How does alcohol affect our health?
PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM
Physical appearance
Changes perceived are as follows: messiness, from unshaved beard to striking neatness as a type of camouflage alcoholics use to conceal the disease. Bloating in the face, red eyes…
Esophagus – oesophageal catarrh, esophageal cancer
Stomach – alcohol directly damages the superficial parts of the mucous membranes (gastritis, ulcer)
Liver – alcoholic hepatosis or fatty liver change, cirrhosis as the most severe stage of the disease because of the irreversible damage.
Heart – a decrease in the power of cardiac muscle contraction, the heart works faster leading to cardiac muscle exhaustion.
Central nervous system – cell death in the nervous system leading to brain atrophy (drying).
Skin – dermatosis (skin redness and rash)
Peripheral nervous system – inflammation of the nerves. Numbness, tingling, fatigue, loss of strength, leg cramps.
General physical deterioration – decline in the body defense mechanism and immunity.
Bowels – small and large intestine inflammation.
Pancreas – chronic inflammation of the pancreas leads to an increase in blood sugar levels or diabetes.
Blood vessels – deteriorate in quality, elasticity, and become fragile. Increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM
Mental functions disorders
Changes in character and personality with alcoholic behavior
Psychotic disorders (alcoholic insanity)
Mental functions disorders
Concentration becomes poor
Memory weakens
Thinking is difficult and slow
Intelligence is weakened
Affect disorder is reflected in frequent mood swings
Wills and instincts are decreasing
Changes in character, personality and alcoholic-type behavior
Defensive tactics:
Minimization, constant minimization of the problem level
Denial, denying all problems caused by drinking
Rationalization, continuous justification
Projection, different interpretation of real events
Suppression, a defense by forgetting unpleasant events related to drinking
Social comparison, the comparison of one’s own drinking with the drinking of other people
The most common characteristics of alcoholic behavior:
Social and emotional immaturity
Lack of self-discipline
Selfishness and egocentricity
Negative and hesitant attitude towards authority
Superficial relationships with people
Limited interest
Inability to express emotions
Poor tolerance to thwarting
Lying
Psychotic disorders – alcoholic insanity
Pathologically drunk state
Delirium tremens: hallucinations, loss of orientation, hands and body shaking, headaches, pain and cramps in muscles.
Alcohol dementia
Korsakoff’s psychosis
Alcoholic pathological jealousy
Alcoholic hallucinosis