The benefits given above are some of the positive effects that can be gained from the moderate consumption of alcohol. Although it may appear that alcohol when consumed in moderate amounts may have postive effects, the number of negative effects of alcohol still outweighs the benefits that can be gained from it. The negative effects of alcohol consumption is often related to its abuse and when this happens the impact is larger than what a person expects.
Different health issues associated with alcohol abuse has been the subject of different studies and since men drink more than women they tend to suffer more of the ill effects as its result. (Men and alcohol). The Liver The liver is said to be one of the largest organ in the body. More than 200 years ago, the relation between liver diseases and alcohol consumption was recognized. (Cited in Smart and Mann, 1992). The symptoms of liver damage is not evident until the damage in the organ is quite extensive.
It was suggested that in order for the liver injury to become apparent, certain amount of alcohol must be consumed. (Cited in Mezey et al. 1988). For men the consumption of alcoholic beverages amounting to 600 kg for many years which is equivalent to 72 ounces of beer, 1 liter of wine or 8 ounces of distilled spirits daily for 20 years may result to liver diseases. It was cited in French and his associates (1993) work that alcohol related damages are divided into 3 categories: (1) Fatty liver where in the occurrence of fat deposition in the liver may appear among all heavy drinkers and transiently in non-alcoholics.
This liver disease is believed to be reversible and may not lead to serious damages. (2) alcoholic hepatitis- a disorder where there is a widespread the liver tissue suffers from inflammation and destruction. Symptoms includes fever, jaundice and abdominal pain. Though this condition may be reversible through abstinence, the disorder is also fatal because it may be a cause of death due to its sudden onset and rapid course. (3) Alcoholic cirrhosis is considered to be the most advanced form of liver disease.
Exensive fibrosis, where in healthy liver tissues are replaced by scar tissues resulting to the stiffening of theb blood vessels and the distortion of the internal structure of the liver. The structural damage of the liver often leads to its impairment causing other organs like the brain and kidneys to malfunction. The pancreas Alcohol-induced pancreatitis was first reported in as early as 1878. (Cited in Freidreich, 1878).
The alcoholic pancreatitis is considered to be a fatal illness that may be short term which is also called as acute pancreatitis or long term also known as chronic pancreatitis. It was found out that the usual victims of alcoholic pancreatitis are men in their forties. The symptoms include vomiting, acute abdominal pain which may be relieved by leaning forward. The pain may last 2 to 3 days for mild cases but cases that are severe often manifest the pain for several weeks which may result to death.
Patients who were diagnosed with alcoholic-pancreatitis and still continues to drink after the onset of the disease develops chronic pancreatic disease due to the progressive destruction of the pancreatic tissue approximately after 5 to 6 years. (Apte et al. , 1997). Cardiovascular System Although most of the positve effects of alcohol is scientifically accepted to be beneficial to the cardiovascular system through moderate drinking, many studies suggest that heavy alcohol consumption can contribute to various negative consequences in the cardiovascular system.
It was found out that most of the chronic alcohol abusers are more likely to develop symptoms of cardiac dysfucntions. Alcohol may affect the heart muscles which may result to the degeneration of the heart muscles (cardiomyopathy) and cardiac arrythmias. Heavy alcohol consumption is also associated with increased hypertension and plays a vital role in the development of ischemic heart disease wherein there is a deficiency in the blood circulation to the heart and cerebrovascular disorders like stroke. (Sullivan, 1997).