Alcoholism is not a topic many of us want to think about, let alone deal with. In fact, if you ask anyone to define alcoholism, you’ll probably wind up with various answers. There are many definitions of alcoholism, and they’re all more or less true. Whichever definition you prefer, the simple truth is that alcoholism is a serious disease that threatens to completely undermine the affected individual’s health, family and social standing.

Here are some of the many definitions of alcoholism.

• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

First published in 1992, this definition of alcoholism by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) had also been approved by the Boards of Directors of the National Council on Alcoholism and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (both in 1990):

According to JAMA, alcoholism is: “a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.” The definition further adds that alcoholism is “often progressive and fatal” and is characterized by continuous or periodic symptoms such as “impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably, denial.”

• Medical definition of alcoholism

A medical terms site defines alcoholism as a physical dependence on alcohol such that stopping will cause withdrawal symptoms. More popular usage refers to ingrained drinking habits that cause both health and social problems.

• Mayo Clinic alcoholism definition

Alcoholism is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a chronic disease that makes your body dependent on alcohol.” Mayo further defines alcoholism as an obsession, one that makes you unable to control your drinking, even at the expense of serious relationship, health, work and financial problems. Alcoholism is a treatable disease, however, involving medication, counseling and self-help groups as some of its therapies.

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines alcoholism, also called alcohol dependence, as a disease involving four symptoms: craving (experiencing a compelling urge, desire or need to drink), loss of control (inability to stop once drinking has begun), physical dependence (nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety during withdrawal) and tolerance (needing to drink more to get “high”).

According to the NIAAA, alcoholism is a disease and, like many other diseases, is chronic, that is, it lasts a lifetime. The disease follows a course that is predictable and has recognizable symptoms. Genetic predisposition (family history of alcoholism) and lifestyle can contribute to a person’s becoming an alcoholic. Other contributing factors include increased stress and the availability of alcohol.

Alcoholism: The Bottom Line

What matters in the end is that alcoholism is a state of habitual intoxication, where an individual consumes alcohol in a progressive and excessive manner, and thus paves the way to an inevitable breakdown in health (physical and mental), family, social, job and financial situations, as well as an addiction to alcohol.

It’s also important to note that the risk for developing alcoholism based on family history does not mean a person is destined to become an alcoholic. While there is no cure for alcoholism, it can be treated with counseling and medications.

Alcoholism is a serious problem in America today. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) estimates that about 18 million people in the United States either abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Across all age groups, men are four times as likely as women to be heavy drinkers. But the truth is that alcoholism at any age can cause major health-related problems, and some 100,000 people die each year from alcohol-related problems.

The harmful physical effects of alcoholism are well documented and include liver disease, lung disease, compromised immune system, endocrine disorders, and changes to the brain. In adolescents, particularly those who begin drinking at an early age (at or before age 14) and continue to heavy drinking, harm can result to the liver, bones, endocrine system, and interfere with brain growth. It is important to note that adolescents’ brains are still in the process of developing during the teenage years.

Major Physical Effects of Alcoholism Occur in Late Stages

While alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease, the early symptoms are generally behavioral and not physical. The majority of medical problems typically occur in the later, or chronic, stage of alcoholism. If you are waiting to see if these physical signs to appear to make a determination that your loved one is an alcoholic or has alcoholism, it may already have progressed to a serious debilitating condition.

Fortunately, diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence can be made earlier and treatment can be initiated to get the affected individual on the road to recovery.

Problems Caused by Late-Stage Alcoholism

Following are some of the problems – general symptoms and major body systems – that are involved in late-stage alcoholism:

General Appearance

• Hand tremors – part of alcohol withdrawal, can begin within hours after stopping drinking
• Irritability, nervousness, excitability
• Jaundice – a result of liver damage
• Dry, red, itchy skin
• Swelling of parotid gland, resulting in a mumps-like appearance
• Finger clubbing – the result of alcoholic cardiomyopathy
• Drinker’s nose

Gastrointestinal Tract

• Dyspepsia and gastritis
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent diarrhea
• Recurring abdominal pain – due to inflammation of the stomach and colon from alcohol
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis – acute pancreatitis is most often seen in men, 25-65 years of age, with a minimum of 5-10 years of active drinking
• Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia – rapid changes in blood sugar caused by alcohol
• Gastrointestinal bleeding – destruction of the stomach lining due to an increase in stomach acids; may also result in ulcers, causing additional bleeding
• Liver problems – fatty liver, cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity)

Cardiovascular

• Palpitations – irregular heartbeat
• Cardiomyopathy – one out of every 36 alcoholics develops this medical condition
• Anemia
• Blood vessel dilation

Respiratory Systems

• Chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD)
• Recurring chest infection and pneumonia

Central Nervous System

• Damage to brain cells
• Blackouts
• Short-term memory impairment
• Seizures
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve disease)
• Loss of balance
• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Hallucinations
• Delirium Tremens (DTs) – occurs during late-stage withdrawal

Musculoskeletal

• Muscle atrophy
• Muscle cramps and weakness
• Inflammation of the kidneys
• Loss of menstruation
• Impotence

Genitourinary

• Increased urine flow
• Electrolyte imbalance

In addition, heavy drinking during pregnancy can result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), causing a range of physical, behavioral, and learning effects in the developing fetus.

Alcoholism rehab can be the first step toward freedom. One of the hardest things to do when you have alcoholism is admitting you have a problem. Agreeing to go to alcoholism rehab may seem overwhelming because it basically means you really are an alcoholic. We fight the label for one reason: we don’t want to stop drinking. Alcoholism has profound effects on perception and behavior, and it distorts your thinking. Studies show alcoholism damages the ability to store memories, so many alcoholics literally “forget” what they did last week, last month, and especially last year. These memory deficits get worse the longer you use alcohol, and binge drinkers are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects on their ability to remember new things. In fact, alcoholism can permanently damage your ability to learn new things.

All is not lost, however. Recovery can help you rebuild your life and you will likely see improvements in your memory after some time without alcohol in your body. The longer you drink, the more likely damage will be permanent.

Most important is the fact that very time you “quit” and withdraw from alcohol, then start drinking again, you cause even more damage to your brain. The repeated withdrawal seems to be the most damaging to memory and learning. There are some drugs that can mitigate the impact of withdrawal and prevent further damage to the memory, and good alcoholism rehabs can make sure you take these during your detox.

If you have tried to get sober yet keep relapsing, alcoholism rehab gives you the best chance of succeeding. Choose carefully, and you can get the right medical supervision during your withdrawal and learn the tools and strategies necessary for long-term sobriety.

If you have tried rehab before, that doesn’t mean it won’t work this time. A certain percentage of alcoholics need a couple of reminders, for lack of a better term, that they can’t handle alcohol without ending up with terrible consequences.

If any of the following apply to you, alcoholism rehab might be the right next step to reclaim your life:

- You have gotten more than one DUI
- You have lost a relationship due to drinking
- You have tried to stop drinking many times on your own, but always fall off the way
- You get physical withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop drinking – this can be dangerous to handle on your own
- You have underlying conditions such as depression or anxiety, which seem to get worse when you stop drinking – you need dual-diagnosis treatment and proper assessment of your underlying issues
- You have memory losses due to drinking, or notice that you take longer to learn new things

An article in Science Codex detailed information about a study involving the drug Varenicline, which is a medication used to eliminate the positive feeling of nicotine for those who smoke.

Researchers found the effects that Varenicline had with smokers had similar effects with drinkers.

While the drug did not eliminate the feeling of needing a drink completely for those described as heavy drinkers, it did help them cut down on consumption significantly. Rather than having five or six drinks a night, the person may have one or two.

The findings could help heavy drinkers learn to control their habit in a more reasonable way. It could help them find another source of relief from the constraints that alcohol may have on their life and help them get a feeling of control back from the substance.

This is also welcomed news for family and friends of those who live with or love someone who abuses alcohol. This drug, if approved for use in this matter, could be the perfect way for heavy drinkers to get the help they need. In some cases, the individual may not be in a position that they need to abstain from drinking completely; they just need help in managing the amount they drink.

The person may be abusive or dangerous when they drink several drinks a day, but can function normally on one or two. It makes the individual realize that they do not have to give up alcohol all together, but they can still enjoy a drink or two without the concerning side effects.

This might be the solution for some near alcoholics to realize that they do have a problem and can help themselves rather than waiting for a full fledged situation to occur, that in many times may be too late.

Baclofen, also known on the market as of Kemstro, Liorsal, Liofen, and Gablofen, has been around for the last half-century. In fact, it was first used to ease symptoms of epilepsy. However, Baclofen is now in the news for its potential use in the treatment of alcohol abuse.

Baclofen resurfaced in 2008 and peaked interest in the French health community after Dr. Oliver Ameisen, a cardiologist, used the drug to treat and cure his own alcoholism. He chronicled his journey in his book entitled "Le Dernier Verre," which translates to "The Last Drink."

Though testing of Baclofen is still in its infancy, research has shown that it has provided benefits for patients that even some treatments used specifically for alcoholism haven’t been able to do.

In the first pre-clinical trial, over 130 alcoholics using Baclofen were monitored for an entire year. While traditional treatments for intemperance such as naltrexone and acamprosate help improve symptoms in 20 to 25 percent of people, 80 percent of the Baclofen users either reduced their drinking to a more moderate level or gave up alcohol completely.

The surprising results of the early trials have paved the way for further research into the use of Baclofen to treat alcoholism. In May, 320 more individuals will undergo clinical trials to confirm results of the first tests.

The new clinical trials will take place over the next year and will cost approximately $1.45 million. The high price tag may be worth it if Baclofen continues to help those suffering from alcoholism to regain control of their health.

A new study from researchers at Stanford University finds that alcoholism affects certain types of memory functioning, long before amnesia associated with Korsakoff’s syndrome sets in. The study examined the cognitive and brain functions behind the memory problems connected with alcoholism through the use of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results are published in an upcoming issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

The team discovered that the changes occurring in the brain with the use of alcohol are generally associated with cerebellar brain volumes.

Corresponding author and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford’s School of Medicine Edith V. Sullivan explained that alcohol affects just some of the memory systems in the brain, such as working memory and episodic memory.

Episodic memory files away personal experiences and is believed to have an unlimited capacity. Working memory is a short-term memory system that is limited in its capacity. Episodic memory stores such things as face-name recognition and recipes, while working memory is more immediate, such as remembering to turn off the oven.

The study’s objective was to examine the cognitive process central to daily living. The processes affected by these systems help people remember phone numbers and how to get to a friend’s house. These types of memory needs are essential for maintaining social interactions, family responsibilities and employment.

The researchers conducted learning tasks with two groups, with one group including ten alcoholics comprised of eight men and two women; and ten controls or non-alcoholics comprised of five men and five women. The first group was recruited from community outpatient clinics, hospitals and treatment centers.

The learning tasks included associative exercises, such as face-name recognition. The responses were designated as "shallow encoding" if the participant remembered the face as a "man," and as "deep encoding" if the participant remembered the face as "honest."

The researchers found that new face-name associations were more difficult than learning names or faces alone for both the alcoholics and the control participants. However, alcoholics were impaired when it came to both face-name association and faces or names alone.

The differences in learning for alcoholics were associated with patterns of cerebellar brain volumes measured with MRI. The patterns observed were different than those noted in the controls, whose memory functions were more associated with limbic system volumes.

The authors of the study note that the findings are important for understanding the complexities of the impact that alcohol can have on the brain. The problems caused in memory systems may not only affect daily life, but also cause difficulty in remembering the consequences previously experienced from consuming alcohol.

Understanding Shame

Shame is legitimate feeling. It invokes physical reactions much like any other emotion. Blushing, emotional paralysis, and lack of strength often accompany the feeling of shame. On the other hand, shame is also a belief. It is manifested from a deep seated idea that something inside of you is broken. When you struggle with shame, it is easy to believe you are genuinely worthless, unlovable, and not good enough. Finally, shame is also spiritual. It is often very difficult to believe we are worthy of the grace and mercy given by the Father. Because of this, it can be hard to accept support from the Father or a faith family. Healing this component is often the first step in healing shame.

Identify Why You Feel Shame

When shame is felt, most of the time people are involved. You know as you battled your addiction, there were people you hurt. More importantly, there were probably people you feel you let down. Additionally, you may also be feeling shame at your own personal struggle to live up to your own expectations. Taking the time while you are in recovery, to identify the primary sources for your feelings of shame will help you as you rid yourself of this emotion and belief.

Moving Past Your Shame

It is possible to move past and heal your shame. Just as you learned to accept certain aspects of your addiction while you were going through the recovery process, so must you also apply that same concept to understanding your shame. The self-acceptance of what your shame is and where is comes from allows you to begin to set it aside as you heal. This will be a process. As you reenter your life from recovery, you will have to focus on aspects of your life that you can control. Be honest with the people you are returning to about who you are. Let them see you trusting yourself and they will begin to trust you. Your shame will lessen with them over time and that will spill over to the rest of your life as well.

Each day you will have to make the choice not to use. You will have to learn how to handle simple mistakes without wanting to return to your drug of choice. This will be the same for the emotion and belief of shame. You will have to choose to remind yourself that when you make a mistake, it is not an opportunity to blame yourself and decide you are unworthy. Instead, it will be a chance to open the road to grace and with patience, time, and understanding, the empty spot that shame stems from will be filled offering you and amazing source of freedom.

A recent study looked at the role of friends in how those with alcohol-related problems make choices about alcohol consumption. For individuals struggling to overcome an alcohol use disorder, the encouragement of a friend to remain sober can be a powerful influence over their ability to avoid alcohol.

The study showed that the effects of social influences can extend over three years after treatment is completed. The impact of a positive social network that discourages drinking can help an individual cope when faced with the temptation to drink.

The study’s findings showed that those who had friends or family who were vocal about their desire for the individual to refrain from drinking were more triumphant in their long-term recovery. By contrast, those who had a friend or family member who encouraged problematic drinking behaviors, referred to in the study as a pro-drinker, developed more challenges with giving up alcohol.

The study was led by Dr. Robert Stout of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE). Dr. Stout explains that while many people think of a pro-drinker as someone who is a heavy drinker, the reality is that a pro-drinker can simply be a friend who doesn’t believe that the individual has a problem.

Dr. Stout and colleagues believe that the study conducted provides support for the intervention with pro-drinkers. It may be possible to help a pro-drinker understand the risks of drinking for their friend and the positive effects that could come from abstention. Making pro-drinkers advocates for abstention can give them tools to help another person recover from addiction.

Dr. Stout acknowledges that taking the steps to make changes in social relationships can be difficult, especially while an individual is trying to overcome an addiction. However, making the changes may be central to recovery, though it may be hard to explain to friends and family the need for their support.

Breaking off old relationships can also be very difficult. But Dr. Stout says that it is equally important to remove those who advocate drinking in efforts to surround oneself with those who support recovery.

Dr. Stout says that additional research is necessary to fully understand the ways in which friends and family can influence the outcome of a person attempting to recover from an addition like alcoholism.

Alcohol can also cause complications for individuals dealing with chronic health problems. For instance, when diabetics use alcohol regularly, it can make treating their problems difficult. It is often challenging for healthcare providers to understand which symptoms are linked to diabetes and which are linked to alcohol consumption.

A recent study examined the connection between alcohol use and diabetes. The researchers recruited the subjects through a study conducted in Sweden. Of the participants, some had been involved in an intervention program designed to twart diabetes in the community.

The participants were assessed 8 to 10 years after the initial study to determine whether they met criteria for diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose metabolism (pre-diabetes). The authors of the study compared this data with baseline information about alcohol consumption.

The report showed that about 2,000 males and 3,000 females exhibited a normal glucose tolerance when tested at baseline. Of these individuals, however, 105 males and 57 females later developed type II diabetes. For those who were recorded as pre-diabetic at baseline, 175 males and 98 females later developed diabetes.

The analysis of diabetic diagnosis and alcohol consumption showed that binge drinking and total alcohol consumption were associated with an increased risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes in males. Low consumption of alcohol was associated with a lowered risk of diabetes in females.

The authors did not discuss in their findings that among all comparisons and associations analyzed in the study, the highest risk of pre-diabetes or diabetes was found to be among those who did not consume any alcohol.

Those who reviewed the study expressed some concerns about its validity. For instance, the study included subjects who had participated in an intervention trial for the prevention of diabetes, but information about the possible effects of the intervention was not included as part of the study. In addition, it was not a population-based sample and the sample included some who had a family history of diabetes, which may affect the measurement of the impact of certain environmental aspects.

However, the reviewers acknowledge that the study does add support for the growing body of research showing that there is an association between alcohol consumption and a diagnosis for diabetes. It appears that there is a reduction in risk observed when alcohol consumption is moderate, and an increase in risk for those who drink heavily.

The information provided by the study may be helpful in developing prevention strategies for those at-risk for diabetes. Those who are pre-diabetic may be able to reduce their risk for diabetes by carefully monitoring alcohol intake.

Some people visit their dentists more often than their family physicians. If they are feeling healthy, then they may not feel a need to schedule an annual physical with their doctor. However, they know that a 6 to 12-month dentist check-up can keep their pearly whites from acquiring multiple layers of plaque.

Because dentists may see their patients more often than doctors, researchers from Britain’s University of Cardiff suggest that dentists start screening their patients for alcohol abuse. Massive amounts of alcohol can cause multiple oral problems. In a research article in the Royal College of Surgeons’ Dental Journal, lead author, Professor Jack Shepherd, suggested that if dentists recognize alcohol problems in their patients, they could not only help prevent future dental problems, but could help halt a person’s dangerous abuse of alcohol.

Oral Problems Caused by Alcohol

It is sensible that dentists would inquire whether or not their patients drank large amounts of alcohol. Excessive amounts of alcohol can cause teeth to decay, cavities, and enamel erosion. At its worst, binge drinking can contribute to cancer of the mouth, larynx, and esophagus.

A dental questionnaire that includes questions on the frequency of alcohol use could help dentists alert their patients to their risks of tooth problems and more life-threatening illnesses.

Dual Duties in Preventive Health Care

Researchers believe that while dentists keep providing oral care, they can also be sirens for problems of alcohol abuse. Professor Shepherd believes that dentists might be in the best position to notice early warning signs of alcohol abuse.

Together with the government, they could develop new screening techniques for patients, reach individuals in early stages of their alcohol abuse, and help the individuals get proper treatment before they do any more harm to their bodies.

Dental hygienists or nurses could offer informational support sessions to help patients identified as abusing alcohol and could even provide referrals of where the patient could get treatment for alcohol abuse.

One More Team Member in Substance Abuse Prevention

Peter Ward, the Chief Executive of the British Dental Association (BDA), is on board with the idea. He sees merit in Shepherd’s ideas. Much of the dentistry world focuses on preventive care- care for the entire body. Teeth tell many tales of a body’s overall health, and dentists can use these signs to help a patient heal holistically. One thing affects another and the healing of one part of the body will be healthier for the rest.

The BDA is expanding its preventive care for teeth to include focusing on helping their patients find treatment for alcohol abuse. Pilot projects are currently being conducted on this expanded preventive care in England.