Risks & Medical Conditions Related to Alcoholism

Alcoholism can wreak havoc on every system of the body. Some diseases take years to develop, but even short term binge drinking can do damage. In excessive doses, alcohol poisons the brain, liver, heart and other organs. Damage caught early can often be reversed or halted but can also become fatal without treatment. The first course of treatment in any alcohol-related condition is to stop drinking.

Liver Disease

• Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver related to alcohol abuse. It usually happens after years of drinking, but acute liver disease is possible after a night of binge drinking and can be fatal. The disease begins with inflammation in the liver, progresses to a fatty liver and finally to cirrhosis. Symptoms usually do not appear until late in the disease and include abdominal pain, excessive thirst, jaundice, confusion, loss of appetite and nausea. It is possible to reverse early damage by abstaining from alcohol. Once it reaches cirrhosis, the only treatment aside from a transplant is managing the symptoms and preventing further damage.

Brain Damage

• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a form of brain damage often caused by alcohol. It is made up of two diseases which may present individually but are often found together. Wernicke's encephalitis is the swelling of the Wernicke's area, a part of the temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension. Symptoms include confusion, speech disturbances and muscle coordination difficulty. Karsakoff amnesiac syndrome results in memory loss, particularly short-term memory. Karsakoff causes sufferers to confabulate, or make up stories to fill in the missing memories. Both are caused by thiamine deficiency. Administering thiamine may reverse Wernicke-Karsakoff Syndrome if caught early enough.

Heart Disease

• Although drinking small amounts of alcohol may decrease the risk of heart disease, drinking large amounts over a period of time can damage the heart. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy causes the heart to enlarge and the heart muscles to thin. The weakened muscle can no longer pump properly, causing decreased oxygen levels and heart failure.

Depression

• It is difficult to say whether depression is a cause of alcoholism or alcoholism is a cause of depression. Some alcoholics begin drinking to alleviate stress and depression while others experience depression as a withdrawal symptom during times of sobriety. A New Zealand study by Dr. David M. Fergusson revealed that alcohol abuse increased the likelihood of experiencing depression by 1.9 times. The increased risk may be due to genetic factors, stresses caused by alcohol or the depressant quality of alcohol itself.

Withdrawal Risks

• While the first step to reversing or controlling any alcohol-related disease is to quit drinking, in some cases that can be dangerous and potentially fatal. Symptoms are usually worse in those undergoing repeat detoxification. Withdrawal symptoms range from mild shakes to severe seizures. Hallucinations, high blood pressure and delirium can occur. Hospitalization may be required. Thiamine and potassium are usually administered to prevent seizures.