Exposure to alcohol at an early age, particularly before 15, significantly heightens the risk, as the adolescent brain is more vulnerable to addiction. For example, children raised in households where alcohol is frequently consumed are more likely to develop AUD, not solely due to genetics but because normalization fosters acceptance and early experimentation. Similarly, high-stress environments, such as poverty or trauma, can trigger drinking as a coping mechanism, exacerbating genetic risks. Research has demonstrated that long-term heavy drinking weakens https://shrimamashri.com/drug-addiction-treatment-tyrrell-county-top-rehabs/ the heart muscle, causing cardiomyopathy. Alcohol misuse can also lead to high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or increased heart rate. Chronic, heavy drinking raises the risk for ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries) and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

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Foods rich in protein, vitamin B12, and folate are all building blocks used by your body to make WBC, so taking them can be helpful. The doctor may want to take a sample of your bone marrow to see if it’s healthy. If you have mild neutropenia, you probably don’t need any treatment or have any symptoms.

Impact on Personal and Social Life

• Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is considered a disease because it involves changes in the brain’s structure and function, leading to compulsive alcohol use despite negative consequences.
• The progressive nature of alcoholism highlights the critical need for early and sustained intervention, a principle central to managing chronic diseases.
• For individuals with a family history of alcoholism, early interventions such as genetic counseling and lifestyle modifications can mitigate risk.
• Both conditions benefit from personalized treatment plans, regular monitoring, and adjustments based on individual progress.
• Before we find out if alcoholism is a progressive disease, we should take a moment to review what, exactly, alcoholism is.

During pregnancy, drinking may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems. It can lead to increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and increased crime rates. It also contributes to a range of social problems, such as domestic violence, child abuse, and drunk driving accidents. The economic cost of alcoholism is estimated to be in the billions of dollars each year, making it a significant public health issue. Environmental factors, such as stress, trauma, and peer pressure, can also contribute to the development of alcoholism.

Understanding Alcoholism: Why It’s Classified As A Chronic Disease

• It is characterized by a cycle of relapse and remission, where individuals may experience periods of sobriety followed by episodes of drinking again.
• If someone has family members with alcohol use disorder, they’re more likely to develop it too.
• The debate over whether alcoholism is a choice or a disease has long divided experts, policymakers, and the public.
• Prolonged alcohol use disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters like gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, which are essential for regulating anxiety and decision-making.
• Care is integrated with patients’ other health care to improve treatment access, reduce costs, and promote better physical and mental health outcomes.

Individuals who consume alcohol in lower amounts and tend to cope with problems more directly are more likely to be successful in their efforts to cut back or stop drinking without the benefit of treatment. Friends and family members of alcoholic individuals have often developed a codependent relationship with the substance abuser. Specifically, they often feel compelled to either help their loved one secure alcohol or to repair situations caused by the alcoholic’s alcohol use. Social control involves drug addiction treatment family members and other significant others of the alcoholic in treatment.

This phenomenon is not a sign of strength or control but rather evidence of neurochemical changes why is alcoholism considered a chronic disease in the brain. Specifically, chronic alcohol use alters GABA and glutamate receptors, leading to a downregulation of inhibitory pathways and upregulation of excitatory pathways. As a result, the brain becomes less responsive to alcohol’s effects, driving the individual to consume more to alleviate discomfort or achieve intoxication.