Medical Issues

April 15, 2009

Alcoholism: Risk Factors

There are many risk factors that can increase the likelihood that someone will become an alcoholic.  Steady drinking over time can increase the chance of physical dependence on alcohol.  Men that drink in excess of 15 drinks a week and women that drink 12 or more drinks a week are at risk for developing dependence.  Drinking is itself is only one of the many risk factors of alcoholism; some of the other risk factors are:

Age – Those who start drinking at an early age (16 or earlier) are at a higher risk of developing alcohol dependence or abuse.

Genetics / Family History – Your genetics / family history may increase or decrease the chance that you become an alcoholic.

Gender – Men are more likely to become alcohol dependent than women are.

Emotional State – Having severe depression or aniexty increases the chance of abusing alcohol; adults that are diagnoised with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have a greater risk of developing alcoholism.

March 31, 2009

Alcoholism: Symptoms

The symptoms of alcoholism can vary from person to person.  A few or all of the symptoms of alcoholism listed below may be present in an alcoholic.

Early Stages:

  • Activities are planned around drinking
  • Sneaking drinks or hiding alcohol usage
  • Drinking occurs to relieve stress
  • Blackouts, the inability to recall or remember events or parts of time that happened while drinking
  • More and more thoughts about alcohol
  • More and more alcohol is required to feel drunk

Middle Stages:

  • Lack of ability to keep promises
  • Refusal to admit a drinking problem
  • Drinking more than planned
  • Drinking immediately after awakening from sleep
  • Personality changes or mood swings
  • Attempting to control drinking with mind games (ex. Telling one’s self not to drink prior to noon)

Late Stages:

  • Severe withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens

February 26, 2009

Alcoholism: Genetics

Alcoholism may have strong links to a person’s genetics.  For instance, research has shown that the body’s enzyme that metabolize alcohol may be influenced by genetic factors.  Other research has shown that there are two type of genetic predisposition to alcoholism.  Type I is found mostly in males, that have a tendency to get in trouble, and fights.  Type II can be found in male or females and is triggered by stressful events.  All of these genetic factors do not guarantee that someone will become an alcoholic, they simple increase their risk factors.  Additionally, genetics can affect risk factors for alcoholism as shown by the CSF Family Alcoholism Study which states, “20-25% of sons and brothers of alcoholics become alcoholics” and “5% of daughters and sisters of alcoholics become alcoholics”.  Alcoholics are also six times more likely than nonalcoholics to report a positive family history of alcoholism.  These are the current arguments supporting the idea that genetic factors can influence the risk factors for developing alcoholism.

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