I have just come across this long and sobering list of effects of alcohol on the body. I knew most of them, but I didn't know them all. Alcohol is dangerous and frightening. I need to be reminded of this on a daily basis.
Take care,
Carol
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HEART: Alcohol raises blood pressure and increases the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers.
LIVER: Liver deterioration, the formation of fibrous scar tissue (fibrosis), alcoholic hepatitis, irreversible liver damage (cirrhosis) and jaundice of the skin and eyes are all potential effects of heavy alcohol consumption.
THROAT: Alcohol can cause irritation and damage to the oesophagus lead to haemorrhaging, pain and difficulty swallowing.
STOMACH: Drinkers can suffer from irritated stomach lining and stomach ulcers. Mal-absorption of nutrients. Bleeding may occur when vomiting.
PANCREAS: Drinking can lead to inflammation of the pancreas - a potentially fatal condition.
KIDNEYS: Alcohol enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions and increases the risk of kidney failure.
SEXUAL HEALTH: Erectile dysfunction and infertility (reduced sperm count) can be common in men with alcohol problems. In women, drinking can lead to menstrual difficulties, decreased fertility and early menopause.
SKIN: Drinking can cause middle-age acne to develop. It also causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin's surface - producing a flushed skin colour. Palms of the hands also become red. Itching, rash and hives are common as the liver is impacted.
NUTRITION: Excessive drinking increases the risk of malnutrition. The body suffers low intakes of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, vitamin B6 and riboflavin.
CANCER: Heavy drinking increases risk of gouty arthritis and increases the risk of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, larynx and oesophagus.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
I read your post and I began to cry.My dad died of seroius of the liver of all his years of drinking.It is amazing to me you think you are over something and it pops up .
I left home when I was 12 and went into the foster care system and didnt get to see my dad again.I was notified in 1988 he died of seroius of the liver.I didnt get to say good bye but I did write a post letter on the alanon side to him once and it was healing. Thanks to all who dont point out my spelling and grammar mistakes I appreciate it
thanks for this reminder of what Alcoholism, can and will do, to some extent, to those that keep drinking.
I had a few, looked 3 or four months preagant, knew it was the beginning of my liver going, and I had those real yellow eyes to back up my thoughts on this.
Today, my liver has been rejuvinated, and my eyes are always white, it is good to remember the toxic effects of alcohol, for this alcoholic. Never, ever want to forget how I walked into the rooms of A. A. for good, and just how humble and Grateful I am to be in this life saving Program.
I am so truly sorry that my post made you cry. I would never have wanted that. Thank you so very much for sharing about your Dad. That was very special to read.
I so detest alcohol and the effects that is has on everything and everybody, not just the body. I sometimes think it should be made harder to buy and not so glamorised in adverts and TV.
Please don't worry about your spelling and grammar. Dori, it's what comes from the heart that counts. You have a beautiful heart - that shows.
Take the very best care of yourself,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Thanks for what you said. Thanks, too, for reminding me of just how swollen my stomach used to look. I was once congratulated on my pregnancy and I wasn't! Even though I knew it was due to my drinking, it still didn't stop me.
A few months ago, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. My GP, who knows honestly about my drinking, gently told me that my alcoholism certainly wouldn't have helped.
Without the wonderful fellowship and program of AA I am sure that I would be dead, or very close to it now. I am a truly Grateful alcoholic.
With all best wishes,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Im a bloke and it has often been a joke from people "Hey Robert whens your baby due?".. I reply with the only way you can and joke like "Im gettin a scan tomorrow, i should find out then"..and its all laughs.. Though people hav gotten used to it now i think.. Im about 2 stone over weight.. err thats 28 pounds for people who dont work in stones. But then what can i expect from all the beer, crips, kebabs, lots of sandwhiches, snacks, not much exercise etc.
Its wierd, i used to think that the liver was kinda of in your back and when i got a pain in a certain place in my back i thought it was my liver, but when i got a horrible ache in/under my right chest i didnt know what it was.. I havent had any pains there for a long long time though, back when i used to drink Port i think. I think if i had realised back then that that was my liver it would have scared the hell out of me! But i can only hope my liver is ok...ish.. cos i never get pain there now.. Unless i killed off the pain receptors/nerves there that tell my brain somethings wrong.... Who knows.. Iv said to myself for along time that if i can get sober then after 6 or maybe 12 months i would get the doctor to give me a full physical including tests on my kidneys and liver etc.
Sounds great, if you are hell-bent on dying a horrible death....
Seriously, this alcohol is no laughing matter.... we have poured poison directly into our precious organs for years, decades, and helpless to find a way to stop the madness.
Thank God there is a way out of this long slow suicide!!
I, too, used to think that my liver was near my back. I think that pain was coming from my kidneys, though. About four years ago I had my gall bladder removed. The surgeon said that he would cut it away from my liver. As I went under the general anaesthetic I could imagine my liver bursting out of my body like something out of an 'Alien' movie. Instead of doing something about it, I figured that I had 'got away' with it and carried on drinking. I recently had a liver function test done. It wasn't as good as I would have liked, but it is slowly improving. I know that the liver is amazing and will rejuvenate itself to a certain point. I needed to know what damage I had caused to myself and I felt relieved when I faced up to it.
Have a great day.
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Yes, we have poisoned ourselves year after year. But, the human body is an amazing thing. I used to get very bad heart palpitations when I was drinking. I think that it only carried on beating because it was too unimaginative to stop! The palpitations have got less and less now and I am starting to feel so much healthier.
The alternative, for this alcoholic, was a very long, slow and painful death. I am just so grateful to AA for all that it is doing for me.
Have a super day,
Q
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Yeah i know its no laughing matter but when people are just messing about joking at my gut then the only way is to joke/laugh it off, doesnt mean im laughing on the inside just to them.
I too get Liver and Kidney tests regularly... wish they could test my brain tissue too at times... LOL
I had a bloated liver in my 20's from the heavy daily-liquor consumption... in the past 6 years I have only gone off the wagon a couple of times, by the grace of God, and now my tests come back very healthy. So just keep on keepin' on and you will most likely heal up just fine!!
Thanks for that. In the long term I'm not too worried about my liver. My GP seems pretty optimistic and that's good enough for me. As to my poor, remaining brain cell - she wouldn't comment on that one!
Take care,
Q
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
