Worst Complications Of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is one of the most important social problems that we are facing today. Its complications have crossed the medical margins, and this behavioral issue now has repercussions on the social and psychological fields. Because alcohol abuse has become an addiction, it makes it even harder for people to realize the negative impact that it has on the lives of its victims. Nevertheless, people who constantly overuse alcohol automatically put themselves at risk of several problems.

Social complications

Alcoholism is one of the main causes of family instabilities. One in 4 cases of divorce is attributable to one parent being an alcoholic. And as if this wasn’t enough, children of alcoholic parents (either one of both) are more likely to mimic their parent’s behavior when they grow up; meaning that the consequences of this behavioral problem transcends generations.

In addition to this, children of alcoholic parents are more likely to suffer child abuse (physical and sexual) and child neglect.  

Psychological complications

Chronic alcoholics also have their share of mental troubles, which is very far from being neglected.

Such people generally experience visual and tactile hallucinations, and when the substance is combined with other drugs (such as cocaine or marijuana), it is a real cocktail for an unfortunately regrettable “out of the world” experience.

Also, chronic alcoholics who have gone without consuming alcohol for 2-3 days generally experience a condition called delirium tremens, which is characterized with uncontrolled agitation, hallucinations (such as visual and tactile), restlessness, palpitations and sweating. This is due to the physiological effects of alcohol withdrawal. Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, withdrawing from it would cause symptoms of brain hyperexcitation. This generally occurs when an alcohol abuser is being hospitalized for one medical condition or another, thus being separated and deprived from alcohol.

Medical complications

Medical complications of alcohol are by far the most common, the most discussed, the most recognized and the most treated. Although alcohol is a toxic substance whose effects primarily target the brain, its systemic effects affect the entire body.

Fatty liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis

Alcohol abuse has its most important repercussions on the liver.

See Also: Alcohol Abuse and Anxiety Disorder Relationship

Overuse of alcohol could lead to alcoholic hepatitis. This is due to the fact that detoxification of alcohol consumes a lot of energy, and this first depletes the hepatocytes from their energy sources. Secondly, alcohol itself directly affects the mitochondria of the hepatocytes, thus causing toxic injury. With this double-effect, the energy levels of the hepatocytes are markedly depleted, leading to a decreased metabolism of triglycerides in the liver and thus accumulation of the same. This results in what is called alcoholic fatty liver disease. At the beginning stages, if the patient’s alcohol consumption decreases and becomes controlled, the damages and changed can be attenuated and the liver could reverse to normal. But if the alcohol intake continues, the disease state progresses to a level at which there will be no turning back.

Liver Cirrhosis Is One Of The Worst Complications Of Alcohol Abuse

As alcohol intake continues, the liver continues to suffer more and more damage. The extent of the toxic injury progresses to the majority of the liver tissue, and before you know it the entire liver is affected. With the chronic inflammation taking place, fibrous tissue is formed as the last stage of healing, and that fibrous tissue gives the liver an collagenous appearance, hence the name liver cirrhosis. In this condition, because almost all the liver is affected it is almost impossible for that organ to perform its function.  Protein synthesis is considerably decreased, which is why the affected person would present with systemic edema: swelling of the hands, feet, abdomen, etc. Also, portal hypertension ensues due to the compression of the portal vein in the fibrotic liver tissue. The buildup of pressure in the portal system forces blood to flow back in the area of systemic circulation where the portal vein is connected. This includes the veins of the esophagus, the umbilicus and the anal plexus. This is why patients suffering from liver cirrhosis would generally experience bleeding from the esophagus (esophageal varices), hemorrhoids (also known as piles) as well as protrusion of veins around the navel.

Brain dysfunction

Brain dysfunction is also another complication of liver cirrhosis in this setting. This is caused by the increased levels of urea released in the blood. Normally, the liver is responsible for detoxifying and processing urea, making it ready to b excreted in the urine. Henceforth, if the liver function is impaired, the blood levels of urea rise and as it crosses the blood brain barrier, it causes brain damage resulting in mental status change and confusion.

This syndrome is characterized by mental confusion, movement problems and eye problems. In this setting, vitamin B1 deficiency is caused by malnutrition that results from alcoholism.

Hepatorenal syndrome

This simply depicts kidney failure secondary to liver failure. Hepatorenal syndrome is a fatal condition that can only be treated with liver transplant or, if possible, dialysis. It is a relatively common complication of cirrhosis and occurs in 18% of cases in the first year after diagnosis and 39% of cases 5 years after diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.

See Also: Alcohol Abuse And Eating Disorders Have Something In Common: A Genetic Link

Alcoholic pancreatitis

This is the inflammation of the pancreas secondary to excessive alcohol intake. Here, the chronic consumption of alcohol causes an early release and activation of pancreatic enzymes, leading to auto digestion. As a result, the pancreas becomes inflamedand the affected person starts to experience the characteristic symptoms of pancreatitis: pain in the stomach that radiates to the back, vomiting, sweating, palpitation and pain upon palpation of the affected area.

With all that is said and done, alcohol is not the problem, but alcohol abuse is. We need to know how to draw the line between what is enough and what becomes too much, otherwise it would only be a matter of time before we get to the unfortunate point of no return.