Alcoholism has been referred to by many names, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency. Nowadays, it's known as alcohol use disorder.

It occurs when you consume so much alcohol that your body becomes dependent on or addicted to it. Alcohol becomes the most important thing in your life when this happens.

Even if drinking has negative consequences, such as losing a job or destroying relationships with people they care about, people with alcohol use disorders will continue to drink. They may be aware that their drinking has a negative impact on their lives, but this is often insufficient to persuade them to stop.

Some people may overindulge in alcohol to the point of addiction, but they are not physically dependent on it. This was previously known as alcohol abuse.

Causes of alcoholism

The exact cause of alcohol use disorder is unknown. When you consume so much alcohol that chemical changes occur in your brain, you develop an alcohol use disorder.  These modifications increase the pleasurable feelings you get from drinking alcohol. This makes you want to drink more frequently, even if it is harmful.

Eventually, the pleasurable feelings associated with alcohol use fade, and the person with an alcohol use disorder will drink to avoid withdrawal symptoms.  These withdrawal symptoms can be quite unpleasant and even dangerous.

Alcoholism usually develops gradually over time. It has also been observed to run in families.

Symptoms of alcoholism

The number of symptoms you experience determines whether your alcohol use disorder is mild, moderate, or severe. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Being unable to control your alcohol consumption.
• Wanting to reduce your drinking or making unsuccessful attempts to do so.
• Spending a significant amount of time drinking, obtaining alcohol, or recovering from alcohol use.
• Having a strong desire to consume alcohol.
• Failure to meet major obligations at work, school, or home due to excessive alcohol consumption
• Continuing to consume alcohol despite knowing that it is causing physical, social, work, or relationship problems.
• Alone while drinking.
• Drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol. (having a high tolerance)
• When asked about their drinking habits, many become violent or enraged.
• Eating infrequently or poorly.
• Neglecting personal hygiene.

 The impact of alcoholism on health

Too much alcohol, whether consumed on a single occasion or over time, can lead to a variety of health issues, including:

• Diabetes complications. Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin or some other diabetes medications to lower your blood sugar level.
• Sexual dysfunction and menstrual irregularities. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that affects men who drink heavily.  Heavy drinking can cause menstrual periods to be disrupted in women.
• Eye issues Due to a deficiency in vitamin B-1 (thiamin), heavy drinking can cause involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus), as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles. If not treated promptly, thiamin deficiency can lead to other brain changes, such as irreversible dementia.
• Medication and alcohol interactions. Some medications interact with alcohol, increasing its toxic effects. Drinking while taking these medications can either increase or decrease their effectiveness, or make them dangerous.
• Liver disease Heavy drinking can result in increased fat in the liver (hepatic steatosis) and liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis). Heavy drinking can cause irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis) over time.
• Digestive issues Gastritis, as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers, can be caused by heavy drinking. It can also make it difficult for your body to absorb B vitamins and other nutrients. Drinking too much alcohol can harm your pancreas or cause pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation).
• Birth defects. Miscarriage can occur if alcohol is consumed during pregnancy. It has also been linked to the development of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). FASDs can cause physical and developmental problems in a child that last a lifetime.

Professional diagnosis

Alcoholism can be diagnosed by a doctor or other healthcare provider.  perform a physical examination and inquire about your drinking habits.

Your doctor might inquire if you:

• Driving when you’re drunk.
• You have missed work or have lost a job as a result of your drinking.
• You need more alcohol to feel “drunk” when you drink.
• You may have experienced blackouts as a result of your drinking.
• You may have tried to cut back on your drinking but couldn’t.

To help diagnose your condition, your doctor may use a questionnaire that assesses alcohol use disorder.

A diagnosis of alcohol use disorder usually does not necessitate the use of any other diagnostic tests. If you're exhibiting signs or symptoms of liver disease, your doctor may order blood tests to check your liver function.

Your liver can suffer serious and long-term damage if you have an alcohol use disorder. Toxins are removed from your bloodstream by your liver. When you consume too much alcohol, your liver struggles to filter the alcohol and other toxins out of your bloodstream. This can result in liver disease and other problems.

Alcoholism prevention

Teens who receive early intervention can avoid alcohol-related problems. If you have a teen, be aware of the following signs and symptoms that may indicate an alcohol problem:

• Loss of interest in activities, hobbies, and personal appearance
• Red eyes, slurred speech, coordination issues, and memory lapses
• Difficulties or changes in friendship relationships, such as joining a new crowd
• School issues and declining grades
• Frequently changing moods and defensive behavior

You can help prevent adolescent alcohol use by doing the following:

• Set a good example by abstaining from alcohol.
• Communicate openly with your child, spend quality time with them, and become actively involved in their lives.
• Inform your child of the expected behavior and the consequences for not following the rules.

Alcohol depresses your central nervous system. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. However, as you drink more, you become drowsy and lose control of your actions.