Alcohol: Illness and Disease

Deaths in England and Wales caused by alcohol related disease have doubled in the last 20 years, and the year to 2001 showed the highest percentage increase in alcohol-related deaths for any year since 1979.

The age at which these deaths occur is increasingly younger and younger. The death rate for those aged between 25 and 44 has tripled since 1979. There are even more deaths where alcohol has been involved, such as accidents and suicides.

As the liver is the principal organ responsible for breaking down alcohol it bears the brunt of excessive drinking. The first stage of alcohol-related liver disease is "fatty liver". This is a side effect of the liver's attempts to break down alcohol, and is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver. It is often symptom-free, but is picked up during routine medical examinations. Although very common in heavy drinkers, it is also commonly found in those drinking just above the recommended limits. Fatty liver is often the precursor to a number of severe liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

In cases of alcoholic hepatitis, giving up alcohol combined with a good diet can lead to a complete recovery, although death rates in alcoholic hepatitis are high. In the case of cirrhosis however, the illness affects the liver's ability to regenerate itself and there is no cure. If the sufferer continues to drink it will bring about complete liver failure. 10% of those suffering from cirrhosis go on to develop liver cancer, which is fatal within 6 months. It is unclear why some individuals go on to develop these severe diseases whilst others consuming similar quantities of alcohol do not.

Damage to the digestive system caused by alcohol includes acute gastritis, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, oesophageal varices and tumours.

Although research shows that a moderate intake of alcohol is associated with a protective effect against certain cardiac conditions, over consumption leads to an increase in blood pressure with all the associated risks of heart attacks, other cardiac conditions and strokes.

Recent research has shown that even a moderate intake of alcohol produces an exponential increase in the risk of women contracting breast cancer. It is estimated that 4% of all breast cancers are caused by alcohol, around 2,000 cases a year in the UK alone.

Alcohol damages cognitive functioning and has detrimental effects on mental health. Recent research in the USA suggests that binge drinking may cause immediate and irreparable brain damage, particularly to the frontal cortex of the brain. This is the part responsible for judgement and decision-making.

Alcohol has an immediate depressant effect on the central nervous system, which leads to slurred speech, loss of self-control and poor motor co-ordination. Long term heavy drinking can lead to shrinking of the brain and alcoholic dementia, which is similar in its symptoms to Alzheimer's disease. The lack of vitamin B1 characteristic of heavy drinkers can also lead to a number of serious brain conditions such as Wernicke's Encephalopathy and Korsakoff's Psychosis. Heavy alcohol use can also damage nerves in other areas of the body.

There is a very close link between alcoholism and mental illness. 32% of all patients suffering from severe mental illness also have an alcohol problem. The precise nature of the link is unclear but alcohol seriously exacerbates anxiety and can also contribute to depressive illness, accentuate sleep problems and is a factor in 65% of all suicides.

Alcohol can cause sexual and reproductive problems. Whilst the temporary impairment in erectile function ('brewer's droop') is well known, long term damage is also done to men's reproductive health by excessive drinking i.e. loss of libido and potency, and shrinkage of the penis and testes. In women heavy alcohol consumption can also lead to the shrinking of sexual organs, as well as general menstrual problems.

Alcohol can be harmful to the developing foetus. Government guidelines recommend that pregnant women drink no more than 1 or 2 units a week, whilst USA guidelines recommend that pregnant women do not drink at all. Consumption of more than 10-15 units a week can lead to delivery of an underweight baby. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage amongst women who consume alcohol within what would normally be regarded as acceptable levels.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is found in the babies of very heavy drinking mothers and has a profound impact on the long-term health of the child. The symptoms of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome include long-term growth retardation, low intelligence, facial malformations and damage to the central nervous system.