Alcohol the exotic poison has been used since ancient times for intoxication. It is true that this social mood lifter turns into a deadly poison when it’s consumed in abnormally large quantities. It is said that only the weak minded fall for this poisonous trap, but that is totally untrue. Social pressure, family problems and money matters are all responsible for alcohol addiction and women are as affected as men.
Depending on the body’s sensitivity to alcohol symptoms begin in different individuals at different stages. Some are symptomless for many years while other show symptoms right away. The liver, pancreas and stomach are the most affected organs; As a consequence all other organs get affected.
Liver damage is a symptom of alcoholism. In the initial stages the liver gets inflamed giving rise to minor jaundice like symptoms including nausea, yellowing of skin and mucous membranes and dark colored urine. For secreting bile, the liver is one of the main organs that facilitates this, which helps digestion and many other metabolic functions like clotting factors. When the liver is affected all these functions falter leading to malabsorption and malnutrition. Cirrhosis of the liver is the final stage causing scarring and permanent destruction of the liver’s cells. Alcohol also reduces the capacity of the liver’s cells to regenerate, causing irreversible damage if not corrected in time.
The next major alcoholism physical symptom has to be hyperacidity, this may not be fatal but it is one of the initial and most irritating symptoms for the addict. This is the symptom which acts as a warning sign telling you that the body cannot take any more of the poison
Landing the patient in the hospital can be caused by the sudden onset of Pancreatitis (severe pain in the abdomen). The pancrease secretes enzymes which help in protein digestion. When the pancreas is affected by alcohol it gets inflamed and is one of the most painful symptoms of alcohol abuse.
One of the most visible and destructive affects of alcohol are those on the brain and nervous system. Since it is an intoxicant it changes the mood of the person. These mood changes make the person violent and even self destructive at times. It is during these episodes that many acts of physical violence occur. A person under the influence of alcohol is not in his right mind, thus making him unfit to drive or perform any skillful act.