Drinking has become such an obsession with all kinds and classes of people that those who do not drink are dubbed as odd personalities. What was until yesterday, ‘a hush -hush activity,’’ now has become out open .There is enough proof for the spread of alcohol culture, every where, including in the remote mofussil areas. Increase in the incidence of crimes, including rape, robbery and road accidents is directly related to the increase in the use of alcohol. It is time that people are made aware of the most deleterious and disastrous effects of its use. Alcohol acts as fire and goes on burning and damaging the organs as it passes through the body. Health hazards due to Alcohol use: 1. Mouth and esophagus: Alcohol is an irritant to the things of the throat and food pipe. 2. Stomach and Intestine: It has an irritating effect on the stomach’s protective lining (mucous membrane), resulting in gastric or duodenal ulcers. This condition, later on, becomes acute and can cause the perforation of he stomach wall. In the small intestine, alcohol blocks absorption of vitamins, such as B1, B2, B12, Folic acid, and others like xylose, fats and amino acids. 3. in the blood stream: 90% of the alcohol consumed is absorbed into the blood, through the lining of the stomach and duodenum. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol quickly goes to every cell and tissue in the body. Alcohol causes the red blood cells to clump together in sticky walls and slows the blood circulation and thereby deprives the tissues of oxygen, leading to decrease of all bodily functions. It also leads to anemia by reducing the production of red blood cells. Alcohol slows the ability of White Blood Cells to engulf and destroy bacteria (decrease in body protective mechanism). It decreases the clotting ability of Blood platelets. 4. Pancreas: Irritates the cells of the pancreas, causing them to swell, thus blocking the flow of digestive enzymes and leading to Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis (1 out of 5 who develop this disease may die during the first attack). The affected pancreas produce less insulin and diabetes occurs. 5. Liver: It inflames the liver cells and bile production is affected, and Jaundice is developed (eye and skin becomes yellow). Later on leading to cirrhosis of the liver which is eight times more frequent among alcoholics’ than non- alcoholics. 6. Heart: It has a toxic effect on the heart muscle and causes increased amounts of fat to collect in it. 7. Kidneys and urinary bladder: Lining of the bladder is inflamed making it to unable to stretch properly. There is increased loss of fluids due to irritating effect on the kidneys. 8. Sexual function: Swelling of the prostate gland interferes with the ability of the male sexually. 9. Brain: It depresses the brain centers, producing progressive non- coordination, confusion, disorientation, stupor, coma and death. Alcohol kills brain cells any brain damage is permanent (brain cannot produce new cells). Drinking causes loss of memory, judgment and learning ability.  Thus … [Read more...]

 1. What is alcohol? Alcohol is a liquid made by fermenting or distilling the grains, fruits or vegetables. In beverages, the pure alcohol is diluted with other ingredients. The chemical name for alcohol is Ethyl alcohol or Ethanol. 2. What does alcohol do in the body? Alcohol enters the bloodstream from the stomach and the intestine and it is carried to other parts of the body quite quickly through the blood stream. It reaches the brain at once. Alcohol stays in the body, until it is metabolized (broken down) by the liver and eventually leaves the body through breath, sweat and urine. 3. How does alcohol affect the body? Alcohol has a specific affect on the brain and thus dramatic impact on our behavior. The more alcohol is in the blood, the greater the impact, on our judgment capacity, reaction time to any instinct, co-ordination, vision, speech, balance of the body and walking etc. 4. Is alcohol a drug?  Yes. It is the most popular drug in your neighborhood and commonly used and abused by the teens and adolescents. People spend lots of amount of money on beer, wine and liquor. 5. How much is one standard drink? Because of the different percentages of alcohol in the beverages, people usually believe that some kinds of alcohol are safer or don’t get you drunk so fast. The facts are as follows: (341mlor12oz) 1 bottle of Beer = 1 glass of Wine (142ml/5oz) = A glass of Whisky (43ml/1.5oz).The type of drink makes no difference, because whether it Is in Beer, Wine or liquor, alcohol is alcohol. 6. What is the fastest way to sober up? Doing nothing is the best way. Even cold showers or coffee or any other remedy doesn’t help. The only thing that will help sober up is time. Because the liver needs sufficient time to burn and eliminate the alcohol from the body. 7. What does alcohol do to our moods? A lot depends on the drinker’s moods and where they are drinking. After a couple of drinks, a person might feel more relaxed, another one feels depressed, yet another more becomes wild and a fourth one gets angry. People who get depression can even become verse in mood. 8. How long does it take to get rid of the effects of alcohol? A hangover is your body’s way of grounding you and there is no cure for hangover other than time. The more you drink, the longer you’re going to be grounded, because it requires two hours for the body to get rid of the effect of one drink (one beer or equivalent of it).So even if you have one drink an hour, alcohol builds up in your blood, because you are drinking faster than your body is burning that alcohol.9. What are the some other long- term effects on the body? Alcohol damages the liver, heart, brain, loss of appetite, burning sensation in the stomach, sexual problems and memory loss etc. Stay away from Alcohol and save your body from diseases.  … [Read more...]