The Fetal Alcohol Disorders Society reports that 37 percent of babies are exposed to binge drinking during pregnancy and that 15 percent of those babies are born needing special education. A mother who drinks alcohol during pregnancy places her...
Alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, is characterized by increasing tolerance, cravings and withdrawal symptoms. When alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream from the digestive tract, it is quickly distributed to all parts of the body and has...
It is not uncommon for alcoholics to have a secondary bipolar diagnosis. While the reasons for this coexistence remain muddied, as does an understanding of which condition appears first, what is clear is that the presence of both in unison can...
Drinking brings pleasure to the body because of its effect on the nervous system. Unfortunately, alcoholism can have serious and unwanted affects on the nervous system that can lead to seizure. These seizures can happen while the person is...
Alcohol use is generally not recommended for patients with bipolar disorder due to its negative effects. Problems with alcohol such as alcohol abuse or dependence have been found to often co-exist in people who have bipolar disorder, notes the...
Bipolar disorder is a mood affliction often characterized by symptoms of mania and depression. Alcohol use is a common occurrence among people with bipolar disorder because it is generally a way to calm themselves and reduce the symptoms in the...
Alcoholism remains a common problem in our society. At least 15 percent of young adults have an alcohol-related issue, according to a March 2005 report in the "Archives of General Psychiatry." Such abuse can have an adverse effect on your health....
Alcohol abuse, a stage of problematic drinking that directly precedes alcohol dependence, is characterized by a dangerous pattern of self-destructive drinking, according to Helpguide. While you may not yet have a physical addiction to alcohol, as...
Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by an increasing tolerance for alcohol, the inability to quit drinking, withdrawal symptoms during periods of abstinence, and more. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism...
Occasional alcohol use rarely leads to a condition known as alcoholism; however, understanding the progressive nature of alcohol disorders is important for prevention of a potentially devastating life-long battle. Excessive alcohol use is...
For some, alcoholism is a chronic disease; it is not just a habit that they can quit. As the Mayo Clinic explains, it is a physical dependence, one that develops gradually. As time progresses, it changes some of the chemicals in the brain that...
When any member of a family is an alcoholic, the effects are felt by the entire family. The impact of alcoholism can be felt in both indirect and direct ways and may include violence, neglect, and physical and emotional abuse that threatens family...
In the family of an alcoholic, no one is spared the effects of his drinking. The impact of alcohol abuse on a family can be overwhelming. Family members may be abused physically, neglected and verbally demeaned. Even if an alcoholic goes into...
Alcoholism and depression may occur together for many patients seeking treatment for either disorder. Alcohol can intensify depressive symptoms but does not necessarily cause depression. Depression may cause some people to drink more to relieve...
Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient that your body, and especially your brain, needs for proper functioning. Your body cannot produce thiamine, so you must supply it in your diet. The daily recommended amount is 1 mg/day,...
Until recently, the topic of mental illness was shrouded with fear and mystery. Mentally ill people were often thought to be possessed by demons and were confined under horrifying conditions. Today, the true causes of mental illness are much more...
One beer a day may lead to healthier bones and a glass of wine could improve your cholesterol levels. Drinking too much, however, could negate these benefits and pack on the pounds. Depending on your drink of choice, an alcoholic beverage can...
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are both serious problems, but different disorders. Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, involves a compulsion to drink, a high tolerance for alcohol, and a loss of control over drinking; alcohol abuse, meanwhile, is...
Alcohol may have a profound effect on anxiety and depression when problems develop with the mental disorders or the drinking. Alcohol abuse or dependence can have negative consequences on behavior, work and family life. Anxiety produces...
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, explains that alcohol addiction is a disease that includes the following symptoms: craving alcohol, not being able to control drinking behavior, physical dependence on alcohol and...
Alcoholism occurs when drinking becomes habitual and patterned, leading to an inability to maintain daily obligations and the potential engagement of dangerous behaviors. Long-term alcoholism has physiological and psychological consequences...
The brain and nervous system use electrochemical impulses to control the functions of the brain and body. The chemical components of these impulses are specialized molecules known as neurotransmitters. The dietary intake of amino acids is...
Hiking may cause nerved damage in your lower legs. A fall on your leg or a twisting of your leg in the wrong direction during a hike is sometimes all it takes to tweak one of your nerves. The damage to your nerves caused by a hiking injury can...
Lithium is a soft alkali metal similar in nature to sodium and potassium. It occurs naturally in some local water supplies. Lithium is used to treat manic depression, but may also be useful in treating migraine cluster headaches, low white blood...
Consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, including acorn squash, apricots, bananas, citrus fruits, lima beans, pineapples, potatoes, prunes, raisins, spinach and tomatoes, can help you meet your potassium needs. Your body uses potassium for...
In 2007, a study using data from a national sample of almost 1,500 individuals meeting criteria for alcohol dependence and conducted by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) determined that there are five...
Alcoholism is a chronic disease in which a person's body becomes dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependence compels a person to drink, despite the problems that it causes with relationships, health and work. A teenager may develop alcoholism as a...
Occasional tiredness is normal, but if you are frequently or constantly tired, you are likely suffering from fatigue. It may be brought on by a minor condition or it may signal a life-threatening illness. Weakness is uncommon in young, healthy...
You already know that when you're pregnant, you're eating for two. That goes for what you drink, as well. Alcohol of any kind---beer, wine, champagne, and liquor---is also ingested by the baby and can cause lifelong, irreversible damage. The...
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an psychiatric disorder most often associated with any serious psychological trauma. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for PTSD in this medical video.
