Whether it is called alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence syndrome, excessive gulping of alcohol into the body system is dangerous. As long as you are unable to stop consuming alcohol in large quantity voluntarily, you are an alcoholic. Alcoholism, according to medical experts and journals damages all organ system including the liver, the heart, the pancreas, the immune system and the brain (mental illness & delirium).
The Liver
The liver is the largest solid organ in the body weighing around 3 pounds. Experts say that significant amount of body blood about 13% is present in the liver at any given time.
Liver, according to Healthline, is an amazing organ with regenerative capacity. In case of damage or injury, the liver tissue can grow back to a certain extent. The liver starts growing back by having the existing cells enlarge. Then, new liver cells start to multiply.
In 1931, a study on rats first showed that within a week of removing two-thirds of a rat’s liver, the organ had returned to its initial weight. Other studies have confirmed these findings in rodents, and research has shown that human livers can behave similarly.
Now, here is the crux of the matter! The more you damage your liver with your alcoholism, the more it loses the power to regenerate. Your alcoholism damages liver and kills liver tissue growth.
Alcoholism have assumed a frightening upscale in the last 10 years or so, particularly in Nigeria. A large percentage of Nigerians, all in the name of herbal mixture, now consume alcohol indiscriminately.
The involvement of underage/ teenager in the consumption of different kinds of alcohol based herbal mixture is worrisome. They are in such a large number to constitute themselves into hoodlums or terror groups, unleashing mayhem and violence on the society.
The subject of interest during informal discussions with doctor friends has always revolved around alcoholism and health. The interest is borne out of the logical fact that prevention is better and cheaper than cure. It’s cheaper and better to deal with alcoholism than to deal with alcoholism induced health ailments.
Medical experts say that the concern of every right-thinking Nigeria, particularly stake holders in the health sector, should be on how to tackle the menace of alcoholism. Adding that, if we don’t, a bigger disaster is waiting to happen in the health sector. In a not too long time from now, the signs and symptoms of alcoholism induced ailments like liver problems will be too rampart for Nigeria’s health facility to cope.
Stop Killing Your Liver
When alcoholism stresses up the liver and causes it to malfunction or become incapacitated to perform functions, the health risk is far bigger and oftentimes fatal. This is because liver organ is vital to the body metabolic functions and immune system. Medical experts and journals say without a functioning liver, a person cannot survive
Apart from metabolic functions, liver filters the blood coming from the digestive system before passing it to the body. Liver also detoxifies chemicals and make protein for the body
Liver Related Problems
Alcoholism makes you vulnerable to liver health challenges including:
-Alcoholic liver disease
-Autoimmune hepatitis which causes the body immune system to attack itself and destroy healthy liver tissue
– Cirrhosis: A sequel of autoimmune hepatitis
-Hemochromatosis: Too much iron in the body that can damage the liver
-Hepatitis A: A treatable liver issue
-Liver cancer
Some of these liver issues have successful treatment while some are terminal
Symptoms of Worsening Liver Conditions
Medical experts say that many liver disease conditions begin with flu-like symptoms and progress to more severe signs of liver damage, such as jaundice and dark-colored urine as well as yellowing of the skin and eyes; confusion and difficulty thinking clearly; abdominal swelling (ascites); swelling of the legs (edema); impotence; gynecomastia (when males start to develop breast tissue); enlarged liver (hepatomegaly); pale-colored stools
Other symptoms of liver problems include:
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- joint pain
- stomach discomfort or pain
- nose bleeds
- abnormal blood vessels on the skin
- itchy skin
- weakness
- a low sex drive
If you’re an alcoholic, as defined above, and you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here, stop alcoholism and seek medical help immediately.
A doctor friend noted jokingly that excessive alcohol is a universal solvent. It dissolves everything in the life of the consumers. It dissolves work; dissolves marriage and family, dissolves values, dissolves health and ultimately dissolve the life of the drinker.
Say No to Alcoholism
Join us next time to know how alcoholism affects another organ in the body.
Source: Dare Agbeluyi, Chief Publisher.
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