Drinking to your HEALTH?

Habitual intake of alcohol may lead to a host of problems
THINK about it. Isn't it ironical that most people always raise a toast to their health and drink merrily, little realising that the glass that cheers costs them dear? Or even if they know about it, they prefer to remain in a blissful state of denial. I ruefully chose to raise the topic at a party last week with a friend.
    "Bunkum," he retorted, as he hit the bar for another Patiala peg to wash down my "unadulterated, useless advice." Hic, hic, huh! "Don't give me those saintly ones." His looks said it all. There was no point discussing the topic any further as he was already three pegs down by then. But even as I left him revelling in an inebriated state, I felt a strong urge coming within me to explore why the people who drink
    often get into
a state of denial when it comes to their health.
A story I read in newspapers last week came in handy to jolt my friend out of his 'kick'. An American Medical Association release quoted latest research to state that the more you drink, the smaller the size of your total brain volume, particularly among women. Although men were more likely to drink alcohol, the linkage between drinking and brain volume was found to be stronger in women. This could be due to biological factors, including women's smaller size and greater susceptibility to the effects of alcohol, it added.
    Well, this may read like a far-fetched consequence, but continued alcohol use, say doctors, can cause chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and oesophagus; high blood pressure, and psychological disorders.
    What's more an alcoholic can get unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries. He/ she could indulge in violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide and suicide. A woman may harm a developing foetus if she drinks while pregnant, be prone to sudden infant death syndrome and worse, can be a victim of alcohol abuse or dependence. Even in sex life, say doctors, alcohol increases the desire, but decreases the performance!
    So, is alcoholism a disease? Isn't is a bit of 'kick & fun" for some and "de-stresser" for others? Therein lies the rub, say doctors as they highlight the need to shatter the myths and misconceptions around alcohol use. Gulp this. Alcoholism is a disease, but intriguingly, there are neither any visible symptoms of the disease, nor does it act like one. To make matters worse, it generally denies it exists and resists treatment. In fact, alcoholism has been recognised for many years by doctors as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. But probably the most simple way to describe it is "a mental addiction that causes a physical compulsion to drink."
    Explains Dr Jitender Nagpal, senior consultant psychiatrist, Vimhans and Moolchand Hospital: "Actually, it could be either way — first psychological addiction and then physical need or vice-versa. In the first case, a person may turn to alcohol in any state of mind — if he's sad or happy — to initially relax himself. In the second case, physical dependence on alcohol may cause serious psychological disorders and the person may slip into depression or show manic behaviour.
    Rehabilitation becomes very difficult in such people because even though there may be a motivation to quit, the body doesn't allow it. So you could say that the triggering factor may be psychological, physical or a convergence of both."
    What's worse, the disease has a progressive nature. In its early stages, taking one or two drinks may be all it takes to get over the urge. But soon it takes six or seven and later maybe 10 or 12. And the disease progresses so quietly and usually over such an extended period of time that even the alcoholic himself fails to notice the point at which he lost control.No wonder, denial is an almost universal symptom of the disease. My friend is a case in point. But for those who realise they do have a problem, help may be easily available. For those who need help and do not want it, intervention may be the only alternative.
    As Dr Nagpal sums it, "Initially, man drinks alcohol, then alcohol drinks alcohol and finally, alcohol drinks man."
TIPPLERS' WOES

• Hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver

• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

• High blood pressure (which can lead to stroke)

• Certain types of cancer, including mouth and throat

• Damage to the brain

• Heart failure

• Neurological problems such as epilepsy
• Certain types of vitamin efficiency