yed, and manywork for years before their alcoholism becomes so bad that they cannot perform their job.Federal officials estimate that the abuse of alcohol costs the economy well overone-hundred billion dollars every year. Alcohol does this by making people be lessproductive at work, taking more sick days, sustaining on the job injuries, collecting moreworkmen’s compensation, and increasing health insurance premiums. Physical EffectsProlonged alcohol use like that of an alcoholic can lead to permanent damage of yourbody. The liver is the organ of the body most vulnerable to damage by alcohol becausethe liver is where the alcohol is broken down. The liver may become worn out from thedaily task of removing alcohol from the blood, this may cause the liver to be unable toperform as well in removing other harmful substances. One of the most dangerousdiseases of the liver caused by long-term alcohol use is cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosiscauses the liver to become inflamed and scarred, which eventually kills the liver and theperson. Over fourteen thousand deaths a year from cirrhosis are directly related toalcohol. Alcohol causes an increase in blood pressure, this makes the heart pump harderto move blood around the body. Alcohol can cause an increase in heart rate while at thesame time reducing the ability of the heart muscle to pump, it can also cause abnormalheart rhythms. Long-term and heavy use of alcohol can cause a condition of the heartcalled alcoholic cardiomyopathy, this impairs the heart muscles ability to contract andeventually fail. Alcohol’s action on the brain is what causes people to feel intoxicated. Asudden intake of large amounts of alcohol may result in death, this is because nerveimpulses to the brain are dangerously blocked. There are over two hundred deaths a yearfrom this kind of accidental alcohol poisoning. Alcohol also has an increasing effect onour brain chemistry this is what causes are change behavior...
