- By Mojisola Alaiya
Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health issue worldwide with detrimental impact on the health, social and economic wellbeing of individuals and the society. However, negative attitudinal disposition towards knowledge of the danger of alcohol consumption on health has been observed among alcohol consumers. Most people do not see themselves as suffering from alcohol addiction but deny it as we may it is a major health and social problem in the society.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) listed alcohol and its major metabolite (acetaldehyde) as a Group 1 carcinogen in humans. Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive substance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption is the causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions. It is reported to account for about 3.3 million deaths worldwide and for 5.1% of the global burden of disease with death, disease and injury related to its consumption clearly linked to economic status of individuals, countries and regions (WHO 2018).
The liver is one of the most vital organs of the body and performs a variety of functions. It is the primary site of alcohol metabolism and breakdown of toxins in the body. Its functions also include protein synthesis, glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, hormone production, production of bile etc. It is responsible for up to 500 functions usually in combination with other systems and organs. No artificial organ or device is capable of emulating all the functions of the liver. Liver dialysis can only do some of these functions. Care of the liver is therefore essential.
Alcohol consumption affects all the major organs in the body. However the liver, being the organ responsible for detoxification, in the body is much more affected. Alcohol abuse has been identified as a major risk factor for liver cancer and other cancer incidences such as cancer of the throat, pharynx and colon. Liver cancer is reported to be the fastest growing cancer worldwide by the WHO.
How much alcohol consumption is too much? The WHO, the American Institute for Cancer Research, World Cancer Research Fund and the IARC have all stated that no level of continuous alcohol consumption is completely safe hence any level of its consumption can be associated with a range of cancers.
Healthcare providers are often baffled and frustrated by the failure of many alcohol addicts to recognize the extent to which alcohol use has affected their lives and the lives of those around them. Many automobile accidents can be attributed to alcoholism.
Thus alcohol addicts not only harm themselves they are dangerous to the society. He or she is a mobile death merchant on wheels apart from being on a suicide mission.
Alcoholism as a medical condition aggravates other health issues such as kidney failure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic alcohol consumption causes damage to the liver, digestive system and nearly every organ of the body. It increases susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas, throat, pharynx, breast, colon, mouth, rectum etc. It leads to heart diseases by raising blood pressure and the level of fat [lipids] in the blood. It increases the risk of stroke, nervous breakdown, obesity, psychological disturbances, diabetic complications and alcoholic hepatitis.
What happens when alcohol is consumed?
Twenty per cent of the quantity ingested is absorbed directly across the stomach walls and can reach the brain in one minute. The action is faster if the alcohol is taken on an empty stomach. Alcohol is metabolized extremely quickly unlike food. The liver produces an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase which breaks down part of the remaining alcohol in the stomach thus helping to reduce the amount of alcohol in the blood. Women however produce less of this enzyme which explains why they are easily intoxicated. Normally liver cells prefer to breakdown fatty acids but when there is high alcohol content the liver is forced to first metabolize the alcohol letting the fatty acids accumulate in huge amount thereby changing permanently the structure of the liver cells. The result is a condition known as fatty liver.
Fatty liver is the first stage of liver deterioration and it affects the distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the liver. With continued excessive alcohol consumption, the liver cells begin to die off forming fibrous scar tissues. This condition is called Liver Fibrosis. The situation can be prevented from degenerating further at this stage if the alcohol addict stop drinking and make effort to eat food rich in nutrients because the liver can still regenerate itself at this stage. However if the alcohol abuse persists, the last stage sets in leading to the condition called liver cirrhosis. The damage to the liver at this stage is irreversible and ultimately leads to death.
What is the way out?
Moderate use of alcohol is recommended but there are different interpretations of the term. For some, taking five bottles of beer per day is moderate. Studies have shown that a safe alcohol intake should not be more than two drinks for a whole day (and this should not be too often). A drink is approximately 34cl for beer (i.e. one canned tin of beer), 14cl for wine and 2.8cl distilled alcohol like gin etc.
In addition, the way alcohol is taken matters. Here are some tips that can help you prevent intoxication and over working your liver if you find it difficult to stop alcohol consumption:
• Sip your drink slowly. This gives the enzyme, Alcohol dehydrogenase, time to breakdown alcohol and reduce its concentration.
• Always consume alcohol with food, NEVER drink on an empty stomach.
• Drink plenty of water in between drinks.
Alcohol addiction is a serious mental health issue. In the United States, it is recorded that over 14 million people suffer from this health issue and approximately 88,000 deaths are attributable to excessive alcohol use each year. Alcohol addiction not only affects health it also affects your finances, credibility and peace of mind.
It is important to seek help when alcohol consumption becomes an addiction. Anyone that finds it difficult to function effectively without alcohol requires medical and psychological treatment. It is not a thing to be ashamed of and living in denial will not stop alcohol from cutting your life short. Make an effort to save your life and that of somebody else. Make the right choice.