Alcoholism As A Disease

Alcoholism not only causes liver damage, but also other diseases like gastritis, anaemia, pancreatitis, mouth cancer and so on.

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink. Compounding the problem is the progressive nature of the disease. Despite the dangers of all the five types of alcoholism (http://anthingblissful.blogspot.com/2008/02/types-of-alcoholism.html), Jellinek regards only Gamma and Delta alcoholism as being addictive and involving physical dependence. He also considers Gamma and Delta alcoholism to be diseases because of the physical changes that occur in the drinkers' cell metabolisms, or chemical processes.

Alcoholism have various harmful effects on our human body. At Happiness Is Bliss, I mentioned about Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease (ALD) - http://anthingblissful.blogspot.com/2008/02/alcohol-induced-liver-disease-ald.html. The Effects of Alcoholism and what alcoholism is posted at Psychology Facts. Alcohol when consume in excess will not do the body any good in the long run at all. There will be mental depression, physical degeneration, problems at work and misery at home. Alcohol causes brain damage as well as physical damage.

Besides Liver Damage, there may also be other physical disorders associated with alcoholism. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) is widespread and many problem drinkers have a history of gastric ulcer and may have undergone a partial gastrectomy. Cardiomyopathy (heart- muscle disease), anaemia and pancreatitis also occur.

Some types of cancer are more often found in problem drinkers than in other people. That may be partly due to the fact that heavy drinkers are also often heavy smokers. For example, in the cases of mouth cancer, larynx cancer, pharynx cancer or oesophagus cancer.

Sufferers from alcoholism tend to bleed easily. The number of platelets in their blood is reduced and their blood does not coagulate as quickly as normal. Cirrhosis prevents blood passing through the liver so that it tries to get out in other ways leading, for example, to vomitting blood, bleeding piles and varicose veins in the oesophagus and the rectum. This adds to the hazards when the sufferers has to undergo surgery, frequently after an accident. After a successful operation, recovery may be complicated by withdrawal symptoms in the patient.

Alcoholism is a deceptive disease and can be a long term progressive disorder. It is a disease that gets worse the more the person keeps drinking. Without treatment, it can destroy both emotional and physical health and can lead to death. Despite the serious dangers of alcoholism, it is one of the most common addictions effecting our society today. Where can you find help then? Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is hope, there is a cure. At Chillpharm.com, you can find various articles and drugs to help with drug addiction and recovery. There are information not only on addiction recovery, there are information on Heroin Rehab and various other articles on oxycontin abuse effects and also Hydrocodone Addiction! When choosing an alcohol rehab program or inpatient alcoholism treatment program, some important points to take note of includes

• an alcohol detox program within its own facility
• a medically monitored alcohol detox program that has 24-hour nursing
• a physician trained in addiction medicine
• a comprehensive family component
• an intensive relapse prevention program