Alcohol abuse can harm bodies, minds, families, societies and economies.

Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister said, "Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me." However, unlike Churchill, for many highly talented souls alcohol has been a curse, for once addicted to it, they have lost their brilliant career.

Man has always enjoyed getting intoxicated. Alcohol has always been an important part of all social occasions and rituals. Today alcohol consumption is one of the most serious public health problems not just in our country but in developed countries as well. The ill effect of alcohol consumption is not taken seriously because the enjoyment of alcohol is socially accepted and even encouraged in many cultures. The process by which an occasional drinker becomes an excessive drinker, and then finally becomes dependent on drinking can be gradual.

Alcohol abuse or excessive drinking is associated with a whole range of problems such as - physical, psychological, social, criminal and economical. Another silent killer associated with alcohol addiction is liver disease known as Cirrhosis or Hepatitis. Liver Cirrhosis is the terminal stage of the liver diseases in which the liver becomes shrunk and fibrosed there by losing all its function. This stage occurs after liver has undergone abuse and destruction for a long period of time.
 

 
Ethanol: Alcohol consists of a substance called ethanol. In small amounts ethanol stimulates the nerve cells in the brain. However, when alcohol is taken regularly over years, the substance becomes toxic to the cells of the body, especially the cells in the liver, and this can in turn lead to cirrhosis of liver.

Alcoholic hepatitis: Excessive drinking for many years causes inflammation of the liver cells called Alcoholic hepatitis. Regular drinking weakens the normal functioning of liver and this leads to the development of the disease.

Malnutrition: Alcohol consumed by a person blocks the essential nutrients which one gets from food as it results in failure of the liver cells to absorb adequate nutrients from the intestinal tract. Thus, malnutrition contributes to aggravation of the liver disease.

Genetic factors can also contribute to the development of alcoholic liver disease.
 

 
Symptoms may not be present until the disease is relatively advanced. Symptoms vary with the severity of the disease and are usually worse after a recent period of heavy drinking. The Symptoms include:

Loss of appetite.

Swollen abdomen due to an enlarged liver.

Jaundice and fever.

Weight gain.

Mental confusion and difficulty with memory.

Rise in the rate of heart beat.

Alcoholics are at an increased risk for gastrointestinal disorders, heart diseases and high blood pressure.

Excessive alcohol use can also cause peptic ulcers, aggression, anxiety and depression.

A number of types of cancer can be developed as a result of alcoholism. Cancer of mouth, throat,esophagus,
  stomach and liver are the few commonly occurring ones.
  

 
A complete blood count analysis (CBC) may show anemia and other abnormalities.

Tests which determine the normal functioning of the liver show abnormal results.

Liver biopsy shows typical findings for alcoholic liver disease.

To rule out other diseases, tests such as ultrasound and CT scan of the abdomen may also be carried out.

Serious complications of alcohol consumption These include advanced diseases such as brain damage (Alcoholic Encephalopathy) and hypertension (high blood pressure within the liver). The disease usually affects those who are older than 30 years.