June 7, 2008
The Deadly Combination of Smoking and Alcohol Part 8
There are many reasons why people smoke, and just as many reasons why people drink excessively. Both are addictive, and both cause damage to one's health. Before your health is permanently damaged, deciding to stop smoking and stop drinking will probably extend your life significantly and improve your health immensely.
The prevalence of alcoholism in the United States is astounding. National surveys reveal that more than half of the adult population had more than one drink of alcohol within the past 30 days. In current estimates, about 5% of the total population are heavy drinkers while 15% binge drank.
Similar to smoking, alcohol is an addictive substance that can eventually form into a habit and addiction since it also circulates in the entire body. The first organ that becomes overworked due to alcohol is the liver. This organ tries to neutralize the amount of alcohol in the body by storing it and eliminating it as waste.
In spite of this effort, long-term alcohol abuse can lead to liver disease such as alcoholic hepatitis that can progress to cirrhosis if drinking is not stopped. In the condition of cirrhosis, the liver becomes so scarred for it to properly perform its functions and can result to liver failure, which belongs in the ranking of the 15 leading causes of death in the U.S.
Over time, alcohol abuse can lead to chronic illnesses, neurological deterioration and social problems. Families who have members who drink are often caught in the crossfire of conflict while trying to assuage the drinker. Social problems could also be in form of loss of productivity and unemployment.
Comments
June 8, 2008
Antonio Howell said:
The thing about alcohol is that it is only bad if taken excessively.
Some alcohol is actually good for you. Resveratrol an ingredient in red wine has many benefits.
In contrast smoking is never good and even one cigarette is bad.