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Alcoholism


Alcoholism

Alcoholism is an unhealthy and obsessive addiction to alcohol, which could result in serious damage to the body. Although it is considered a disease, alcoholism is treatable.

About Alcoholism

Also known as alcohol dependence, alcoholism is a disabling addictive disorder where a person displays uncontrolled abuse of alcoholic beverages despite recurring negative consequences on their health or social life. It is a treatable disease. In the early 1800's through the 1900's it was called dipsomania before the term alcoholism replaced it.

Symptoms
Alcoholism is characterized by an increase in tolerance to alcohol and loss of control of the intake of alcohol along with one or many other physical, psychological, or social problems. Physical problems include cirrhosis of the liver, pancreas, epilepsy, dementia, heart disease, sexual dysfunction and cancer. Psychiatric symptoms can include severe dementia (10% of all dimensia is related to alcohol), schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disturbances. Social effects of alcohol are not at all uncommon traits of the disease. Child abuse, domestic violence, rapes, burglaries, assaults, divorce, and loss of employment can all stem from high alcohol usage.

Causes
Alcoholism can be caused by genetic factors including race. Different races metabolize alcohol differently. Body type is also another genetic factor that can contribute to becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholism never goes away, but is manageable by practicing moderation, attending group therapy, detoxifying yourself and staying clean, and/or taking medications that make alcohol unattractive to your senses.

Source: www.nih.gov; www.who.com; www.drinkwise.com

Created by BryanG

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