Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse, alcohol treatment program in Alberta

Individuals who drink alcohol frequently and in excessive amount should realize the different health risks involved. Chronic alcohol abuse can lead not only to alcohol dependence but also to a myriad of health problems. In order to better see the effects of long term alcohol abuse on the human body, consider what it does to the different body systems:

Central Nervous System

• Visual, auditory, olfactory and even sensory impairment
• Slow reactivity
• Confusion and impaired judgment
• Hallucinations
• Blackouts or loss of consciousness
• Delirium
• Mood swings
• Personality changes
• Anxiety

Circulatory System

• Hypertension of high blood pressure
• Arrhythmia
• Increased risk for stroke and heart attack
• Damage to heart muscles

Intestine

• Irritation of the mucosal lining
• Ulcers
• Intestinal and colon cancer

Pancreas and Gall bladder

• Malabsorption of nutrients
• Inflammation resulting to acute or chronic pancreatitis
• Increased risk for developing diabetes

Liver

• Inflammation
• Cirrhosis
• Increased risk for cancer
• Edema or fluid build up
• Liver failure

Reproductive System

• Reduced fertility
• Impotence
• Abnormal sperm count
• Increased breast cancer risk
• Premature menopause
• Irregularity in menstrual cycle
• Hormonal imbalance

Pregnancy

• Increased risk for babies developing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Increased risk for deformities as well as  behavioral and learning abnormalities

In general, long term alcohol consumption also leads to weight gain and muscle weakness

What happens when you suddenly stop drinking?

Individuals who have been drinking for a very long time might suddenly want to stop because of a number of reasons which include:

• Being diagnosed with an alcohol-related illness
• Alcohol abuse has seriously compromised family and work life
• Desire to lead a healthier lifestyle after near-death experience or changing religious affiliations

Making the decision to stop is actually the easy part. A long-time drinker will experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced when undergoing drug detoxification. Some of these symptoms are:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Palpitations
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Tremors

You must remember that alcohol detoxification can pose a serious threat to your life if not properly done. For this reason, it is important the individual enter an alcohol rehabilitation center in order for the symptoms to be monitored and managed. These centers are not only equipped with correct alcohol treatment program facilities in Alberta  but they also employ highly-skilled and knowledgeable staff.

^{Refrences:
http://www.nt.gov.au/health/healthdev/health_promotion/bushbook/volume2/chap1/major.htm}

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_withdrawal_syndrome}