Excessive drinking can cause a variety of health problems. This index explores a wide range of the health effects of alcohol from fetal alcohol syndrome to alcholism in the elderly.
Almost every system in the body can be negatively affected by alcohol. This email course explains how even moderate drinking can affect your health, and the damage that can be caused by long-term and/or heavy drinking.
Excessive alcohol consumption over a period of time can begin to affect almost every system in the body, especially the liver, brain and digestive track.
Women who abuse alcohol, or even occassionally drink to excess, face greater risks to their health than their male counterparts.
There is growing evidence that some alcoholics face issues perhaps even more serious than staying sober.
Nine out of ten primary care physicians fail to correctly diagnose alcohol abuse even when their patients present classic early symptoms.
Even modest amounts of alcohol consumption can cause blood pressure to increase, especially in older adults, according to two recent studies conducted in Japan.
If you have high blood pressure, it may be wise not to drink alcohol at all, even in moderate amounts. Drinking alcohol within the recommended guidelines for moderate drinking may increase blood pressure more than previously believed.
The use of alcohol to depress the effects of pain is as old as the frementation process itself. Alcohol is believed to be one of the oldest used drug in the world.
Some experts say moderate drinking during pregnancy is okay, but there are others who believe taking even one drink is like playing Russian Roulette with your baby's health.
Innovations in imaging technology have helped alcohol researchers study how alcohol damages internal organs, such as the brain and the liver.
A British study finds even moderate drinking may be detrimental to life expectancy, contrary to studies showing moderate drinking may be helpful.
Chronic drinkers may appear to be healthy, but if they do become ill or injured, they may find it more difficult to heal.
A study from Denmark suggests alcohol consumption may increase men's risk of developing atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat.
Alcohol abuse and dependence among American Indians can lead to a multitude of medical problems including sprains and strains, hearing and vision problems, kidney and bladder problems, head injuries, pneumonia/tuberculosis, dental problems, liver problems and pancreatitis.
Did you know that even moderate drinking, under certain circumstances, is not risk free? And that if you drink at more than moderate levels, you may be putting yourself at risk for serious problems with your health and problems with family, friends, and coworkers?
People who are not dependent on alcohol, but who practice hazardous drinking and drug use, face serious health problems much like those who are alcoholics and addicts.
Chronic and heavy drinking can inhibit the formation of new bone cells called osteoblast decreasing bone formation and leading to low bone mass, according to research at the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Researchers find that long-term alcoholics are four times more likely to develop postoperative infections following elective cardiac surgery than nonalcoholic patients.
The body has more than 100 circadian rhythms that are unique and influence various aspects of body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels, pain threshold and even the ability to fight disease. Drinking alcohol can have negative consequences on these biological rhythms, research reveals.
The body mass index of individuals who drink alcohol may be related to how much, and how often, they drink, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Alcohol consumption may slightly increase the risk for developing a certain type of irregular heart beat, known as atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter, according to a Danish study.
Researchers have confirmed that drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect blood coagulation -- acting as a "blood thinner" -- which can have both positive and negative health effects.
Alcohol-induced liver disease is a major cause of illness and death in the United States, sometimes it is reversible, others not.
Extensive research supports the observation that smokers drink and drinkers smoke and the heaviest alcohol consumers are also the heaviest consumers of tobacco.
Studying the link between alcohol consumption and stress may further our understanding of drinking behavior.
What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence?
Researchers find that long-term chronic drinking produces an increase in cortisol both during intoxication and withdrawal which can have health implications for sleep disruption, cognitive deficits, diabetes, and mood disturbances.
For years people have claimed to be addicted to chocolate and now there is new scientific evidence that indicates the addictive qualities of the tasty treat.
Information and up-to-date articles concerning the growing problem of drinking on college campuses.
New research shows that genetic factors may determine those at increased risk of developing liver disease.
Moonshine continues to thrive and according to a physician at the University of Virginia Health System, it can cause serious health problems in those who abuse it.
Results of two new studies show that people with substance abuse disorders often have accompanying medical or psychiatric conditions and treatment programs should include medical screening.
The supplement SAMe which proved disappointing as a treatment for arthritis and depression as it was originally promoted, may now offer some hope for those who suffer from chronic liver disease.
The U.S. Surgeon General has testified that labels on wine bottles about the health effects of wine would probably lead to irresponsible drinking.
Alcoholics can continue to have sleep problems for many months after they quit drinking, problems with sleep onset may be more pronounced than with sleep maintenance, and many alcoholics had sleep problems that predated the onset of alcohol dependence.
Alcohol consumption changes thyroid function and reduces the levels of thyroid hormone in both the mother and fetus, suggesting links between thyroid function and alcohol-related birth defects.
An estimated one-third of adults use prayer, in addition to conventional medical care and complementary and alternative therapies, for health concerns, according to Harvard Medical School Research.
Extensive research shows the heaviest alcohol consumers are also the heaviest consumers of tobacco.
