The Effects Of Alcohol On Human Cells

The pathophysiology of alcoholism begins after alcohol the ingestion of alcohol. It is absorbed and unaltered through the stomach and intestines. Next it is distributed throughout the body through the blood and absorbed by all tissues and fluids (Huether, 2012, p. 72). Furthermore, in the liver the alcohol blood content is metabolized into acetaldehyde by the enzymes process of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS), and catalase (Huether & McCance, 2012). Next, the metabolizing effects the central nervous system (CNS) and exhibits a depressant action. It is first expressed in the subcortical structures of the brain. This has an effect of disorientation of motor skills and intellect. With an increase in blood alcohol concentration, the medullary centers become depressed and as a result affects respiration (Huether & McCance, 2012). In addition, the effects of alcoholism encourage hepatic and gastric changes. The hepatic effect is caused by acetaldehyde, in which, induces inflammation, fatty deposits and enlargement of the liver (Huether & McCance, 2012).

Liver disease resulting from alcohol affects more than two million Americans and is one of the primary causes of illness and death. The liver frees the body of harmful substances, such as alcohol. While the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces toxins that can be even more dangerous than the alcohol consumed (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). “These by-products damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken the body’s natural defenses. Eventually, these problems can disrupt the body’s metabolism and impair the function of other organs” (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). A condition called steatosis is the result of fat build up in the liver and is the

Alcoholism can take a toll on a person’s body, it can affect the mind, heart and most well known the liver. Alcohol can interfere with the brain’s ability to function, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a long term effect on the brain that can cause lack of coordination as well as learning and memory problems. Alcohol also effects the heart, it can cause cardiomyopathy which is the stretching and drooping of the heart muscles, stroke, irregular heart beat and even high blood pressure. The liver is the most known organ to be affected, cirrhosis of the liver is when the alcohol consumed over time leads to the healthy liver

After alcohol reaches the brain, it numbs the frontal lobe, which has direct control over the judgment, visual perception and decision making skills. Scientists believe this is what makes alcoholics believe they can conquer any task put before them. After drinking a good number of drinks everyday over a long period of time, many things can happen. Cirrhosis of the liver can occur, which means the liver tissues become hardened. Scientists also report that irreversible brain damage can occur before cirrhosis of the liver is even detected. Also, cancer of the liver, mouth, esophagus as well as lungs and pancreatic cancer often occur as a result of alcoholism. Alcohol also has an affect on the mind as well as the body. Alcoholics often report that they feel inferior to people and believe they can do anything. Many people believe that alcohol acts as a "social lubricant." Increased social pleasures, assertiveness talkativeness and even happiness are all expected by many, when they drink in these situations. Alcohol is said to reduce tension and anxiety. This in turn allows drinkers to feel more relaxed and comfortable in social situations. However, this also encourages the drinker to drink more when under more stress.

One of the most commonly known problems of the liver caused by alcohol is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer. There are other types of liver cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile duct, and hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor. Both of these cancers are not caused by alcohol abuse. HCC is caused by cirrhosis or other long-term damage to the liver. Cirrhosis is most often caused by alcohol abuse, hemochromatosis, or a hepatitis B or C infection. Symptoms of HCC include abdominal pain, easy bruising, enlarged abdomen, jaundiced skin or eyes, and unexplained weight loss. Many tests are ordered to diagnosis liver

Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause profound amounts of birth defects and mental retardation. Drinking alcohol is composed of ethanol, a flammable liquid, which is made by fermentation. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol can affect different parts of the human body such as the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, the immune system, and plays a role in cancer (NIH, n.d.). In the brain, alcohol can intervene in communication pathways, which affects how the brain works. Alcohol can cause many different heart defects and disorders such as cardiomyopathy, irregular heartbeats, stroke, high blood pressure and in some cases heart attack. Alcohol proves to be very damaging to the liver, especially in alcoholism. In many cases, the liver turns into scar tissue causing fibrosis and cirrhosis. Other liver problems can include having a fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis. Alcohol-induced fatty liver disease, the first stage of alcohol-induced liver disease, occurs when fat is depositing in liver cells. Alcoholic hepatitis is very similar to fatty liver disease, although it presents with inflammation and scarring of the liver. Many alcoholic’s liver becomes so scarred that it is irreversible, which is called alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most progressive form of alcohol-related liver disease and presents as severe scarring, with termination of normal liver structure. The pancreas is also affected by long-term

Alcohol consumption leads to much damage to the body. Damage to the body depends on how much alcohol one is drinking, size, age, gender and other ways. The way alcohol goes into ones body is the same for everyone. It goes into the body by first, through the stomach and small intestine. After, going through the stomach and small intestine it goes into the blood stream, and towards ones body organs such as the liver, brain, heart, and others. According to NIH(2012), “Alcohol is metabolized in the liver” (p. 1). The liver is what cleans and also removes toxins from the blood. Ethanol, the intoxicating substance will now be inside ones liver when consuming it. Once someone keeps on consuming alcohol overtime, it can lead to liver failure and it will also not be able to metabolize alcohol anymore. This then can lead to diseases such as cirrhosis, cancer, and others. Next, the brain is one of the most important organs of the body. This is because the way someone can be considered dead is by being brain dead. According to NIH(2012), “Alcohol can damage the parts of the brain that control ones memory, speech, and movement. It can also damage the brain by shrinking frontal lobes, which is in charge of thinking, memory, personality and more” (p. 1). Moving on to the heart, the organ assosicated with the number one leading cause of death in the United States. Alcohol

There are several cellular injury mechanisms that result in a variety of different diseases. One general mechanism of cellular injury is through chemical injury. There are about 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals released per year in the United States, and of these, 72 million pounds are known carcinogens (Huether).

Alcohol causes many psychological and physiological problems in heavy drinkers and light drinkers alike. A few well-known consequences of alcohol on the brain and body have been proven. This includes: cognitive mood and memory disturbances, injury to the gastrointestinal and intestinal tracts, and injury to cardiovascular, all of the body’s normal functions. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a growing problem. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs when expectant mothers drink during pregnancy. This condition afflicts over 5,000 infants a year causing mental retardation, constant confusion, withdrawal after delivery, and many visible physical defects. Cirrhosis of the liver is the most common alcohol related health problem. Approximately 10,000 to 24,000

The liver’s job is to break down harmful substances, including alcohol. Excessive drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis which can lead to the development of jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Chronic liver inflammation can lead to severe scarring known as cirrhosis. This formation of scar tissue can destroy the liver. When the liver fails to perform, toxic substances remain in your body. Liver disease is life threatening. Women are at higher risk for alcoholic liver disease than men, because women’s bodies tend to absorb more alcohol and take longer to process

Alcohol can cause severe liver, stomach and heart damage. Alcohol is a colorless volatile flammable liquid. It is feared as a poison or a toxin and is very dangerous when consumed. The liver, is “a large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates”, its primary job is to filter toxins out of the blood stream so it can pass through the rest of your body. When alcohol enters the blood stream, it pass’s through the liver so the liver can filter it. However it takes the liver around an hour to break down only a half-ounce of alcohol. When teens begin abusing alcohol, and over drinking, then liver is focusing only on getting the toxin out of your blood and forgetting about its other jobs. After so much the liver can no long sustain this work, and begins to cease functioning (What alcohol does to the body. (1999, Mar 19)). This is liver damage caused by abusing alcohol known as Cirrhosis. Alcohol can also severely damage the heart, sometimes leading to heart failure and ultimately death. When the alcohol pass’s through the heart, the heart has to work harder because the alcohol damages the heart. The heart eventually gets weaker and is unable to continue working (What alcohol does to the body. (1999, Mar 19)).In adolescent teens, whose organs have not fully developed, these affects can come on quicker with less alcohol intake and the affects can be more severe,

The liver is another organ that is extremely exposed to be damaged by consuming excessive alcohol and is one of the major causes for death in alcoholic people. Since the liver is one of the largest organs of the body, it is crucial to maintain a constant care by taking precautions on things that could affect our liver. In addition, the main job of the liver is to maintain people’s body as healthy as possible by disregarding substances and breaking them down; however, according to NIH, as the liver breaks these substances it also liberates toxins that can be even more harmful. “Your liver works hard to keep your body productive and healthy. It stores energy and nutrients. It

For motor skills part, there are two factors to analysis, which include muscle control: leg muscles and heart muscles; eyesight effect by the alcohol consumption. An organization which is named Narconon Reviews (2013) claimed that motor-skills are those functions that muscles, hand, feet, etc work together. They are always executing specific actions, such as walking/running, driving a car, picking up an object/moving it. Motor skills also connect with sensory channels. These channels include sight, sound, touch, smell and even tastes. If an independent drinks alcohol, one of the channels will be limited.

The abuse of alcohol over long periods of time may also cause diseases such as cirrhosis, acute alcohol hepatitis, and the most severe liver disease. Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver becomes so scarred that the patient lacks sufficient healthy tissue to perform the organ?s functions. Once you?ve got it, you are stuck with it. (Gross, 6) The worst thing about these diseases is that you will not know you have them unless you are medically examined on a regular basis. Alcohol consumption is a large contributor to the development of several types of cancer- mostly dealing with the neck and brain. We know that cancer kills and therefore it is safe to say that in some cases, alcohol can be deadly. It is important to realize that alcoholism is a disease. A heavy drinker will experience the effects of withdrawal syndrome (which include hypertension, anxiety, disorientation, hallucinations, and seizures) if he decides to stop drinking. Being addicted to alcohol is similar to being addicted to any other drug in that once one starts using, it is tough to live without. It is also a ?gateway drug? just as marijuana and other sedatives. (Bennett, Woolf, 13-23)

Alcohol has no beneficial attributes on a person’s health. Alcohol can have several harmful effects on human organs. Some organs in the human body that are damaged by alcohol consumption are the brain, kidneys, and liver. The human liver is the one organ that suffers the most damage. As stated in an article published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Because the liver is the chief organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, it is especially vulnerable to alcohol – related injury” (NIAAA, 2005). Regular use of alcohol can lead to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The severity of ALD can vary based on several different factors. Some of these factors include gender, age, the amount consumed, and how often alcohol is used. “ALD includes three conditions: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis” (Alcohol Alert, 2005).