Alcohol is a type of drug that changes the physical and mental state of the human beings allowing them to feel lighter in spirit, intoxicated and at times out of control. There are no harmful effects of alcohol when consumed in moderation but when the consumption rate is high it may prove to be very injurious to health.
Effects of Alcohol
When people consume alcohol the drug strikes and affects the brain. This gives a sensation of comfort and leisure, reduces the tension and worry. It is for this sensation people consume alcohol. Consumption of alcohol to a moderate extent might give a person a momentary lift and allow him/her to feel lighter in spirit. Alcohol when consumed over the limit also results in an unclear speech which is followed by unsteadiness. Heavy consumption of alcohol may result to vomiting indigestion and headache.
It is often seen that the regular consumer of alcohol do not get drunk; however it cannot be denied that regular consumption of alcohol causes damage to the internal organs of their body. It increases the chance of stomach ulcer, heart disease, cancer, cirrhosis, and strokes. Overdose of alcohol are also often associated with crime, accidents, and violence as it is believed that consumption of over the level alcohol lads to mental instability. There are various other bad effects caused by the over consumption of alcohol. It may result in the delayed reflexes and clumsiness. It does not kill the cell of the brain but it damages and harms the brain’s dendrites which are the terminus of the cell and plays an important role in transmitting message to the cell.
Excessive consumption of alcohol may also result in diabetes as there are many alcohols that have a high content of sugar which further increases the sugar content of our body and hence causes diabetes.
Reasons for Consuming Alcohol
Alcohol is a drug that helps the person to overcome their depression. So people suffering from the mental problems often consume alcohol. Besides dealing with the mental problem people also consume alcohol to keep the tension of the problems related to their family, work, finances and relationship away. However, it is also true that alcohol is a social drink and in many cases a regular feature in meal. If consumed moderately it does not harm any person.
Amount of Alcohol to be Consumed
The world health organization has specified the limit of consumption of alcohol and has stated that if this drug is consumed within these limits it is not harmful to health. A guide line has been provided by the government that men should not consume more than four to three units of alcohol per day and women should consume not more than three to two units of alcohol per day. When alcohol is consumed at a prescribed level people can enjoy his/her drink as well as it is not harmful to an individual’s health.
Treatment
Drinking in excessive amount regularly may often result in addiction to this drug. When people become too much addicted to this disease treatment is necessary to help him out from this addiction and reduce his consumption rate. In some severe cases people are admitted to the hospital for detoxification with the help of medicines. They are given proper counseling and therapy sessions allowing them to return back to their healthy lifestyles.
Advices
Alcohol is consumed to a lesser or a greater degree in every society. But some communities have imposed strict restriction on the consumption of alcohol. There are many countries and societies which have imposed restriction on the age of the individual for consuming alcohol.
In severe cases of addiction towards alcohol a victim may show some symptoms like nausea, shaking of hands and legs, sweating.
It is not at all a problem if alcohol is consumed in moderation. However regular and excessive alcohol consumption is very harmful to health and a person might become alcoholic. In such a situation the family members, must be patient with the victim and try to find the root cause of this malaise. They must take him for proper counseling and give him/her full support.
