Alcoholism is a chronic and generally progressive disease caused by repeated and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The term alcohol is of Arabic origin conformed by 2 words: the one that means the and kohol that expresses “subtle”.
At first, the term was used to indicate the antimony powder that women used in the eyes, later, the word alcohol was used to refer to any element refined to its essence.
Once the Greeks and Romans discovered the distillation process, the Arabs used the term under study to refer to the distillation product.
According to the World Health Organization, it defines alcoholism as:
“Psychoactive substance with dependency-causing properties, has been widely used in many cultures for centuries. The harmful consumption of alcohol carries a heavy social and economic burden on societies. ”
Alcohol is a drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant, that is, as a sedative. In turn, by depressing the control centers of the brain reduces inhibitions, however, the intake of large amounts of alcohol leads to disorders in the coordination of speech and muscles, sleep and even coma.
In turn, a hereditary predisposition to alcoholism has been demonstrated that could influence the moment of neurological complications.
Alcohol produces psychic and physical dependence. Alcohol dependence has as its characteristics the tolerance of its effects and withdrawal symptoms when it stops being consumed, a characteristic that disappears when the affected person drinks another drink.
In reference to the above, some withdrawal symptoms are: headache, anxiety, insomnia, tremors, delusions, seizures, among others. In addition, a person who suffers from this disease always has an excuse to drink, the company ceases to be important since only the essential for the alcoholic is the drink and, like any disease, the patient does not accept that he has an alcohol dependence. which is a psychological mechanism for not admitting that alcohol dominates your life.
Causes of alcoholism
The causes of alcoholism have not been determined but studies indicate that they can be due to various types such as: individual who presents family violence, economic problems and, due to a bad example observed in their family environment, and so on.
Effects of alcoholism
Alcoholism not only affects the patient but also their family and friends, since the affected person has a difficult time leading a healthy, responsible and exemplary life in their environment, which brings labor problems, divorces, family violence and even alcohol is a cause of traffic accidents, suicides and homicides.
In reference to this point, a child born and developed in a home of alcoholic parents, according to the students of the subject indicate that their future can take 2 aspects: the first choose the same path he observed in his home or try to find a Successful future in order to hide their traumas and low self-esteem.
Likewise, every affected child due to the disease of the alcoholism of their parents, must attend therapies in order to be helped to acquire self-confidence and self-esteem.
However, every alcoholic can give up his habit if he receives adequate help from his family and friends in a timely manner. Consequently, it is of the utmost importance that when the alcoholic undergoes treatment, his family also does so, especially children who may need help to reduce the distrust and resentment that they usually feel in these situations.
Consequences of alcohol
Drinking excess alcoholic beverages can be a serious social and health problem. Its exaggerated consumption can injure the brain and nervous system, causing temporary loss of memory that recovers with withdrawal, getting tired because alcohol interferes with the normal sleep process and, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a neurological disorder which weakens and paralyzes the eye muscles and produces double vision and, over time, prevents the affected person from standing up, walking, among others.
Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining and cause gastritis and the effects of the liver are: alcoholic hepatitis, esophageal varicose veins, cirrhosis and pancreatitis.
In the cardiovascular system, an exaggerated or moderate consumption causes cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia and evolution to heart failure and a high risk of stroke.
However, a small intake of alcohol reduces the risk of coronary atherosclerosis in favor of good cholesterol.
In sexual function, alcoholism in men produces impotence, in turn, in women it causes the interruption of menstruation and harmful effects in pregnant women and the fetus.
Alcoholism treatment
The affected person before beginning any treatment must accept his alcoholism problem and abstain from alcohol. Rehabilitation treatment can begin in the detoxification unit of a clinic or hospital.
Likewise, the affected person will receive psychotherapy in order to combat the psychological aspects of the disease and the causes of psychic origin that have facilitated the acquisition of the disease and, accompanied by drug treatments.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The fetal alcohol syndrome is a disorder caused in the embryo by exposure of the mother in the intake of alcohol during pregnancy.
The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are as follows: cardiac abnormalities, decreased muscle tone and poor coordination, growth problems in the uterus and after birth, developmental delay and problems in language, thinking or social skills, etc.
Due to the above, pregnant women cannot consume any type of alcoholic beverages for the health of her and her child.
