Alcoholism. Social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnic group, and gender all influence the risk for the condition.

Transcription

1 SAY NO TO ALCOHOL

2 Alcoholism Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. Social environment, stress, mental health, family history, age, ethnic group, and gender all influence the risk for the condition. Alcoholism negatively affects health, specially the nervous system and the brain causing severe damage in the long run. Regular intake of alcohol makes a person intoxicated towards it, making it all the more difficult for him to withdraw the same. Treatment of alcoholism takes several steps. Because of the medical problems that can be caused by withdrawal, alcohol detoxification should be carefully control. One common method involves the administration of benzodiazepine medications, such as diazepam etc.

3 Intoxication & its Evils Alcohol intoxication or drunkenness is a physiological state induced by intake of considerable amount of Ethanol. Intoxication take place when ethanol enters the bloodstream faster than the rate at which liver breaks it down into non-intoxicating by products. Intoxication not only affects the health (mainly the nervous system) of the consumer negatively, but also harms the community at large. Various health hazards caused due to liquor consumption are mental disorders, nausea, vomiting, ulcers, respiratory problems, liver cirrhosis, cancer etc. Acute alcohol poisoning is a related medical term used to indicate a dangerously high concentration of alcohol in the blood, high enough to induce coma, respiratory depression, or even death. It is considered a medical emergency. Alcohol is a major dangerous public health menace all over the world. Drinking alcohol is a social evil. It clouds the mind, causes disease, wastes money, and destroys individuals, families and communities.

4 Reasons of Alcoholism There are various reasons for alcohol consumption that have been cited like: Curiosity: A prevalent reason for alcohol consumption. We are bombarded with messages promoting alcohol use, and we are curious to find out just what it feels like to consume alcohol. Stress reduction: We live in trying times, and alcohol is seen as a way to alleviate our stress. Self-medication for other problems carries over to alcohol ingestion. Alcohol can ease physical and emotional pain. Socializing: Alcohol is often served at social gatherings and is a normal part of the setting at places such as taverns where people go to congregate with others. Many believe that alcohol instills a sense of social confidence and promotes relaxation in the company of others. Isolation: Another reason to use alcohol. People who have poor support networks, decreased mobility, and limited access to transportation may turn to alcohol. This type of situation is particularly prevalent among senior citizens. Peer pressure: Perhaps the most problematic reason for alcohol use is peer pressure. Many adolescents and college students find themselves in situations where alcohol is present. Because younger people often lack self-confidence or the refusal skills to handle the pressures of such situations, they often begin to experiment with alcohol.

5 Negative effects Cirrhosis: Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, and many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, a sometimes-lethal condition in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it is unable to function. Dementia: Heavy drinking speeds the shrinkage of certain key regions in the brain, resulting in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia. Depression: Heavy drinking leads to depression which in turn induces people to drink. Seizures: Heavy drinking can cause epilepsy and can trigger seizures even in people who don't have epilepsy. It can also interfere with the action of the medications used to treat convulsions. Gout: The painful situation caused due to formation of uric acid crystals is enhanced by heavy drinking.

6 Negative effects Anaemia: Excessive drinking leads to ill health & death of the red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen in human body, hence causes anaemia. Cancer: Cancer sites linked to alcohol use include the mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), oesophagus, liver, breast, and colorectal region. Cardiovascular disease: Heavy drinking, especially bingeing, makes platelets more likely to clump together into blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

7 Potential Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is the name for the symptoms that occur when a heavy drinker suddenly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol intake. With AWS, you may experience a combination of physical and emotional symptoms like: Tremors Anxiety Nausea and/or vomiting Headache Increased heart rate Sweating Irritability Confusion Insomnia Nightmares Treatment for AWS depends on how severe your symptoms are. Some people can be treated at home, but others may need supervised care in a hospital setting to avoid potentially dangerous complications. 7

8 Thank you