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CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOLISM
COURS:
 MEDICAL ENGLISH
TEACHER:
 Dra. ROSA GONZALES LLONTOP
STUDENTS:
 ARIAS JULCA JUAN PABLO
 CESPEDES MUNDACA JOSE ANDRES
 CHAFLOQUE ARENAS JOSE CARLOS
 CHERO SALVADOR JUAN
 CHUNG SANTA MARIA RAUL
 FLORES TENORIO CIRO MIGUEL
GROUP:
07
CYCLE:
 2011 - I
LAMBAYEQUE - 2011

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1. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Alcohol first affects the central nervous system and excessive and
prolonged interference can cause brain damage. It is popularly believed that
alcohol increases arousal, but many actually depresses brain centers. The
feeling of excitement precisely because the depressed some brain centers
reduce tensions and inhibitions and the person experiences feelings of
sociability expanded or euphoria. Therefore it is said that alcohol "anesthesia,
internal auditing." However, if the alcohol concentration exceeds certain levels
in the blood interferes with higher mental processes that visual perception is
distorted; motor coordination; balance; speech and vision also suffer heavy
damage. Heavy amounts of alcohol reduce body aches and pains and
induce sleep. But continuous use irritates the stomach lining even
to develop ulcers. Additionally tends to accumulate fat in the liver,
interfering with its operation. In chronic alcoholics are
raised serious brain disorders, liver (cirrhosis) and cardiovascular (increased
blood pressure and thus the risk of a heart attack). Even, there is evidence that
alcohol increases the level of triglycerides (saturated fat or vegetable in the
arteries) and with it the risks of a heart attack. Finally, as is well known, alcohol
causes physical addiction and psychological dependence.
SOCIAL EFFECTS

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Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes
social transgressions such as rape and fights, practice
means sex without protection, work and family abandonment. It global links with
50% of deaths in traffic accidents and 30% of homicides and arrests police.
Alcoholics have, as a social group, one of the percentages higher marital
separation and divorce. However, in Studies in the country has found that
about half the people who manage to drink alcoholic maintain a long time.9
marital bond, 11-13 Many authors have studied the dynamics of family
home origins of the alcoholic and its coincidence with the point called "non-
transitory family crisis" (divorce, chronic illness or death in one or both parents,
hostility excessive violence, the estimated loss to the drinking, neglect of
children, legal situations, events dishonorable, bad relationships, etc.). This
conditioning situation is considered a learning disorder in a specific population
of children has been called "children with inability to learn "normal intelligence,
not present the characteristic profile of mental retardation and in which
invoking a cognitive deficit specific to the learning.1 ,15-18 The results of other
authors show that no significant differences between controls and severe
alcoholic children of alcoholics and antisocial or depressed or positive family
history of alcoholism. By Therefore, they conclude that the overall mental
development is not associated with alcoholism in parents. This raises the
possibility of later problems in these areas can reflect more specific cognitive
processes or the impact of family and behavioral problems among these
children.
2. NEUROIMAGING AND NEUROLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES

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It will analyze the acute and chronic alcoholism separately because each has
different neurological and imaging.
 ACUTE INTOXICATION
From the morphological point of view, as long as there is no pathology
neurological trauma or prior, the only finding in MRI studies is cerebral edema
(40% of cases).
The significant findings obtained in PET and functional tests SPCC1, showing
the presence of a significant decrease glucose metabolism at the level of
cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex, basal ganglia and corpus callosum, which
appears to be responsible for the clinical manifestations mayoríade call
drunkenness. This alteration is presented in 100% of cases, with any type of
liquor and, even with a apparently low and harmless consumption (Figure 5.1).
In the alcoholic withdrawal phase in the state after the phase intoxication
(hangover, hangovers, raw, mouse) changes are observed functional alteration
of glucose metabolism limited to the mescencéfalo and temporal lobes, this
could explain the presence of convulsive confusional some pictures that appear
during this phase of syndrome.
 CHRONIC INTOXICATION
With the use and abuse of ethyl alcohol and alterations may occur neurological
syndromes, many of them with neuroimaging findings defined. The most
common are:

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 Wernicke encephalopathy.- It is caused by thiamine deficiency and
occurs with high frequency in alcoholic patients. It manifests clinically by ataxia,
oculomotor abnormalities in the muscles and signs compatible with
encephalopathy. Is a frequent underdiagnosed, because usually health
professionals not think of it and are not familiar with this type of diseases.
The test of choice for brain MRI confirmed is where you can observe in the S0%
of cases, periventricular lesions and hypertensive hypothalamus in the cuts of
T2, with obvious loss of volume (atrophy) the mamillary bodies (Figure 5.2) and
demyelinating-type lesions (which remind the small vessel artery disease]
known as cerebral microangiopathy or leukoaraiosis) located at the level of the
bodies mammillary, dorsomedial thalamic nuclei, locus ceruleus, the substance
periaqueductal gray, oculomotor nuclei and the vestibular nuclei. These lesions
may explain some of the neurological manifestations of this entity (Figure 5.3).
 Korsakoff syndrome.- It occurs in 80% of cases of encephalopathy
Wemicke, especially in the recovery phase. It is characterized by presence of

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significant memory deficits in both anterograde and retrograde, accompanied by
apathy, without altered mental status and preservation of other intellectual
abilities.
The brain MRI is also in this case the initial examination, which allows
differential diagnosis with other neurological and psychiatric, with findings
similar to those described in encephalopathy Wernicke.
Functional studies of the type SPECT and PET may show decreased cerebral
blood flow and metabolism in frontal, cingulate and precuneus.
 CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM
Neurological disorders associated with chronic alcoholism are related with
nutritional deficiency, with the toxic effects of alcohol per se and their
metabolites, liver disease, and head trauma, all which are very frequent in this
type of pacientes.El cardinal finding on MRI is the loss of brain volume
especially at the expense of the white matter, reduced in 6-17% of normal type
associated with compensatory ventriculomegaly (Figure 5.4). These findings are
not conclusive and can be seen in other types of abnormalities.
In functional studies of PBT is a marked hypometabolism front.
 MYELINOLYSIS CENTRAL PONTIC.- Is an alteration of the white matter of
the protuberance, due usually a rapid correction of hyponatremia observed in
many chronic alcoholics, malnourished, dehydrated, and vomiting frequent.
From the clinical point of view often manifested by spastic cuadriparesla
accompanied by alterations in consciousness. You should always be a
differential diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, and multi-infarct dementia
brainstem encephalitis.
Histopathological studies show demyelination of axons, seen as
hyperintensities in T2 cuts of MRI, not only in pons, but also in the striatum,
thalamus and cerebellum.

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 MARCHIAFAVA BIGNAMI DISEASE. - It is rare in our environment. It
occurs in people consuming routine red wine and is characterized by necrosis
of the corpus callosum and substance supratentorial white surrounding,
accompanied by gliosis in the third layer cerebral cortex. May be associated
with Wernicke syndrome, and demonstrate clinically as dementia syndrome,
with alterations in gait, generalized spasticity, dysarthria, and a disconnection
syndrome interhemispheric.
Choice tests to corroborate this diagnosis is the MRI (which necrosis shown
above) and SPECT which defines the poor flow blood involved areas (Figure
5.3). It is significant that the notes the persistence of morphological changes
seen on MRI, although clinical improvement of patients.
3. NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED
The convulsive syndrome is perhaps the most common condition that is
associated chronic alcoholism. In this case if the disease should be defined
prior convulsive worse by alcohol consumption, or if it is produced by its long-
term effects.
The same can think of dementia syndromes, disease type Alzheimer's or multi-
infarct dementia, in which diagnosis should be made differential, because
chronic alcoholism can by itself, cause crazy pictures or accelerate the normal
brain aging.
Patients with alcohol intoxication usually have head injuries that often go
unnoticed by the patient and family, but sequelae that can leave and worsen
cerebral contusion inherent in the chronic manifestations of ethanol abuse.
Special mention should neurotoxicity caused by ethanol SNC during
development, which leads to major malformations defects in children born to
alcoholic mothers.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

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Gastric distress are due to mucosal erosions produced by ethanol. Heartburn
will be greater if they are mixed or combined different beverages, as gastric
irritation should be drunk all the components.
 Increases gastric acid production that generates irritation and inflammation
in the stomach wall so that in the long term, there may be ulcers, bleeding
and perforation of the gastric wall.
 Stomach cancer has been linked to alcohol abuse. It also causes cancer of
the larynx, esophagus and pancreas.
 Causes esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus, and bleeding
esophageal varices Mallory-Weiss tears.
 It can cause acute pancreatitis, a severe inflammatory disease of the
pancreas, risking death.
 May cause chronic pancreatitis, characterized by an intense constant pain.
 Other possible changes include type II diabetes and peritonitis.
 The liver is the organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, which is
transformed by liver enzymes after first acetaldehyde and acetate and other
compounds. This process is slow and is not exempt from damage
(depolarized acetaldehyde proteins, oxidized lipids, consume vitamin B and
damages the tissues).
 By irritating the liver cell may occur alcoholic hepatitis due to cellular
destruction and tissue inflammation. Over time, evolving liver (fatty liver or
steatosis) to adapt to metabolic overload, but could later hepatitis and
cirrhosis of the liver, resulting in cell death and degeneration of the organ.
This serious disease can degenerate eventually cause liver cancer and
death.
 Other signs of altered hepatic jaundice, a yellowing that takes the skin and
sclera, and edema, accumulation of fluid in the extremities.
 Alters the function of the kidney, reducing the levels of antidiuretic hormone,
causing dehydration and drinking water from other organs like the brain,
which produces headache.
 Alcohol provides abundant calories (7 kcal per gram of alcohol) with little
nutritional value. It nourishes but suppresses the appetite, food substitutes

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for other more comprehensive and ultimately can lead to malnutrition. This
is compounded by inhibiting the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.
EFFECTS ON THE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM:
Reduction of male hormones by the action of alcohol on the testis and pituitary
Reduction of blood into the corpora cavernous due to early atherosclerosis,
which causes deformities at birth and severe disruption of intelligence or

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behavior in less severe cases (fetus alcoholic).
Bladder disorders. Bladder`s Cancer. Sexual Dysfunction
LIVER EFFECTS:
It is one of the organs most affected by alcohol use, since it is responsible to
clean the toxin from the blood.
The liver goes affected after many years of drinking and alcoholic liver disease
occurs.
The damage can range from inflammation to a degenerative disease such as
cirrhosis, where the liver cells die and are replaced by fibrous tissue, making it
impossible for normal operation.
Alcoholism and hepatitis B are primarily responsible for the degeneration of the
liver.
4. ALCOHOLISM AND DEPRESSION
Depression is a disease that is frequently associated with alcoholism and,
above all, the relapse of alcoholics. Whether dysthymia, chronic depression,
neurotic, with its ups and downs, or depression that can occur in the first
months of abstinence, depression reactive to painful events, the various
presentations of major depression, depressive episodes disorders bipolar, etc..
all forms of depression should be taken into account when thinking about
preventing relapse of alcoholic patients.
36% of alcoholic patients suffer from depression as a disease quite common, in
some cases induced by addiction and other feeding back the same, creating a
vicious circle difficult to break.Because it is common to see the alcoholic patient
is depressed and feels guilty about the loss of affection, family, work, social,
economic, etc. that it causes addiction, which leads to increased consumption
of alcoholic beverages in order to mitigate the painful feelings, but achieving the
opposite result from that intended because it will generate new faults and major
depression.
The morbidity of alcoholism and depression is more common in women than in
men. Alcoholic patients with depression have much more relapses of their
disease than patients who do not. This difference, which manifests itself in the
short term, is most evident in the medium and, moreover, in the long

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term. Therefore, it can be argued that the association of depression in alcoholic
patients aggravates and worsens prognosis of their addiction and therefore
should always be treated.
5. FETAL HARM
It is well known that alcohol freely crosses the placental barrier and reaches the
fetus. Everyone knows that excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother
can adversely affect the fetus, but less is known that consumption of small to
moderate doses of alcohol can also lead to dangerous consequences. The
ingestion of small amounts of alcohol, as 30 ml per day, the child can express
an underweight and has been observed an increased risk of spontaneous
abortion with intakes of alcohol as insignificant as 30 ml per week and increases
, similarly, the probability that the child has significant defects in shape and
characterized as the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) (the clinical picture and see
details below), however, have not yet reached the clinical picture of the
syndrome fetal alcohol, the fetus may experience any of these symptoms in
isolation.
Fetal alcohol syndrome alcohol syndrome in the fetus with each and every one
of the conditions that includes the clinical picture, broadly speaking, is:
-Dysmorphology or facial deformities.
- Prenatal growth deficit (before birth)
- Malformation of the central nervous system, including mental retardation
Another cause that can affect the baby's development:
- There may be dehydration in the mother (no liquids), and that generally, the
alcoholic does not usually take other drinks).
- The hormonal system of a mother who drinks alcohol is affected, especially in
the functioning of the placenta, causing the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and
waste is not adequate.
- Changes also occur in the brain of the fetus, because alcohol affects almost all
cells, primarily those of a baby is forming in the womb of the mother.

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- Alcohol destroys brain cells (nerve cell does not regenerate), especially
affecting the formation or malformation of the baby's neurons
CONCLUSIONS
Depression is a disease that is frequently associated with alcoholism, that the
association is more common in women than in men, and also that it has a highly
negative effect on the evolution of alcoholic patients, increasing the relapse of
their disease and clouding the outlook of it. It follows the conclusion that
implementing actions and designing strategies to combat depression associated
with alcoholism can improve the prognosis of this disease
Effects of Alcohol on the Nervous System
• Consumption of alcohol gradually depresses brain function, first affecting the
emotions (mood swings), thought processes and trial.If you keep your intake of
alcohol, motor control becomes impaired, causing slurred speech, slower
reactions and loss of balance.
• Alters the action of neurotransmitters, it changes its structure and
function. This produces multiple effects: decreased alertness, impaired reflexes,
and vision changes, loss of muscle coordination, tremors and
hallucinations. Decreases self-control, affect memory, concentration and motor
function.

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• The combination of these effects is because of multiple accidents and traffic,
which each year claim the lives of millions of people around the world.
• Alcohol damages brain cells and peripheral nerves permanently.
• The decline in vitamin B1 produced by alcohol can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff
disease, which causes disturbances of feelings, thoughts and memory of the
person. The affected confuse reality with their inventions.
• Produce sleep disorders.
• People with drinking problems are isolated from their social environment, often
suffer crisis in the family (arguments, divorce, abandonment) and employment
(job loss), which leads to depression and sometimes suicide.