Alcoholism

Alcoholism may be defined as any excessive intake of alcoholic beverages that leads in serious mental or physical health complications. Because there is controversy about the meaning of the term "alcoholism," it is not recognised as a diagnosable condition in the medical community. The most often used diagnostic categories are alcohol use disorder (DSM-5) and alcohol dependence (ICD-11), both of which are specified in their respective sources of information.

Excessive alcohol use may cause harm to all organ systems, but it has the greatest impact on the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system in particular. A person's mental illness, delirium tremens, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, irregular heartbeat, poor immunological response, liver cirrhosis, and increased cancer risk may all be caused by excessive alcohol use. The use of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy may result in foetal alcohol spectrum diseases. As a general rule, women are more vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol than males. This is mostly due to their smaller body weight, less ability to digest alcohol, and greater percentage of body fat. The chronic and severe alcohol abuse of a small number of people results in cognitive impairment and frank dementia in a tiny percentage of the population.

The chance of developing alcoholism is influenced by two factors: the environment and heredity, with each element accounting for about half of the risk. Stress and its accompanying diseases, such as anxiety, are important contributors to the development of alcoholism, since alcohol intake may momentarily alleviate dysphoria (a feeling of being unhappy). Someone who has a parent or sibling who has an alcohol use disorder is three to four times more likely to have an alcohol use disorder themselves, although only a minority of those who have a parent or sibling who has an alcohol use problem do so. Social, cultural, and behavioural effects are all examples of environmental variables. High levels of tension and anxiety, as well as the low cost and easy accessibility to alcohol, all contribute to an increased risk. People may continue to drink in part to avoid or alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. When a person quits drinking alcohol, they may suffer a mild form of withdrawal that lasts for many weeks or months. Alcoholism is classified as both a physical and a mental condition in the medical community. When it comes to detecting suspected alcoholism, questionnaires are often utilised. Additional information is then gathered in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Individuals' experiences of stress and anxiety may be reduced in an effort to reduce their chances of developing alcoholism. Attempts may be made by regulating and restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages (especially to minors), taxing alcoholic beverages in order to raise the cost of consuming them, and offering education and treatment.