| Alcohol addiction or alcoholism can be | | | | Alcohol works towards disturbing the overall |
| defined as a compulsive requirement for an | | | | structure & function of the central nervous |
| intoxicating drink that is derived from a | | | | system. It hinders the ability to |
| fruit or fermented grain. The drink may be | | | | consolidate, retrieve & process information. |
| anything from wine, beer, whiskey or rum. | | | | c) Consuming alcohol in moderate amounts can |
| Intake of alcohol becomes addiction when a | | | | put great effect on cognitive abilities. d) |
| person craves for consumption of alcohol & is | | | | Consumption of alcohol in large amounts |
| unable to limit the drink. A person can be | | | | interfere the process of oxygen supply of the |
| termed as alcoholic if he or she experiences, | | | | brain & causes a blackout under the stage of |
| certain withdrawal symptoms like sweating, | | | | fully drunk. e) Addiction of alcohol may |
| anxiety, nausea. A person can also be called | | | | result in inflammation of the mouth, stomach |
| an alcoholic if he wants to have greater | | | | & esophagus. It can also result in cancers of |
| amounts of alcohol to experience a high. Most | | | | stomach, mouth & esophagus. f) Drinking |
| people think that having a strong will to | | | | alcohol in large amounts may result in |
| stop drinking is enough to give up alcohol. | | | | irregular heartbeats. The addict can also |
| However, the process is quite complicating. | | | | experience a greater risk of high blood |
| When a process becomes alcoholic, the craving | | | | pressure, heart damage & heart attack. g) |
| is so great that it actually suppresses the | | | | Intake of alcohol interferes in vision & |
| ability to stop consuming. Most alcoholic | | | | disrupts sexual function. It also reduces |
| requires adept assistance to give up | | | | circulation, increases the chances for |
| alcoholism. There are several causes that | | | | malnutrition & excessive water retention. h) |
| lead to alcoholism. People may be forced to | | | | The addict may also a suffer from slurred |
| have alcohol due to the environment they live | | | | speech, lack of coordination, impaired |
| in or the traumatic experiences they have in | | | | attention, impaired judgment, unsteady when |
| their lives. Alcoholism has a lot of bad | | | | walking or standing & lack of sleep. Here are |
| effects of the individual. It can lead to | | | | some symptoms of alcohol addiction: a) The |
| some serious trouble. It can also be | | | | patient develops a sense of compulsion to |
| physically & mentally destructive. Most of | | | | drink. b) The addict may choose to drink soon |
| the crimes, suicides, accidental deaths & | | | | after walking in order to reduce alcohol |
| murders are committed under the influence of | | | | withdrawal feeling. c) An alcohol addict |
| alcohol. Several health problems are | | | | tends to develop a reduced ability to control |
| associated with the use of alcohol such as | | | | over drinking. d) The addict usually |
| cancer, diseases of the liver, brain damage, | | | | organizes his lifestyle around drinking. One |
| cancer & heart diseases. An alcoholic who | | | | cannot overcome alcohol addiction alone. The |
| does not give up alcohol may reduce his life | | | | addict requires good assistance from others |
| expectancy by 10 to 15 years. Here are some | | | | in order to find recovery. Most people seek |
| of the ill effects of alcohol on health: a) | | | | counseling & visit rehab centers to get rid |
| Excess intake of alcohol can destroy brain | | | | of alcoholism. |
| cells & ultimately lead to brain damage. b) | | | | |