Medical Implications of Alcohol Dependence

Apart from social and psychological consequences, alcohol dependence leads to a lot of physical health problems. Liver is the most commonly affected organ. Apart from this, alcohol creates problem related to the skin, permanent impotence, appetite loss, vitamin deficiencies, damage of central nervous system, etc.

Alcohol has a significant effect on the functioning of the brain. Consumption of alcohol depresses the central nervous system. With increased consumption, the motor skills get affected and actions start becoming clumsy. Alcohol dependence affects the behavioural pattern of the individual to a great extent. Very acute and prolonged drinking can actually cause damage to the brain.

Positive effects include the decrease in cardiovascular disease due to moderate drinking. This fact has been proved beyond doubt. Especially, the risk of heart related diseases decrease tremendously if alcohol especially red wine is consumed moderately over a period of time.

This is due to the existence of certain polyphenol antioxidants present in red wines which favours the health of the heart. Other benefits of moderate alcohol consumption includes an increase in the HDL or cholesterol which is good for the health, decrease in blood clotting or thrombosis, reduced spasm of artery related to stress, increases the flow of blood in the coronary, increases the sensitivity of insulin, etc.

Moderate drinking also has a positive impact on the progress of coronary heart disease. It actually decreases the risk of CHD. Moderate indicates not more than one or two drinks a day. Moderate drinking has similar positive effects on coronary vascular disease or angina pectoris and also on patients who are on their way to recovery after coronary stenting.

Similarly, moderate drinking has proven to be an aid in the reduction of heart attacks or strokes or even in a person who is recovering from an attack. Alcohol abuse on the other hand increases the risk of a stroke or a heart attack. Even one drink a week has shown significant results.