What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a disease that appears, in many cases, to be a genetically transmitted biochemical defect. However, in other instances it appears to be caused by overwhelming bombardment of the physiology of the body by repeated episodes of heavy drinking, resulting in the incapacity to handle alcohol normally. Psychological and/or social pressures may aggravate the disease. Alcoholism is characterized by a typical progression of drinking behavior that requires an average of twelve-and-one-half years of drinking to reach fully developed, overt symptoms and an average of 18 years to reach the stage of deterioration. It is seen most frequently in people of Eskimo or American Indian descent. Among those of Caucasian descent, the Irish, French and Scandinavians exhibit a far higher incidence than other European population groups. The disease is further characterized by physical damage in all systems of the body, the most serious in the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and the liver. In these three areas the damage may eventually prove fatal.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Cardiovascular System
Living the life of an alcoholic is hard work - the body suffers. There is complete unanimity of opinion that alcoholic drinking is very bad for the heart. Not only does the alcoholic suffer increased risk of heart disease, but he may also sustain direct damage to the heart from alcohol. Alcoholic drinking results in increased lipid levels (blood fats) that may result in arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), increased risk of stroke and possible early death. Another possible development is alcoholic cardiomyopathy, an injury to the energy-producing portion of the heart muscle that may lead to death from heart failure.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Nervous System
Damage to the nervous system in alcoholics has been recognized for many years. A possible neurological effect of alcoholism is the development of diseases caused by vitamin B deficiencies, such as alcoholic poly-neuropathy and Wernicke's hemorrhagic encephalopathy. Overall mental functioning can be impaired also. Some of the ancient physicians recognized an impairment of overall mental functioning in those who drank excessively, and recent brain cell studies suggest that an alcoholic literally kills off brain cells at a more rapid pace than normal. If a person destroys brain cells rapidly enough and for a long enough period of time, eventually the "cell bank" of reserves will be depleted, and the subject will begin to show impaired mental functioning. This appears to be the sequence of events observed in the EEG tracings and clinical observations of alcoholics.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Gastrointestinal System
The gastrointestinal system is prominent among the organ systems damaged by alcohol. We may see fatal ulcer problems (bleeding or perforated ulcers), fatal pancreas problems (acute pancreatitis) or an increased incidence of carcinoma of the esophagus. However, by all accounts, the liver deserves the most attention when discussing alcoholic damage to the gastrointestinal system.

Alcoholism begins a vicious cycle called cirrhosis of the liver. In the first step of cirrhosis, the liver cells are injured and accumulate tiny droplets of fat (fatty infiltration or fatty degeneration). As more and more cells suffer fatty infiltration, the liver becomes enlarged. If the alcohol addiction cycle continues, scars form and continue producing more scars until the process becomes irreversible.

As cirrhosis of the liver progresses, the alcoholic faces more and more severe health problems including:

• build-up of "poisons" in the bloodstream (ammonia and bilirubin)
• accumulation of estrogen in the bloodstream and possible impotence
• development of low levels of prothrombin resulting in bleeding and bruising tendencies
• development of esophageal varix
• swelling of ankles and legs
• development of ascites (accumulated fluid in the abdominal cavity)
• eventual death

The Progression Of Drinking Systems
Stage 1 - Developmental Zone

• Social Drinking
• Once a week
• Drinking faster than associates
• Drinking more than associates
• Doubles
• Memory blackouts
• More drunk than associates

Stage 2 - Zone of Overt Alcoholism

• Loss of control
• Weekends
• Protects supply
• Before breakfast
• Solitary drinking
• Tremors
• Decreased tolerance

Stage 3 - Zone of Deterioration

• Delirium Tremens
• Vague fears
• Sleeplessness
• Avitaminosis
• Death