Guest Post By: Daphne Holmes
Alcohol use carries side effects, which sometimes
lead to grave outcomes for excessive drinkers.
It is estimated that, in the United States alone, as many as
88,000 people die from excessive alcohol consumption annually. Each death
accounts for an average loss of 30 years of life, so the tragic outcomes take a
significant toll on society; extinguishing staggering amounts of human
potential.
The trend makes excessive drinking one of the most
prolific lifestyle-related killers; claiming more lives than almost any other
behavior. In 2006, excessive drinking was responsible for more than one-million
emergency room visits,
and when regular physician office
visits are included the number climbs to
nearly four-million trips to medical facilities - in a single year.
Statistically, there is obviously a strong case to
be made for reducing instances of excessive drinking, and the subsequent deaths
and illnesses caused by over-consumption. But the incentives are even stronger
for individuals having difficulty controlling excessive drinking behaviors.
Plainly, excessive alcohol use is a matter of life and death.
Risks
of Alcohol Use
Harmful circumstances arise from excessive alcohol
use. Short and long-term use leads to a variety of personal injuries and
chronic health problems, which are exacerbated to include death as a dire
side-effect of excessive drinking.
Short term use leads to injuries; generally ensuing
as a result of binge drinking behavior that prompts alcohol users to engage in
unsafe activities. Unintended consequences include falls and other injuries,
which escalate as users get behind the wheel. Traffic injuries due to excessive
drinking take a significant toll on society, as well as water accidents and
firearms injuries related to drinking.
Excessive use leads to alcohol poisoning; a
condition which impairs the body's central functions from working properly.
Alcohol poisoning causes respiratory distress, unconsciousness, coma and in the
worst cases; death.
Incidents of family violence also increase when
excessive drinking is added to the equation.
In addition to crimes against domestic partners, children often bear the
brunt of alcohol related abuse. In addition to physical violence, drinking
leads to child neglect, in some cases.
Excessive, long-term alcohol use accounts for a
number of physical, emotional, and psychological disorders, some leading to
premature death. Neurological deficiencies and social problems are common
long-term side effects of excessive alcohol use, as well as increased risk for
several chronic diseases. Depression and anxiety are common psychological
impairments resulting from excessive alcohol use, which lead to suicide
attempts for some troubled drinkers.
Cardiovascular function is impacted by alcohol use;
resulting in conditions like arterial fibrillation (a-fib), cardiomyopathy and
hypertension. While alcohol can be a contributing cause to these conditions,
excessive use also contributes to the worsening of pre-existing diseases. Cancer
risk increases with long term alcohol abuse; especially digestive disease
like colon and esophageal cancer. Cancer of the mouth and throat are also more
common among heavy drinkers.
The liver is responsible for metabolizing certain
substance we consume; including alcohol.
Excessive long-term use has serious impacts on the liver's ability to do
its job efficiently. Inflammation caused
by excessive alcohol use is known as "alcoholic hepatitis", which can
lead to death. Cirrhosis of the liver results from severe scarring brought on
by excessive alcohol use. The condition
often leads to death. In fact, Cirrhosis represents one of the top 15
causes of death in the United States.
Excessive alcohol use leads to tragic circumstances;
including deaths and injuries that take a heavy toll on society. Reducing binge
episodes that lead to harmful outcomes is one way to reduce alcohol related
tragedies, but managing long-term use is also essential
for lowering the number of alcohol related deaths.
Author Bio:
Daphne Holmes contributed this guest post. She is a
writer from www.ArrestRecords.com
and you can reach her at daphneholmes9@gmail.com.