The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there are approximately 10.6 million adults who suffer from chronic alcoholism and another 7.3 million who abuse alcohol. Alcoholism is dependence on alcohol that may manifest as a strong craving for alcohol, continued use despite harm, the inability to limit drinking and physical illness when drinking ceases. Alcohol abuse is drinking that results in harm to your health, your relationships and your ability to work. Once ingested, alcohol can be absorbed through the stomach or small intestine and enter the bloodstream and chronic use can cause detrimental damage to organs throughout the body.
Alcoholic Liver Disease
The liver, which is responsible for filtering toxins from the body, is one of the organs most susceptible to damage caused by chronic alcohol abuse. Chronic alcoholism can lead to three forms of liver disease: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. With over 2 million people in the United States suffering from alcoholic liver disease, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol abuse is the leading cause of liver disease death.
Fatty liver disease is the accumulation of triglycerides (fats) in the liver. This occurs because the alcohol interferes with the production of enzymes in the liver that are necessary to break down the fats and move them out of the liver. Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by an increase in cytokines, chemical messengers that work to regulate inflammation. Cytokines activate cells in the immune system, which stimulates the production of more cytokines resulting in chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation causes the death of liver cells resulting in the build-up of scar tissue, a condition known as cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis of the liver reduces liver function and can lead to liver failure.
Suppressed Immune System
The immune system consists of a variety of cells that are responsible for protecting the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Chronic alcoholism can inhibit immune responses by interfering with the functions of these cells. Those who abuse alcohol are therefore more susceptible to potentially dangerous infections including bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis and hepatitis C.
Heart Damage
Although the liver is supposed to filter the alcohol from the blood, it can only filter a small amount at a time. Those suffering from chronic alcoholism intake too much alcohol for their liver to metabolize (break down), leaving some in the blood, which can damage other organs. Long-term, this alcohol can cause the heart muscle to enlarge which interferes with its ability to contract. This condition, known as cardiomyopathy, produces symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Those who drink excessive amounts of alcohol are also at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, a condition characterized by decreased blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain and lead to a heart attack.
Chronic alcoholism can also cause increased blood pressure. High blood pressure, known as hypertension, increases the risk for heart attack and congestive heart failure, which is a serious condition that occurs when the heart is not able to pump enough blood through the body.
