Alcoholism Diseases for Mankind

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Alcoholism is the drinking of alcohol in such a manner that various aspects of one’s life such as work and family issues are not undertaken properly. Excessive drinking of alcohol is linked with a number of human miseries throughout the world. Although it is a pleasure to drink, it remains a problem to mankind because it is a disease. Alcoholism is a disease that sees drinking of alcohol becoming uncontrollable as the compulsion and craving of alcohol rules the life of the alcoholic. Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with hereditary, psychosomatic, and environmental factors that influences its advancement and manifestation and it is associated with many possible causes and numerous detrimental effects on the alcoholic. Some of the alcoholism diseases of mankind are liver cirrhosis, schizophrenia, and hepatitis C infection.

According to MedicineNet (2014), liver cirrhosis is one of the most severe forms of alcoholic related liver diseases especially amongst people drinking excessively. The disease normally see the healthy cells of the liver tissue replaced by scar tissue in the process known as fibrosis thus making the liver tissue to become lumpy and hard instead of smooth. Some of the early symptoms of alcohol induced cirrhosis include loss of appetite, feeling sick and vomiting, itchy skin, and weight loss. However, when the conditions progresses the symptoms may include yellowing of skin, swelling in the abdomen, muscle wasting, bruising and bleeding easily, confused feeling, or having poor memory and sexual changes.

It is worth noting that liver always has significant function of processing alcohol one drinks. Conversely, it can only handle a specific amount of alcohol and therefore heavy or regular drinking puts strain and eventually damages the liver. The damage on the liver makes it less able to perform the function of processing chemical substances, which is a risky because the gradual damage on the liver may finally make it stop working properly (MedicineNet, 2014). Many alcoholics have ended up dying because of inappropriate medication or fatal cases of alcohol induced liver cirrhosis. The damage caused on the liver is irreversible although further damage may be stopped if individuals stop drinking. There a number of heavy drinkers who have undergone liver transplant because of their damaged livers.

Additionally, the second disease caused by alcoholism is schizophrenia mostly because alcohol is highly abused apart from nicotine. People suffering from schizophrenia consume alcohol for same reasons as any other person although biological, psychological, and environmental aspects may add to the existing reasons. MedicineNet (2014) explain that schizophrenia and alcohol abuse are prevalent because of various other reasons including self-medication of the symptoms of schizophrenia, encouragement of alcohol use and abuse resulting from abnormalities in the schizophrenic brain and ease of development of behaviors leading to substance abuse. Alcohol tends to worsen symptoms of schizophrenia because it causes depression and psychosis.

Importantly, alcohol and schizophrenia are correlated with poor treatment outcomes and people suffering from both schizophrenia and alcohol abuse normally experience more schizophrenia symptoms and symptoms recurrence. Victims are normally associated with violence issues, legal challenges, medical problems and they tend to spend most of their time in jails and hospitals (MedicineNet, 2014). Most alcoholics suffering from these conditions act oddly and may be characterized by outbursts of anger, finding little or no pleasure in life. Moreover, some may feel like they have no emotions making some not smile or frown, make eye contact and at times may have hard time focusing or paying attention. Additionally, some patients may not be interested in meeting goals thus reducing their performance at work or school and may not even bother taking care of themselves.

Apart from schizophrenia, alcoholism may cause hepatitis C. Even modest alcohol consumption may increase risk of death especially amongst people with hepatitis C. people with hepatitis C are required to limit their alcohol consumption because excessive drinking may exacerbate liver disease caused by hepatitis C. Hepatitis C may cause serious liver damage that may prompt the patients to seek liver transplant. It is therefore apparent that patients suffering from hepatitis C do not safe level of alcohol because light, moderate, and heavy drinkers put themselves at risk (MedicineNet, 2014). Although heavy drinking do not cause hepatitis, it may lead to a form of hepatitis known as alcoholic hepatitis and which is common amongst people with history of alcoholism. Alcoholism may increase risk of cirrhosis, increase number of deaths from chronic hepatitis and increase risk of hepatocellular Carcinoma.

In conclusion, alcoholism has plagued mankind for several years but alcoholics cannot realize the negative effects of alcoholism. Alcoholism causes and triggers serious diseases with very deadly consequences such as death. Alcohol consumption should be controlled and the first drink avoided avoiding serious harm caused by alcoholism. Generally, there are several diseases associated with alcoholism included liver cirrhosis, hepatitis C and schizophrenia that are dangerous in human life. Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with hereditary, psychosomatic, and environmental factors that influences its advancement and manifestation and it is associated with many possible causes and numerous detrimental effects on the alcoholic.

Reference

MedicineNet. (2014). Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Related Diseases & Conditions. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse_and_alcoholism/related-conditions/index.htm