Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Health & Beauty Effects of Alcohol on the Body Effects of Alcohol on the Body By the time this paper has been read approximately twenty-five people will be seriously injured in an alcohol-related accident. Alcohol is a very harmful in many ways if abused. The following is just a few of the many ways it can be detrimental to one’s health. In 1994 a survey was taken among one hundred and forty nationwide college campuses. Of the students surveyed, forty-four percent were binge drinkers (four or five drinks in one setting). Nineteen percent were frequent binge drinkers. Of these students who claim to be binge drinkers, forty-seven percent experienced five or more drinking related problems including injuries and unplanned sex. Students who are not binge drinkers at schools with higher binge rates were more likely than students at schools with low binge rates to experience problems such as being pushed, hit, assaulted, or experiencing unwanted sexual advance. Between ten and twenty percent of total health care costs can be attributed to alcohol-related health problems. About twenty to forty percent of all patients admitted to medical, surgical, and psychiatric wards have disorders related to substance abuse. Alcohol should never be mixed with medications of any kind. One problem with this is that alcohol decreases the effectiveness of medications. There are also many unwanted side effects that occur when alcohol and medication interact. Some of these side effects include excessive drowsiness, impaired coordination, stomach irritation, nausea and vomiting. It is also important to remember that alcohol is a sedative and will strengthen the effects of any medication containing a sedative. About two hundred thousand deaths per year can be attributed to drinking. Alcoholism itself reduces life expectancy by ten to twelve years. Between twenty and thirty-five percent of suicide victims have had a history of alcohol abuse or had been drinking shortly before their suicides. Alcohol can kill in many different ways. These include overdose, accidents, violence and medical problems. Some of these medical problems are: heart disease, cancer, gastrointestinal and liver problems, pneumonia and other infections, mental and neurological disorders, skin disorders, muscle disorders, bone disorders, hormonal effects, diabetes, malnutrition, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), ulcers, variations in blood pressure, vitamin deficiency, obesity and sexual difficulties. Some of the mental and neurological disorders include: Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD), Manic Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Schizophrenia. Alcoholics are also two to three times more likely to smoke than other people. This brings countless more medical problems to throw into the mix with all of the alcohol-related problems. Alcohol should be totally avoided by expecting mothers. Any amount of alcohol can have damaging affects including low birth weight and an increased risk for miscarriage. High amounts of alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, which can lead to retardation. One study showed that alcohol gives the infant a much higher risk of having Leukemia. It should not be forgotten that alcoholism itself is a disease. The chemistry of alcohol allows it to affect nearly every cell in the human body. After prolonged exposure to alcohol the brain adapts to the changes it makes and becomes dependent on it. The severity of this disease is influenced by such factors as genetics, psychology, culture and physical pain. It is said that the risk of alcoholism in sons of alcoholic fathers is twenty-five percent. One of the main problems with quitting drinking is withdrawal. This is when the body has a negative reaction because the alcohol it is so used to is no longer present. About ninety-five percent of alcoholics who quit drinking have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. Some of the symptoms of withdrawal are agitation, trembling, disturbed sleep and a lack of appetite. Usually the symptoms will go away with time. About five percent of alcoholic patients experience Delirium Tremens. The symptoms for this include fever, rapid heartbeat, blood pressure variations, extremely aggressive behavior, hallucinations and other mental disturbances. In most cases these symptoms can be treated and cured with drug treatment. Alcohol poses a far larger health risk to older people than young people. As people age, the body metabolizes alcohol differently. The mortality rate for people with Alcoholic Cirrhosis over sixty years old was fifty percent as compared to seven percent for people under sixty. Although this is a subject that sits right in the middle of the gray area, some doctors do say that a daily minimal amount of alcohol, such as a glass of red wine, can actually be health beneficial. Other doctors preach that no amount of alcohol can be good for the body. This is a question that may never have a clear-cut answer. In conclusion, there are many ways that alcohol can be harmful to one’s health. If a person wants to live a long and healthy life, then most people would agree that avoiding alcohol would be an important factor in achieving that goal. Bibliography: Bibliography: 1) Crepino, Adam. The Poisons within Alcohol. New York: McGraw, 1994. 2) DeVita, Bray. Heart Disease Prevention. Hagerstown: Warner, 1996. 3) Newkarm, James. Healthy Living. New York: Bantam Books, 1998. 4) Pruitt, Ben. Alcoholism and its Effects. Maryland: McGraw, 1997. 5) Rechtschaffen, J.S. & Carola, R. Minding Your Body. New York: Kodansha America Inc. 1995 Word Count: 801
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