Alcohol consumption is indeed unhealthy for our body. But did you know that there also are alcohol-related neurologic diseases? Read on to find out more…
Alcohol is regularly consumed as a drink of getting social in friend and professional circles. Though, this doesn’t change the fact that alcohol is a toxic chemical. Among many disturbing impacts on the body, alcohol has a considerably harmful impact on nerves and muscle cells.
Intoxication is a commonly known outcome of drinking alcohol, but some other lesser known alcohol side-effects include, memory loss seizures, headaches, blackouts, lost coordination, dehydration, death. When consumed for quite a longer duration alcohol can harm the nervous system and liver. What’s worrying about this is that the harm so caused by continual alcohol consumption to bodily organs, which, once damaged, cannot be corrected.
Alcohol consumption can also change the levels of nutrients in your body. Nutrients needed for ensuring correct nerve functions in the body namely vitamin B-1 folate, vitamin B-9, vitamins B-6 and B-12, all get influenced with alcohol consumption. Along with A poor diet can make problems even worse.
Alcohol-related neurologic diseases mainly consist of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, alcoholic neuropathy, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic myopathy, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, dementia, etc. Women are more at risk compared to men in facing alcohol-related neurologic disorders, e.g. nerve damage. Although sensible consumption of alcohol is maybe safe for a lot of people, still, it’s advisable to control alcoholic consumption to check neurologic diseases.
The main symptoms of alcohol-related neurologic diseases include a number of direct and indirect impacts on the brain and nervous system. The Wernicke-Korsakoff disease has its origin in a brain damage because of a lacking thiamine, or vitamin B1. Thiamine generally lacks in those who are severely alcoholic.
Wernicke-Korsakoff disease has as its primary syndrome the Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which is severe and short-lived. Its symptoms are mental confusion, reduced muscle coordination, paralysis of the eyes moving nerves.
Korsakoff psychosis is a chronic symptom of the Wernicke-Korsakoff disease. It attacks after the Wernicke’s symptoms fade away. Its main symptoms are difficulty in learning, memory, amnesia, forgetfulness, poor coordination, difficulty in walking.
Other alcohol-related neurologic diseases’ symptoms include alcoholic neuropathy, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic myopathy, and fetal alcoholic syndrome.