Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system

June 12, 2015

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: The Digestive System Explained

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system can be corrected by the applications of preventive measures of alcoholism

Alcohol consumption when abused can become one of the most dangerous substances that can cause serious health complication to the body. Even though it is said that the use of alcohol can be beneficial to the body, this fact is betrayed by the fact that this substance is very addictive and the minimum level of usage is often very difficult to attain. Moreover the said benefits are very insignificant when compared to the demerits of alcohol. For that reason we want to explore some of the effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system with a view of understanding the possible corrective measures that we can take to salvage the problem. When we talk of the benefits, it is often eluded to the moderate consumption of alcohol. Users of alcohol will tell you that when taken in moderation, it can make life a bit more enjoyable for some people. These people will tell you that it allows them to socialize more easily, and also cause them to relax after a hard day’s work. However what may not be clear to these users is that there is a dark side to alcohol consumption, and this will soon become apparent when individuals drink beyond the estimated limit. The consequences of this can lead to all sorts of physical and mental health problems. Therefore if people become addicted to alcohol it can completely destroy their life.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Organs of the digestive system

Before we get to understand how alcohol addiction affects the digestive system, it is important to appreciate that people need to consume food in order to survive, to be strong and healthy. Besides that, it is also not only needed for fuel but the body also uses elements of this nutrition for repair of the body. Now the digestive system is a group of organs in the body that are tasked with the role of removing all the needed nutrients from any food that is eaten. In other words, in order for people to live life to the fullest they need to have a fully functional digestive system. These digestive systems are made up of several different organs including the following:

The mouth is where digestion begins. The food that is eaten will be partly broken down by chewing so as to make it easier to digest. At this point, the saliva can begin to break down some chemicals in food.
Food is then transferred to the stomach by the esophagus.
The stomach contains a strong acid that helps to break down food. The churning motion of the stomach turns food into a sludge-like substance called chime.
The liver produces bile which is stored in the gallbladder.
The pancreas produces enzymes that are also required for digestion.
The small intestine is where bile and enzymes help to extract the nutrients from the food.
The large intestine contains microbes that assist in breaking down food. In this organ electrolytes and water is extracted from the chime.
Anything in the food that is not of use to the body ends up in the rectum where it is expelled as feces and that is the process of digestion which can be literally destroyed by the abuse of alcohol.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Digestive System Problems Caused by Alcohol Abuse

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, alcohol abuse can cause havoc in every organ of the digestive system listed above. Doctor Dalal Akoury shares with us some of the most common problems that are likely to come as a result of the abuse of this substance:

Alcohol increases the risk that people will develop mouth cancer remember that alcohol comes in second besides tobacco smoking to this effect. However it can also cause some people to develop gum disease.
Heartburn is frequently caused by excessive alcohol intake. It does this by relaxing the sphincter that is there to control the acidic contents of the stomach from passing into the esophagus. If this fluid makes it past the sphincter it can be highly irritating to the esophagus, and this is what causes heartburn.
Alcohol abuse can damage the lining of the stomach. This can lead to problems including inflammation of the stomach gastritis.
Alcohol may increase the risk of people developing stomach cancer, but there is no conclusive proof of this.
Alcohol abuse can increase the risk of people developing small intestine cancers.
It can cause mal-absorption so that the individual is not absorbing all the nutrients from food they need.
It may cause leaky gut syndrome where unwanted toxins are able to leak through the intestine into the rest of the body. These toxins then cause problems and lead to ill-health.
It can exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol can cause both diarrhea and constipation
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to an inflammation of the pancreas. This is known as pancreatitis and it can lead to life-threatening complications. It can also interfere with the ability of the digestive system to function effectively.
The effect of alcohol on the liver is well documented. If people are drinking excessively they can start to develop the early stages of alcoholic liver disease. If this progresses to cirrhosis then the damage will be so severe that this organ is unable to function properly. Not only is the liver vital for digestion, but it is also necessary for other important functions as well.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: Alcoholism and Malnutrition

Researchers have established that many alcoholics fail to get adequate nutrition, and this leads to serious health consequences. The consequences of this could develop problems like alcoholic dementia and peripheral neuropathy because of nutritional deficiencies. The reason why this occurs is that alcohol contains empty calories while offering little nutritional value. This means that people do not feel hungry. Alcoholism also causes people to lose interest in food, and the impact of alcohol on the digestion of food can lead to mal-absorption when they do eat. This is why chronic alcoholics will usually suffer from poor health because of malnutrition. Finally the notion of moderate drinking has not worked for many owing to the addictiveness of alcohol. It is therefore advisable to quit alcohol altogether for your digestive system to be healthy and effective. Meanwhile if you are struggling with alcohol, then you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury to get professional help and treatment to correct any damage that may have been caused by the abuse of alcohol.

Effects of alcohol addiction on the digestive system: The Digestive System Explained

Breathe Easier with Bromelain

November 8, 2014

Breathe Easier with Bromelain

A mixture of several enzymes that are naturally found in pineapple juice and its stem, Bromelain, has been found to treat successfully a wide variety of disorders that are responsible for other severe diseases. This proteolytic enzyme is held as being useful in the digestion of proteins.

Some of this proteolytic enzyme is said to be absorbed by the body without being broken or processed into a different form. Because of this characteristic the enzyme is believed to have other effects outside the gastrointestinal tract.

What is most important though is not these behavioral aspects. Rather, its curative nature is what really matters. Medicinal assessments have recommended it as an organic anti-inflammatory used for various conditions including arthritis.

In Germany, Bromelain is also one of the commonest supplements sanctioned by the E Commission for dealing with swelling and distension of the nose as well as the sinuses that come as a result of surgery or other forms of injury.

It is from this perspective that Bromelain comes out as being highly useful in helping people with breathing related issues. One may use the enzyme to help alleviate the effects of these nasal inflammations and this way their breathing is expressly improved.

Sinusitis

Inflammation of a person’s nasal sinus may be treated by the use of Bromelain. It has been recommended by doctors in different parts of the globe as a corresponding treatment for patients of Sinusitis.

Bromelain

From preliminary medical studies, doctors say that it is helpful in reducing congestion of the chest which eventually improves breathing and suppresses coughing. Commission E approves of it as a good alternative for dealing with nasal swellings and inflammations that remain after one has been operated on. The approval is supported by a hoard of previous studies which indicate that the enzyme may bring relief from symptoms of sinusitis.

Other areas

Given that Bromelain is an enzyme it helps with the digestion proteins. As we know, breathing is not purely about inhaling and exhaling through our noses. A lot of other factors come into play in effecting a perfect gaseous exchange. Bromelain therefore comes in handy to help with cases of bloating that could prevent one from enjoying a free flow of breath.

The enzyme helps with a number of digestive related symptoms including excessive gas in the stomach and conditions like the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is effective used alone but can always be used together with other enzymes of similar purposes such as the lipase which help in digestion of fats. Another enzyme it can be used with is the amylase which digests starch in the body.

Bromelain forms

The enzyme can always be taken in the form of capsules or tablets. The pineapple extract is processed and made into these forms for ready use just like other medicines. As a digestive aid though, it is often taken together with meals, but is recommended to be ingested in between meals when the purpose is to treat inflammatory conditions as this will optimize chances of absorption.

Breathe Easier with Bromelain

Alcohol Addiction GI Connection

November 1, 2013

Dr. Dalal Akoury

Alcohol Addiction GI Connection

Alcohol addiction plays a significant role in the creating damage to the GIT. This distorts the anatomical and physiological functions of the GIT that support the extended functions of the GIT in absorption and digestive processes on the body. The metabolic processes occur first through the activity of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. The GIT and Liver have different Alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes.

The chronic alcoholism however leads to advanced effects such as promoting the change in the phylogenetic genes in the body through the epigenetic process by the interference of the methylation processes. The main adverse effects have been associated with the alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolic products which promotes the oxidative processes through the formation of peroxides and superoxide ions. The stomach is also affected greatly through the alteration of gastric secretion, induction of acute gastric mucosa and interference with gastric mucosa ad intestinal motility. This may also lead to atrophy of the gastric mucosa and decreased gastric secretory capacity.

This reduced production of the gastric acid reduces the stomach ability to destroy the harmful bacteria in the stomach favoring their colonization (Bode & Bode, 1992). Alcohol Addiction also leads to the impairment of the small intestines. The small intestine is the section of the body where most of the nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream. Alcohol itself is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine (See figure 1)

Figure 1

Alcohol Addiction GI Connection

Absorption of alcohol in the Jejunum is higher. Alcohol impairs intestinal enzymes through the cause of the mucosal injury (See figure 2). It also affects the intestinal permeability and in the population of the micro flora. Figure 1: anatomy of the small intestine Figure 2: Possible consequence of mucosal injuries Not many studies have been conducted on the large intestines but it has been shown that the administration of alcohol preventing motility and enhancing the propulsive motility (Mezey, 1985). It has also reduced the amplitude of muscle contraction in the segment of the muscle. This has been a lead cause of alcoholics.

Figure 2

Absorption Alcohol is a toxin agent in the body and hence when introduced in the body, it alters the normal function and structure of the GIT. The GIT plays a significant role in the absorption, metabolism and production of alcohol. Absorption is the beginning of the metabolic processes. This takes place through the simple diffusion. This relies of the difference in concentration gradient between the alcohol concentration gradients in the GI and adjacent blood vessels. The permeability of the lining of the small intestine is also another controlling factor on the rate of absorption, the rate of the blood flow in the region influences the rate at which the alcoholics eliminated from the region therefore controlling the permeability. Hence, there are higher the concentration of the alcohol at the mucosa lining, the higher the amount of alcohol that is absorbed in the body (Bujanda, 2000). It is on this basis that the presence of food in the small intestines and stomach that leads to the decrease of the rate of alcohol absorption. Other factors affecting the rate of absorption are the age, gender and body temperature, drugs taken and many other factors.

Our Mission at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Center is to help you Transform your life naturally. We are your passage from Dis-ease to Wellness

English: Work in progress on a summary of major cellular metabolic processes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alcohol Addiction GI Connection

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