Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can create a variety of interpersonal, economic and legal problems for individuals and families, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. It's important to know the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse...
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have devastating effects for the fetus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that women consume no alcohol while pregnant. Alcohol passes through the umbilical cord to the unborn baby...
There's no definitive proof that drinking alcohol can make you gain weight, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital. Likewise, you won't necessarily lose weight if you give it up. No matter what you eliminate from your diet in an effort to lose...
Whether you drink alcohol or not, weight loss always comes down to a matter of calories. A pound of body fat is equal to 3,500 calories. To lose a pound a week, you must either burn 3,500 additional calories, eliminate 3,500 calories from your...
While people who drink only occasionally will rarely have alcohol withdrawal symptoms, those who suffer from alcohol addiction can experience many unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms when they stop drinking. The American Academy of...
Fatty liver refers to a condition where fat accumulates in the liver and may be accompanied by inflammation. According to the Mayo Clinic, fatty liver is the most common cause of liver enzyme elevation in the United States. People with alcohol...
From the perspective of pure health, quitting alcohol, if you drink, is one of the best things you can do for your body. It goes well beyond having a headache and upset stomach the morning after a bender. Excessive and even moderate drinking are...
Smoking and drinking often go together, even for people who drink responsibly but may have smoked in the past once in a while. Potential health problems surface when people drink and smoke regularly. Smoking and drinking can become addictions....
Alcoholics often know they have a problem but rarely admit it. Denial allows the alcoholic to keep on drinking despite all the unwanted effects. Even if he admits the problem to himself, it is very difficult to stop drinking. Easy availability of...
Alcohol abuse takes a huge toll on your body, especially the liver and brain; however, your muscles and joints can also be affected. Moderate alcohol consumption is not unhealthy, but having a few too many on a regular basis can make it very...
Most major movie stars have abs that look as though they were sculpted in Michelangelo's studio. According to CNN, some stars reportedly use prescription drugs that quicken the metabolism to lose weight fast. Others practically starve themselves...
Quitting alcohol following a period of excessive drinking can bring on withdrawal symptoms that range from mild to severe, depending on how long or how much a person has been drinking. Symptoms can occur following weeks, months or years of...
Alcoholics who suddenly quit drinking go through physical withdrawal as alcohol leaves the body. The detoxification process may include shakiness, headaches, nausea, anxiety, fatigue and insomnia. Doctors may prescribe medication to relieve...
Alcoholism affects more than 9 million people in the United States and costs about $185 billion dollars annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines alcohol abuse as excessive alcohol consumption; alcohol dependence,...
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...
Fatty liver, also called steatosis, occurs when certain fats inside liver cells accumulate abnormally. Common causes of fatty liver include alcoholism, drugs, toxins, excess body weight, insulin-resistant diabetes, high triglyceride levels in the...
Episodes of atrial fibrillation, which involve a rapid heartbeat and poor blood flow, can be caused by dietary and lifestyle factors. Treatment usually involves medications that alter your heart's electrical impulses, but you can also prevent...
According to 2007 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 61 percent of the American population drinks alcohol at some point each year. When used in moderation, alcohol poses little danger to the average consumer....
Unlike prevention programs, drug and alcohol intervention programs target those who are already at risk for drug-related problems: college students who have to deal with drinking on campus, young people from families with a history of drug...
Our body needs cholesterol to maintain cell membranes and to manufacture hormones. The main cholesterol producer in our body is the liver. There are two types of cholesterol, the low density lipoprotein or LDL, and the high density lipoprotein, or...
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant used recreationally for its intoxicating effects. Alcohol dependence occurs when a person requires alcohol to avoid physical withdrawals and continues to drink despite obvious negative effects. Both...
Hirsutism is the term for excessive hair growth in men and women. According to SharedJourney.com, hirsutism affects more than one in six people in the United States. Endocrinologist Dr. Geoffery Redmond explains that nearly all cases of hirsutism...
You can lower your "bad" cholesterol, known as LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, without Lipitor or with limited medications. Ideally, your LDL cholesterol level should be below 100 mg/dL. LDL cholesterol can be especially dangerous because it...
An ulcer --- also referred to as a stomach ulcer or peptic ulcer --- is a sore that forms in the stomach or in the upper portion of your small intestines. Ulcers occur when the acid your stomach uses for digestion begins to eat away at the lining...
Due to the fact cigarettes contain an addicting substance called nicotine, many smokers find it hard to kick the habit. The number of people who are hooked on this chemical and smoke on a regular basis is in the 80 to 90 percent range, says...
Doctors will often determine that people with blood sugar levels that test higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, have a condition called prediabetes. Estimates show that around 57 million people have prediabetes,...
Counselors at Behavioral Medicine Associates (BMA) in Atlanta report that alcoholism is a complex disease that includes both physical and psychological addiction components. While there are certain drug therapies that can ease the pain of the...
Weight loss is not easy for most people. It takes a balance of exercise, eating right, will power, persistence and patience. Some people want to lose weight but aren't willing to make the required lifestyle changes. Others want to lose weight so...
Liver cirrhosis refers to the end stage of chronic liver disease where continuous damage to normal liver tissue has resulted in the formation of scar tissue. Often individuals with mild to moderate liver cirrhosis exhibit no symptoms. If the...
Alcohol is one of the leading causes of death in America. Learn how to get started quitting alcohol from a licensed professional psychotherapist in this video.
Get the facts about hypertension and tips for living with high blood pressure in this video.
Oral cancer is a kind of cancer that affects some part of the mouth. This cancer sees many people diagnosed with it annually, but it is also very curable if detected early. Watch this video for more information on this condition and how to fight it.
