EtOH and its metabolites inhibit the immune response of alveolar macrophages (AMs), increase airway leakage, produce damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and disrupt the balance of antioxidants/oxidants within the lungs. In this article, we review the role of EtOH exposure in the pathogenesis and progression of pulmonary disease. Ethanol plays a significant role in social situations, being the primary type https://gmb.itg.ac.id/why-conflict-avoidance-is-an-unhealthy-way-to-deal/ of alcohol found in beverages. Moderate drinking may have minimal health consequences, but chronic alcohol abuse or heavy drinking can lead to serious health conditions like liver damage and heart disease.
Understanding Chronic Ethanolism: Causes, Effects, And Treatment Options
- The influences of life habits on the cardiovascular system may have important implications for public health, as cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of shorter life expectancy worldwide.
- Ethanol abuse, commonly known as alcohol abuse, is a serious problem affecting millions worldwide.
- Blood samples were collected at endpoint, and metabolic parameters and complete blood counts were assessed at the Tulane National Primate Research Center Pathology laboratory.
Evidence suggests the existence of a myogenic mechanism(s) that involves alterations in the contractile/relaxant properties of vascular smooth muscle. In fact, the majority of studies describing the effects of chronic ethanol use ethanol on arterial blood pressure also evaluated the effects of ethanol on vascular responsiveness24,28,29,31-33. Ethanol (EtOH) is the world’s most commonly used drug, and has been widely recognized as a risk factor for developing lung disorders.
Medical complications by individual body systems
Alcohol’s protective effects against the risk of ischemic heart disease as well as against hypertension in women is hypothesized to result from its ability to increase HDL levels and/or reduce platelet aggregation on arterial walls. Differences in the effects of alcohol in men and women may stem from differing drinking patterns, with men more likely to engage in binge drinking, even at low average levels of consumption. These heavy-drinking occasions may lead to an increased risk of hypertension for men compared with women at similar alcohol consumption levels (Rehm et al. 2003b). According to this model, two separate, but related, measures of alcohol consumption are responsible for most of the causal impact of alcohol on the burden of chronic diseases and conditions—overall volume of alcohol consumption and patterns of drinking. The overall volume of alcohol consumption plays a role in all alcohol-related diseases, whereas drinking patterns only affect ischemic cardiovascular diseases.
- The contribution of ethanol consumption to the prevalence of hypertension is dependent upon the population studied and varies widely in different populations.
- The reason for the inconsistencies among these results is uncertain, and further studies on the mechanisms underlying the pressor effects of ethanol in humans would be of value.
- Much of this vaporized EtOH is exhaled, but some of it dissolves a second time in the airway lining fluid, creating a damaging cycle of repeated exposure 9.
- Treatment and recovery are multifaceted processes that require dedication, professional guidance, and a supportive environment.
What is the primary effect of ethanol on blood vessels?
- It is formally recognized as an alcohol use disorder (AUD) when specific criteria are met over a 12-month period, characterized by continued alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences.
- It is characterized by an inability to control or stop drinking despite adverse consequences, including health issues, relationship problems, and occupational difficulties.
- Second, medical epidemiology studies typically suffer from poorly defined reference groups (Rehm et al. 2008).
- Since 2015, chronic alcohol abuse was the cause of death for 9-10% of examined natural deaths at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
- This means that if you drink on an empty stomach rather than after eating food, more will go straight through your system without being metabolized.
Binge drinking, defined as consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period, is also a growing problem among young people. Drinking large amounts of alcohol for many years will take its toll on many of the body’s organs and may cause organ damage. Organs known to be damaged by long-term alcohol misuse include the brain and nervous system, heart, liver and pancreas. Vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain.
EtOH has multiple deleterious effects on the lungs, many of which we are only beginning to understand. EtOH contributes to lung dysfunction by altering barrier function in the airway epithelium, impairing the binding and phagocytic abilities of AMs, and deregulating mucociliary clearance in the airway. EtOH exposure leads to decreased clearance of pathogens through several pathways, including a decrease in CBF via PP1 activation and impaired AM function through upregulation of NOX and TGF-β and down regulation of zinc transporters. EtOH acts on the adaptive immune system as well, Halfway house via dendritic cells, T cells, and signaling cytokines. This combination of impaired CBF and a weakened immune response leads to the pathogenesis of infectious lung disease, including the bacterial pneumonia common among heavy drinkers.
If a person has a history of heavy alcohol consumption, it is not recommended to completely stop drinking alcohol, particularly without medical supervision, as alcohol withdrawal can lead to dangerous seizures. Other symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include hallucinations, anxiety, insomnia, sweating, nausea/vomiting, and shaky hands. More severe withdrawal symptoms, also known as delirium tremens or DTs, include seizures, racing heartrate, high blood pressure, fever and vivid hallucinations or delusions. Research has demonstrated that long-term heavy drinking weakens 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).
Social and Environmental Factors
Individuals may vary in their susceptibility to the effects of ethanol on blood vessels due to genetic differences, age, and the presence of underlying health conditions. For example, individuals with hypertension or diabetes may be more sensitive to the vasoconstrictive effects of ethanol, potentially increasing their cardiovascular risk. Additionally, age can influence the response to ethanol, with older individuals potentially being more prone to vasodilatory effects due to age-related changes in vascular function. Before examining the specific effects of ethanol, it’s essential to understand the concepts of vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Vasodilation refers to the widening of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure and increases blood flow to the affected area. This process is crucial for regulating body temperature, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and maintaining healthy blood pressure.