el alcoholismos y como nos afecta | Transcripciones de Clínica Medica

Alcoholism

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Definition

Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your

drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems,

having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms

when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. If you have alcoholism, you can't consistently predict

how much you'll drink, how long you'll drink, or what consequences will occur from your drinking.

It's possible to have a problem with alcohol, even when it has not progressed to the point of

alcoholism. Problem drinking means you drink too much at times, causing repeated problems in

your life, although you're not completely dependent on alcohol.

Binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks in a row, or a

female downs at least four drinks in a row — can lead to the same health risks and social problems

associated with alcoholism. The more you drink, the greater the risks. Binge drinking, which often

occurs with teenagers and young adults, may lead to faster development of alcoholism.

If you have alcoholism or you have a problem with alcohol, you may not be able to cut back or quit

without help. Denying that you have a problem is usually part of alcoholism and other types of

excessive drinking.

Symptoms

Alcoholism signs and symptoms include those below. You may:

 Be unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink

 Feel a strong need or compulsion to drink

 Develop tolerance to alcohol so that you need more to feel its effects

 Drink alone or hide your drinking

 Experience physical withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking —

when you don't drink

 Not remember conversations or commitments, sometimes referred to as a "black out"

 Make a ritual of having drinks at certain times and become annoyed when this ritual is

disturbed or questioned

 Be irritable when your usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn't available

 Keep alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work or in your car

 Gulp drinks, order doubles or become drunk intentionally to feel good, or drink to feel

"normal"

 Have legal problems or problems with relationships, employment or finances due to drinking

 Lose interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring you pleasure

If you binge drink or have other problems with alcohol, you may have many of the signs and

symptoms above, although you may not feel as much of a compulsion to drink compared with

someone who has alcoholism. Also, you may not have physical withdrawal symptoms when you

don't drink. But this pattern of drinking can still cause serious problems and lead to alcoholism. As

with alcoholism, you may not be able to quit problem drinking without help.

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Alcoholism

By Mayo Clinic Staff Definition Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. If you have alcoholism, you can't consistently predict how much you'll drink, how long you'll drink, or what consequences will occur from your drinking. It's possible to have a problem with alcohol, even when it has not progressed to the point of alcoholism. Problem drinking means you drink too much at times, causing repeated problems in your life, although you're not completely dependent on alcohol. Binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks in a row, or a female downs at least four drinks in a row — can lead to the same health risks and social problems associated with alcoholism. The more you drink, the greater the risks. Binge drinking, which often occurs with teenagers and young adults, may lead to faster development of alcoholism. If you have alcoholism or you have a problem with alcohol, you may not be able to cut back or quit without help. Denying that you have a problem is usually part of alcoholism and other types of excessive drinking. Symptoms Alcoholism signs and symptoms include those below. You may:  Be unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink  Feel a strong need or compulsion to drink  Develop tolerance to alcohol so that you need more to feel its effects  Drink alone or hide your drinking  Experience physical withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink  Not remember conversations or commitments, sometimes referred to as a "black out"  Make a ritual of having drinks at certain times and become annoyed when this ritual is disturbed or questioned  Be irritable when your usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn't available  Keep alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work or in your car  Gulp drinks, order doubles or become drunk intentionally to feel good, or drink to feel "normal"  Have legal problems or problems with relationships, employment or finances due to drinking  Lose interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring you pleasure If you binge drink or have other problems with alcohol, you may have many of the signs and symptoms above, although you may not feel as much of a compulsion to drink compared with someone who has alcoholism. Also, you may not have physical withdrawal symptoms when you don't drink. But this pattern of drinking can still cause serious problems and lead to alcoholism. As with alcoholism, you may not be able to quit problem drinking without help.

Causes Alcoholism is influenced by genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors that have an impact on how it affects your body and behavior. The process of becoming addicted to alcohol occurs gradually, although some people have an abnormal response to alcohol from the time they start drinking. Over time, drinking too much may change the normal balance of chemicals and nerve tracks in your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to exercise control over your behavior. This may result in your craving alcohol to restore good feelings or remove negative ones. Risk factors  Steady drinking over time. Drinking too much on a regular basis for an extended period or binge drinking on a regular basis can produce a physical dependence on alcohol.  Age. People who begin drinking at an early age are at a higher risk of problem drinking or physical dependence on alcohol.  Family history. The risk of alcoholism is higher for people who have a parent or other close relatives who have problems with alcohol.  Depression and other mental health problems. It's common for people with a mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder to have problems with alcohol or other substances.  Social and cultural factors. Having friends or a close partner who drinks regularly could increase your risk of alcoholism. The glamorous way that drinking is sometimes portrayed in the media also may send the message that it's OK to drink too much.  Mixing medication and alcohol. Some medications interact with alcohol, increasing its toxic effects. Drinking while taking these medications can either increase or decrease their effectiveness, or even make them dangerous. Complications Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. In some people, the initial reaction may be stimulation. But as you continue to drink, you become sedated. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and affects your thoughts, emotions and judgment. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. If you have problems with alcohol, you're more likely to also have problems with other substances. Excessive drinking can reduce your judgment skills and lower inhibitions, leading to poor choices and dangerous situations or behaviors, such as:  Motor vehicle accidents and other types of accidents.  Domestic problems.  Poor performance at work or school.  Increased likelihood of committing violent crimes. Health problems caused by excessive drinking can include:  Liver disease. Heavy drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis — an inflammation of the liver. After years of heavy drinking, hepatitis may lead to irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).

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Alcoholism