...Leggio, L. , Ferrulli, A. , D' Angelo, C. , et al. (2013). Liver transplantation in alcoholic patients: Impact of an alcohol addiction unit within a liver transplant center. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 37(9), 1601-1608. This article discusses an experiment that was done on an alcoholic addiction unit in a liver transplant center. This Alcohol Addiction Unit (AAU) was formed for alcoholic patients who are affected by end-stage liver transplant and are on the waiting list of transplantation. It includes tables and graphs of the characteristics of Alcohol Abuse in Recidivistic (Lapse or Relapse) and Nonrecidivistic patients. This article can be useful for my memo topic by providing useful information such as the number of patients who relapse after a liver transplant, based on the experiment. It also evaluates the relationship between relapse and the duration of alcohol abstinence after a transplant. It would also help by providing an example that alcohol patients that get liver transplants can stop drinking by participating in a program such as the Alcohol Addiction Unit. GLANNON, W. (2009). Responsibility and priority in liver transplantation. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 18(1), 23-35. This article summarizes a paper that argues that it is wrong to give...
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...Your Liver and Hepatitis. The Liver Facts . One out of every 10 Americans is affected by liver disease. Liver disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. There are more than100 liver diseases. The good news is we can help prevent the liver diseases and keep it healthy. Overview of the liver. The liver is the second largest organ in the body and is located under the cage on the right side. It weighs about three pounds and is shaped like a football that is flat on one side. The liver performs many functions in the body. It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients that your body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood. Functions of the liver include: • Filters your blood • Makes proteins, including blood-clotting factors (needed to help you heal) • Stores vitamins, sugars, fats, and other nutrients • Helps regulate hormones • Releases chemicals and nutrients into the body when needed • Makes bile needed for digesting fats Liver damage can lead to swollen, shrunken, hard, or scarred liver tissue. Such livers do not work well, and the person can get very sick, or even die, if the liver stops working altogether. Symptoms of liver disease Acute (When symptoms occur suddenly it is categorized as acute process) Tiredness or weakness Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) Fever Nausea and vomiting Dark urine or very pale colored...
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...The Liver Section A: Describe the cause and effect of alcohol toxicity on the structure and function of the liver. The liver is the largest internal organ and the largest gland in the body. Glands produce hormones that other parts of the body use to function. The liver is divided into two major sections; the right side is bigger while the left is smaller. Sixty percent of the liver is made up of liver cells called hepatocytes; these cells take in nutrients, destroy and remove harmful substances from the blood. The liver is important for survival, it has many functions, and according to the British Liver Trust (2007) it has over five hundred functions. Here is a brief summary of some of the functions of the liver. It processes digested food from the intestine, it controls the levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood, fights infections, produces bile, breaks down food and turns it into energy as well as produces quick energy. It produces, breaks down and controls most hormones in the body, it also makes enzymes and proteins, and these are responsible for most chemical reactions in the body, British Liver Trust (2007). There are many conditions that can affect the functions of the liver. One of these is alcohol abuse. Alcohol is developed from the fermentation of sugar by yeast. It is a drug. The liver cannot store alcohol so it breaks down the alcohol into water, carbon dioxide and fat, then processes about ninety percent of the alcohol and removes around five...
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...Illicit drugs n effects -Herion: Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being -Cocaine: is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. the initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. -Methamphetamine: popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. -Lysergic acid diethylamide: LSD, LSD-25, or acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family. Arguably the most regarded of all psychedelics, it is considered mainly as a recreational drug, an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various types of exercises for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illegal psychedelic psychotherapy...
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...March Alcohol and its effects Alcohol is the most commonly used substance used in the US today and is a worldwide problem. 17.6 million, or one in every 12 adults is suffering from abuse of alcohol. Although there are good effects of alcohol if it is consumed in moderation, like reducing the chances of having a heart attack or increase life expectancy; on the other hand there are also bad effects. That includes brain damage; accidental deaths as a result of drunk driving, heart-related diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiomyopathy, liver disease and the increase of unemployment from excessive alcohol drinking. Today alcohol counts for a large percentage of accidents and deaths among people each year and is responsible for half of all accidental deaths and suicides. It has always been evident that alcohol has an effect on brain function. Alcoholism and binge drinking are the leading cause of death in America, and according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) about two thirds of men and about one half of women in America drink alcohol. And aside from intoxication, drinking alcohol can cause memory loss, seizures, headaches, and blackouts. While all body systems feel the affect of alcohol, the CNS (central nervous system) is particularly sensitive. Science Net Link states alcohol as a depressant of the CNS, that makes nerve cells in the brain less excited causing them to slow down. Science Net Link also points out that alcohol affects...
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...The idea approach is to help people understand how much their alcohol use is harming their life and those around them. One important thing to remember; recovering from alcohol addiction is not an easy task and there is no medical cure only management. Many people with alcohol problems do not recognize they have a drinking problem. Regardless of how someone is diagnosis as alcohol dependent or how they realize they have a serious drinking problem, the first step is a sincere desire to get help. Once you have made that commit to yourself, the second step to refrain from alcoholic drinks. Almost all alcoholics who have been chronic drinkers will have some experience of withdraw; there is no magic pill that will cure alcoholism. Withdrawal can be mild to life threating. From mild body shakes, to confusion, seizures, chest pain, sweating, your eyes can become sensitive to light, you may begin to feel as if something is crawling on your skin or see things that are not there, you can lose control of your bowel and bladder also your blood pressure and heart rate will increase. During your withdrawal stage, depending on symptoms, the doctor can give you medication to help you through the withdrawal period, such as Ativan, Librium and Serax.The process of alcohol clearing (detoxification) takes three to seven days, after that the alcohol dependency is primarily an emotional crutch rather than a physical. The goal of alcohol clearing is to prevent the development of more serious symptoms...
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...Alcoholism 1 Alcoholism is the continuous or excessive use of alcohol with associated pathologic results. Alcoholism is characterized by constant or periodic intoxication, although the pattern of consumption varies, individuals admitted for the first time to an alcoholism treatment center typically have been consuming approximately 3–4 oz (80–100 g) of pure alcohol per day, corresponding to about seven to nine drinks or bottles of beer or glasses of wine. Studies have shown that problem drinking in these populations starts at about 2 oz/day (60 g/day), that is, four to five drinks per day, and that these are consumed in rapid succession, leading to intoxication on three or more days per week. Individuals who consume these levels of alcohol have also a greater than average risk of developing alcoholic liver cirrhosis. However, the levels should not be taken as absolute, since they can vary greatly in different individuals, according to body weight and other factors. The symptoms and consequences associated with severe alcohol consumption also vary greatly; that is, in some individuals only a few may be present. These may consist of the development of physical dependence manifested as a state of physical discomfort or hyperexcitability (tremors or shakes) that are reduced by continued consumption; the development of tolerance to the effects of alcohol, which leads individuals to increase their consumption; accidents while intoxicated; blackouts, characterized by loss of memory...
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...January 1, 2014 Drinking While Driving a Car Alcohol is directly responsible for the thousands of deaths and injuries on the roads each year. Drinking alcohol and driving basically do not go together. Alcohol affects alertness, and one’s ability to make fast choices on the road, respond to changes in the surroundings and implement specific, often difficult maneuvers behind the wheel. It is therefore very important for drivers to have a maturity to accept the responsibility of acquiring a license. Alcohol is obviously the highest contributing issue in serious and fatal vehicle crashes, and key issue in groups of vehicle crashes. Despite efforts to deter drunk driving, alcohol- related traffic fatalities still pose a grave and dangerous problem. Why people drink alcohol. . Many people who drink alcohol enjoy the taste of beer, wine, and other kinds of alcohol. Beside the test, people like ethanol because it can make them drunk. for others it is way of life. Many people drink alcohol to avoid the problems in their lives, or to loosen up so that they feel more relaxed or happy when they party. A person whose drinking surpasses the guidelines is at risk of adverse health effects. Damages Caused by the alcohol and the liver Liver is an important organ of the body. Even though this organ is responsible for breaking down alcohol, it is mostly susceptible to alcohol- associated injuries; thus the commonness of diseases of the liver and pancreas is associated primarily with heavy...
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...that the consumption of alcohol in moderate amounts can lead to certain psychological benefits. Low levels of alcohol can trigger stress reduction, easy feelings of anxiety and help consumers to reduce tension. In addition, low levels of alcohol consumption can also cause the consumer to feel more pleasant and relaxed. Studies on sleep show that people who drink in moderation get more sleep on average than do those who indulge in excess. These psychological effects of moderate drinking are positive ones that can be beneficial to the consumer. A Longer Life The positive psychological effects of drinking in moderation can be associated with the studies that show moderate drinkers tend to love longer than people who don't drink at all or those who drink in excess. Studies from a number of different countries including China, the United States and England indicate that longevity is highest among groups of people who drink alcohol in moderation. Increased Cardiovascular Health Several studies have shown that drinking alcohol in moderation has a positive correlation with certain aspects of cardiovascular health. In particular, the risk of developing coronary artery disease is significantly lowered in conjunction with moderate consumption of alcohol. Another link between alcohol and cardiovascular health shows that moderate consumption of alcohol has a positive correlation with survivability in the event of a heart attack. Those who drink low levels of alcohol are more likely to live...
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...Chronic Liver Failure Alcohol Abuse & Cirrhosis Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of cirrhosis, and one of the leading causes of severe liver damage worldwide (Doig & Huether, 2010). It is interesting to note that alcoholic cirrhosis is responsible for 50-70% of all underlying liver pathologies in ACLF in the Western countries and only 15% in Asian countries (Kim & Kim, 2013). Strong alcohol odor, significantly high blood alcohol levels, lethargy, peripheral edema, ascites and abnormal protein levels are all signs of a patient’s chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol is a potent hepatotoxin (Park et al., 2014). Liver has an essential function of de-toxifying alcohol and its toxic products. Two enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde...
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...Every year alcohol is responsible for 1/2 of all murders, accidental deaths, and suicides; 1/3 of all drowning, boating, and aviation deaths; 1/2 of all crimes; and almost 1/2 of all fatal automobile accidents (Overview 1). Alcohol is a potent nonprescription drug sold to anyone over the national legal drinking age, 21. Unlike carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which can be manufactured by the body, alcohol is a substance that is not made within the body. It is a food, because it supplies a concentrated number of calories, but is not nourishing and does not supply a significant amount of needed nutrients, vitamins, or minerals. These are empty calories that result in an unattractive “beer belly.” Most foods are prepared for digestion by the stomach so that their nutrients can be absorbed by the large intestine. However, 95% of alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach walls or the walls of the duodenum (part of the small intestine nearest the stomach)and small intestine (Overview 2). Various factors effect the speed of alcohol’s absorption into the body. - Watery drinks such as beer is absorbed more slowly. - Foods (especially fatty foods) delay absorption - Carbonated beverages speed up the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine where alcohol is absorbed more quickly. - The drinker’s physical and emotional state (fatigue, stress), and individual body chemistry affect absorption. - Gender: Women have less dehydrogenates (a chemical that breaks down alcohol in the...
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...Alcohol has an adverse effect on several parts of the body. For starters, the liver receives the greatest damage from alcohol. Common conditions in the liver that result from alcoholism are fibrosis, cirrhosis, and steatosis (otherwise known as fatty liver). I have personal experience with this as two of my uncles and my great-grandfather died from liver failure which was caused by alcoholism. The next toll that can be seen in the body from excessive alcohol occurs in the heart. Some of the conditions that arise from the abuse of alcohol are Cardiomyopathy (the stretching and drooping of heart muscle, Arrhythmias (an irregular heart beat), and high blood pressure. Although the worst effect on the heart is the multiplicative increase...
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... smoking, and alcohol on liver function tests: a comprehensive cross-sectional study BMC Gastroenterology 2012, 12:145 doi:10.1186/1471-230X-12-145 Eun Sun Jang (jeses19@gmail.com) Sook-Hyang Jeong (jsh@snubh.org) Sung Ho Hwang (c3134@snubh.org) Hyun Young Kim (cecilup@naver.com) So Yeon Ahn (ahnsoyeon@gmail.com) Jaebong Lee (wantu4@gmail.com) Sang Hyub Lee (gidoctor@snubh.org) Young Soo Park (dkree@snubh.org) Jin Hyeok Hwang (jhhwang@snubh.org) Jin-Wook Kim (kimjw@snubh.org) Nayoung Kim (nayoungkim49@empas.com) Dong Ho Lee (dhljohn@snubh.org) ISSN Article type Submission date Acceptance date Publication date Article URL 1471-230X Research article 31 May 2012 10 October 2012 18 October 2012 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-230X/12/145 Like all articles in BMC journals, this peer-reviewed article can be downloaded, printed and distributed freely for any purposes (see copyright notice below). Articles in BMC journals are listed in PubMed and archived at PubMed Central. For information about publishing your research in BMC journals or any BioMed Central journal, go to http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/authors/ © 2012 Jang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Effects of coffee, smoking, and alcohol on liver function tests:...
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...Should the Legal Drinking Age be Lowered? The legal drinking age should remain 21. The United States minimum legal drinking age of 21 years old is set at the highest in the world. People consume alcohol for many different reasons; celebrations, anxiety, depression, peer pressure and boredom. This group of people includes teenagers. It is very easy for teens to get ahold of alcohol whether it be from the cabinets in their own homes or from older friends and family members, who would buy it for them. Teenage drinking has become one of the largest social issues today. More than 25,000 lives have been saved because of the MLDA (minimum legal drinking age). When states had lowered drinking ages in the past, the underage drinking problem was worse than ever before in the US. To have a better understanding on the controversy around the legal drinking age, some background information may be helpful. Kids are now experimenting with alcohol at early ages than they have ever before. Teens who are drinking can be affected in many different ways. Alcohol has been linked to a wide range of illnesses such as cancer, high blood pressure and liver disease. Some studies and surveys have shown that between the ages of 12-21, young adults have consumed alcohol at least once. Every year there are about 5,000 deaths in young people as a result in underage drinking. However with the ratings and percentages of teens drinking there are some ways to educate and possibly prevent the negative...
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...Laurence-Probert Composition 1 Essay #2 cause and effect March 19, 2013 Situations Leading Up To Alcohol Abuse There are many people who like to drink beverages with alcohol. Many people drink for social purposes, and many drink to relax after a hard day of work. Moreover, the notion of alcoholic-based drinks has become an influence for many people of all ages around the world, and many abuse it. There are some people who believe that there is no cause for drinking. On the other hand, there are people who believe that there are many causes and many effects for drinking beverages that contain alcohol. One possible cause of alcohol abuse could be depression for one reason or another; however, the effects of alcohol abuse are liver damage, decrease of brain function, and the loss of a job. One effect of alcohol abuse is liver damage. Alcohol abuse causes cirrhosis of the liver, which shortens the life of a human being. Moreover, liver damage due to alcohol can lead to pain, suffering, and bitterness. For example, my best friend mother was an alcoholic; she abused it every day and all day at the age of forty, she was diagnosed with cirrhosis of her liver. Not only did she experience much pain, but she also spent the rest of her life angry and mad at everything and everyone. If it was not for her alcohol abuse, then she would have lived longer and possibly been happier. Alcohol abuse also causes severe damage in the neurons, so it causes alterations in the body movements, loss...
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