact is on the liver. The liver is able to metabolize about ½ ounce of alcohol an hour. If more alcohol arrives than the liver can handle then the alcohol travels to all parts of the body until the liver is able to process it.

Because of the fact that alcohol affects the liver and every other organ, and cell in your body it can cause a multitude of issues with your health.

For instance it can cause health effects such as:

  • Arthritis – alcohol affects your health but increasing the risk of gouty arthritis
  • Cancer – alcohol affects your health by increasing the risks of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus.
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a huge effect of alcohol and your health if you are pregnant. FAS can lead to physical and behavioral problems in the fetus.
  • Heart disease – Alcohol affects your health by raising your blood pressure, blood lipids, and your risk of stroke.
  • Hyperglycemia -Raises blood glucose
  • Hypoglycemia – Alcohol affects your health by lowering blood glucose especially in those with diabetes
  • Kidney disease – Alcohol affects your health by enlarging the kidneys, can alter hormone functions and increase the risk of total kidney failure.
  • Liver disease – Alcohol affects your health by causing a fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis or scarring of the liver.
  • Malnutrition – Alcohol affects your health directly by increasing the risks of protein-energy malnutrition, low protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, Vitamin C, thiamine, and vitamin B6.
  • Nervous Disorders – Alcohol can affect your health by causing neuropathy and dementia and it also impairs balance and memory.
  • Obesity – Alcohol affects your health by increasing the amount of energy you need.
  • Psychological – Alcohol affects your health by causing psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.

The truth about alcohol and your health is that if it consumed in small amounts on varying occasions it is not really a health hazard but when copious amounts of alcohol are consumed, regularly, or when you get drunk than you are doing damage to your body. Alcohol affects all aspects of your health not just one part of it. Alcohol can affect your mental, emotional and physical well-being. So if you are going to drink do it consciously.

Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol/SC00024

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.