Health Effects Of

HEAVY ALCOHOL
CONSUMPTION
Compiled By: Chedan B. Ceriaco, RN
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
1. arthritis
Effects of Alcohol:
 Increases the risk of inflamed joints.
BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the
Hands
Rheumatoid arthritis can
result in severe
deformation of the hands,
wrists, feet, ankles, hips,
and shoulders. The
characteristic swelling,
pain, and restricted
movement associated with
this disease can be treated
with anti-inflammatory
drugs and physiotherapy.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is an
inflammation of the joints
that results when cartilage
between bones
deteriorates, causing the
bones to rub together. A
healthy hand, left, is
contrasted with a hand
showing osteoarthritis,
right.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
2. cancer
Effects of Alcohol:
 Increases the risk of cancer of the:
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Rectum
o Increases the risk of cancer of the following, where
alcohol interacts synergistically with tobacco:
- Mouth
- Esophagus, pharynx, and larynx
 BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Sources of Dietary Fiber
Vegetables, fruits, grains,
and legumes constitute a
rich source of dietary fiber.
Composed of the
indigestible cell walls of
plant material, fiber acts
like a scouring pad to
cleanse and flush the
digestive tract.
Researchers claim it helps
eliminate cancer-causing
chemicals and may
decrease the amount of
cholesterol in the blood
stream.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
3. fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS)
Effects of Alcohol:
 Causes physical and behavioral abnormalities in
the fetus.
BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fetal alcohol syndrome
(FAS) is a set of birth
defects caused by heavy
consumption of alcohol
during pregnancy. Children
with this condition typically
have a misproportioned
head, facial deformities,
mental retardation, and
behavioral problems. FAS
is the leading known cause
of mental retardation in the
Western Hemisphere.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
4. heart disease
Effects of Alcohol:
 In heavy drinkers, raises blood pressure, blood
lipids, and the risk of stroke and heart disease;
when compared with those who abstain, heart
disease risk is generally lower in light-to-moderate
drinkers.
 BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Alcoholics tend to have
high blood levels of the
hormone epinephrine and
deficiencies of the mineral
magnesium. This
combination produces
severe arrhythmias, or
heartbeat irregularities, a
common cause of sudden
death in heavy drinkers.
Chronic drinkers typically
develop hypertension, a
leading cause of stroke.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
5. hyperglycemia
Effects of Alcohol:
 Raises blood glucose.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
6. hypoglycemia
Effects of Alcohol:
 Lowers blood glucose, especially in people with
diabetes.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
7. infertility
Effects of Alcohol:
 Increases the risks of menstrual disorders and
spontaneous abortions in women; suppresses
luteinizing hormone in women and testosterone
among men.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
8. kidney disease
Effects of Alcohol:
 Enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions,
and increases the risk of kidney failure.
 BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Kidney Dialysis
A hospital patient whose
kidneys have ceased to
function receives dialysis.
In this process, blood is
pumped through a dialysis
machine, where it is
filtered to remove waste
products, then returned to
the patient’s body through
a vein.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft
Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
9. liver disease
Effects of Alcohol:
 Causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and
cirrhosis.
 BREAKIN’ THE ICE…

Cirrhosis of the Liver

On the left are normal liver cells, and on the right are liver
cells from a person with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver can
be one of the complications of alcoholism. Blood from the
digestive tract flows through the liver before going back to
the heart. If this blood carries alcohol, it may kill liver cells as
it passes through. In cirrhosis, dead and damaged liver cells
are replaced by fibrous tissue, which can accumulate to form
masses of scar tissue.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
10. malnutrition
Effects of Alcohol:
 Increases the risk of protein-energy malnutrition;
low intake of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A,
vitamin C, thiamin, vitamin B6, and riboflavin; and
impaired absorption of calcium, phosphorus,
vitamin D, and zinc.
 BREAKIN’ THE ICE…
Thiamine deficiency in severe alcoholics
(a result of malnutrition) may lead to a
central nervous system condition known
as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which
can cause paralysis of the eye muscles,
extreme memory loss, and dementia.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
11. nervous disorders
Effects of Alcohol:
 Causes neuropathy and dementia; impairs
balance and memory.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
12. obesity
Effects of Alcohol:
 Increases energy intake, but is not a primary
cause of obesity.
 HEALTH PROBLEM:
13. psychological
disturbances
Effects of Alcohol:
 Causes depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
References:
E. N. Whitney and S. R. Rolfes, “Health Effects of Heavy Alcohol Consumption.” Understanding Nutrition. Singapore:
Thompson Learning Asia, 2002.

Austin, Janet S. "Arthritis." Microsoft®Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

Hewitt, Brenda G., and Gordis, Enoch. "Alcoholism." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft
Corporation, 2008.

Blackman, James A. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation,
2008.

Worman, Howard J. "Cirrhosis." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

Peterson, Karen R. "Cancer (medicine)." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

"Kidney." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.