Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

Alcohol detox is when you take a short course of medication to minimise the worst effects of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol detox does not magically stop someone drinking but gets alcohol out of their system so they can focus on rehabilitation and life without drink.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

If you're regularly drinking heavily, you could be seriously risking your health and even your job, relationships and mental health. Drinking above the limits outlined by the Government can be potentially hazardous - currently the limits are 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 for women (with no more than four or three units per day respectively).

Minimise alcohol health risks

The health risks associated with heavy drinking are reason enough alone to consider alcohol detox. It increases the risks of developing serious illness such as cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatic damage, some cancers, heart conditions and more.

Statistics suggest that a third of men and one in seven women regularly drink too much. Experts suggest that the more alcohol you drink, the greater the risks to your health.

Avoid personal problems

As well as health issues, problem drinking can also trigger a range of personal problems. For example, people who get very drunk may say or do things which they regret. Heavy drinking is often associated with violence and arguments.

In addition heavy drinking can cause people to miss work or not perform as well as usual when they are there.

Heavy drinking can also cause problems between friends, couples and families. Others may become annoyed by someone's drinking and alcoholism can also lead to secrecy and lying which weakens trust in relationships.

Alcohol is expensive and those who are dependent on alcohol may find that they are spending more than they can afford on drink. Debt or lack of money can cause stress which then encourages more drinking, leading to a vicious cycle.

Beat alcohol addiction

In many cases, alcohol detox as well as therapy and aftercare can help people beat alcohol addiction and stay off drink permanently. Many people who are alcoholic drink every day and often drink to beat unpleasant (and potentially very serious) withdrawal symptoms. It's estimated that around 2% of women are alcoholics and up to 6% of men.

It's important to note that anyone who is dependent on alcohol should always seek medical advice before stopping drinking. You may well be able to do it at home but a doctor will ensure that you stop drinking safely - suddenly stopping can be very dangerous.

It's no wonder alcoholism runs in families. Few people actually wait until the legal drinking age of 21 to drink. Sometimes, adolescents take up drinking so early on, that by the time they've reached actual drinking age, they've become full-blown alcoholics.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

These young adults go onto college where it's considered socially acceptable to get hammered every weekend, and for the "week night warriors," even close out the bars on a Monday or Tuesday night! After graduation, it continues into the workforce...and it never stops.

Or if it does, it's already too late, as alcoholism's long-term effects have already manifested in the body, causing liver problems, a suppressed immune system, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory problems, and even brain damage.

If that isn't enough to steer you clear of that weekly drinking binge, perhaps these facts will:

1) Around 76 million people worldwide suffer from some type of alcohol-related disorders including excessive drinking and alcoholism.

2) Alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing certain cancers including lip, tongue, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast cancer. These types of cancers aren't just related to alcoholism - even three drinks a day can cause these cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

3) Alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated 0-billion in 2005, more than cancer (6-billion) and obesity (3-billion)

4) People who begin drinking as teenagers are four times more likely to develop alcohol-related disorders than those who wait until age 21 to consume their first drink.

5) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 11,773 people in the U.S. died in drunk-driving accidents. Every 45 minutes, someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving collision.

6) Four people under the age of 21 die each day because of alcohol-related traffic incidents.

7) Children with alcoholic parents are up to 10 times more likely to abuse alcohol themselves.

8) According to suicide statistics, 15-20% of suicides involve alcohol

9) 'Binge drinking' is defined as drinking five or more drinks at one time. Long term binge-drinking are known to cause liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, and heart disease. These binge-drinking sessions don't need to be weekly either. Even irregular heavy drinking can cause these diseases.

10) In 2007 one-fifth of adults (20%) ages 18-25 were classified as needing alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment - that's an estimated 6.9 million people!

While these facts are alarming, it's important to know that there are programs out there, all across the nation that can help people get sober and defeat their alcohol addictions before it's too late. Alcohol abuse recovery can be a long, difficult road, but it's worth it when a person no longer seeks alcohol to fill a void in their lives - that much-sought-after happiness will come from within.

Nervous System

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

It is estimated that three to four out of every ten men have experienced alcohol blackout when they were teenagers or in their twenties. This comes as a result of too much drinking which results in memory loss regarding spacio-temporal orientation. A popular effect of alcohol is sleep disturbance resulting in reduced overall sleep quality. Numbness as well as tingling may be felt in the arms and legs. Korsakoff's and Wernicke's syndrome may be experienced together or separately. The culprit for both are low thiamine levels. (a type of vitamin B complex) present in alcohol. Korsakoff's syndrome affects the memory severely and prevents new learning from taking place while Wernicke's syndrome results to very poor balance, difficulty in walking and disordered eye movements.

Gastrointestinal system

Loosening of the muscular ring is also one of alcohol related illnesses. It prevents the re-entrance of the contents of the stomach to the esophagus. Stomach acids flows into the esophagus and causes bleeding and pain. Stomach inflammation may also be the culprit for decreased appetite and pain and bleeding. Severe, uncontrollable bleeding comes as a result of bloated dilated blood vessels within the esophagus also known as esophageal varices. Hemorrhaging as well as bursting may develop from this as a response to liver disease. Diarrhea is one of the common symptoms due to the effect of alcohol on the pancreas. Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas are also alcohol related illnesses. A malnourished state is likewise created by alcohol which prevents the absorption of nutrients. As the liver is where metabolism of alcohol takes place, it is also affected by constant levels of alcohol. The liver is enlarged and fatty liver results. Fibrous scar tissue also known as cirrhosis impede the normal structure and function of the liver. The organ may also be inflamed (hepatitis).

Blood

Changes in blood cell types are also considered as alcohol related illnesses. Red blood cells are inflamed or abnormally enlarged. White blood cell reduction results in a weakened immune system as these are the cells that fight infections. Alcoholics Increased risk of having cancer is blamed on this factor. Platelets as well as blood clotting factors increase which in turn results to increased risk of bleeding.

Heart

Fluctuating blood pressure is also an alcohol related illness. Increased alcohol intake causes increased blood pressure even if small amounts cause a drop in blood pressure. High levels of fat in the bloodstream is also a coronary risk factor. Higher risk of stroke is also blamed on heavy drinking as a blood clot goes to the circulatory system from the heart to the brain and blocks a blood vessel there. You can also expect blood clot risk in heart chambers, weakened heart muscles and enlargement of the heart.

Reproductive System

Alcohol related illnesses likewise find link to the reproductive system. Alcohol decreases the size of the testicle as well as ovary and interferes with egg and sperm production which then causes reduced fertility in both species. A mother who is alcoholic also puts her child at great risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome. You can expect the child to have facial defect, lower IQ as well as behavioral problems.

On the nervous system - 30-40% of men have been estimated to have yielded to an alcohol related blackout in their teens and/or twenties. This is due to too much alcohol within the body which can cause loss of memory. A reduced quality of sleep in general subsequently results from sleep disturbance is a well-known effect of consuming alcohol. The legs as well as the arms might also feel tingling and/or numbness. Korsakoff's and Wernicke's syndrome might emerge at different or at the same time. These are caused by dwindling levels of a type of vitamin B complex known as Thiamine. Korsakoff's syndrome causes loss of memory as well as impedance of learning anything new. Meanwhile, Wernicke's syndrome causes the eyes to have disorderly movements, poor equilibrium and walking difficulty.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

On the gastrointestinal system - loosening of the muscular ring is another alcohol related illness. However, this one hinders stomach contents from going to the esophagus. Aside from pain, bleeding can also be a result of stomach acids surging into the esophagus. A decline in appetite and bleeding as well as pain might also be because of the inflammation. on the other hand, esophageal varices and bloated blood vessels can cause intense bleeding. Hemorrhaging as well as bursting can follow as reactions to liver disease. Pancreatitis can also be experienced. The absorption of nutrients needed by the body is also denied because of alcohol and this causes malnourishment. Constant levels of alcohol affects the live as well as this is where alcohol is metabolized. A fatty liver succeeds an enlarged liver. A normal liver build and role is hindered by cirrhosis or fibrous scar tissue. Hepatitis might be experienced too.

On the blood - a change in blood type is an alcohol related illness as well. Either inflammation or unusual enlargement happens to the blood cells. A compromise in the immune system is due to the decrease of white blood cells that fight infection. This causes an elevated risk for cancer in alcoholics.

On the heart - fluctuation in blood pressure is another alcohol related illness. Little amounts of alcohol may decrease blood pressure but on the other hand, an increased intake means higher blood pressure. Drinking heavily could also increase risks of having strokes as blood clots go through the circulatory from the coronary chambers to your brain and this impedes a blood vessel in the brain. Risks of blood clots in the coronary chambers, sapped cardiac muscles and an enlargement of the heart could also happen because of a heavy intake of alcohol.

On the reproductive system - testicle as well as ovary size is lessened by alcohol. This in turn affects sperm as well as egg production and this can lead to infertility. A baby is also at risk of contracting fetal alcohol syndrome by someone pregnant who takes in alcohol. The child may suffer facial defects, problems in behavior and a low IQ.