As binge drinking poses serious health risks
Alcohol dependence reduces life expectancy, is linked to half of all deaths in traffic accidents and is one of the causes of suicide.

Miguel is an inveterate alcoholic. At 60 years, has nothing good to tell of his life because of his addiction to alcohol lost family, jobs and prestige. Their only child abandonment can not forgive. Her relatives do to one side. His friends … Miguel has no friends, except for loneliness. Never sought help from a doctor. Never felt sick. But, suffering from alcoholism.

Alcoholism is a chronic disease
More than just a vice, alcoholism is a chronic progressive disease caused by intoxication with ethyl alcohol on a regular and prolonged. Such wasteful consumption often interferes with physical and mental health of those affected and their family responsibilities, work or social.

While noting primarily male, an increasing prevalence in females and between young people in general, reporting a high incidence worldwide.

Role of genetics in children of alcoholics
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, United States, studies have shown that genetic factors are closely linked to the likelihood of alcoholism. In fact, today it is known that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop this disease than the rest of the population.

However, this genetic predisposition is not the only factor. Own investigations have found that more than half of these descendants do not become alcoholics ever.

This is the case of the son of Miguel, who is not only alcohol, but almost completely abstinent. Knowing firsthand the effects of the disease, does not want for him or his family anything that has to do with the disastrous attacks of evil. In a drink on special occasions to do so without measure every day, there is a long way that he is not ready to go.

The damage caused by alcohol in the workplace are not always apparent to the naked eye. The alcoholic is a sick often hidden and concealed. His serious behavior disorders are not usually attributed to alcohol, until recently have been applied in industry discipline. This attitude stems from inaccurate and incomplete knowledge of the problem. Cause misunderstandings with his attitude and undermines the morale of his comrades.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (abstinence syndrome) occur because once in the brain, alcohol affects chemicals called neurotransmitters that control the flow of information between brain cells called neurons, linked by synapses, and this neuroadaptation pathological causes alcohol, end, changing behavior, thinking and feelings of people.

With chronic alcohol consumption, these neurotransmitters are affected and the brain undergoes a change in its structure and functions, so that only “normal” with the presence of alcohol. The person whose brain is accustomed to alcohol needs to rise to increasing consumption (tolerance) for the purposes of the first times you had, with the result that abruptly stop drinking, brain disorders caused crop for consumption and that were hidden by the apparent “normalcy.” These disorders, which cause withdrawal symptoms diminish or disappear only when he turns to drink alcohol. For this reason it is difficult for an addict to stop drinking alcohol, when you know you will find a cure for his withdrawal due to alcohol consumption.

Sex and age

Many people who watch a doctor had a drinking problem at some point. Most are men, but the incidence of alcoholism in women has been increasing over the past 30 years.

For men, the overall risk for developing alcoholism is a 3% to 5%, and for women the risk is 1%. Women tend to become alcoholic later in life than men, but the medical problems that develop because of the disorder occur in the same age as in men, suggesting that women are more susceptible to physical toxicity of alcohol.

Although alcoholism usually develops in early adulthood, the elderly are not exempt. Moreover, some 3 million Americans over age 60 are alcoholics or have a drinking problem.

Alcohol affects the older body differently, and people who hold the same drinking patterns as they age can easily develop alcohol dependency without realizing it.

Family history and personality traits

The risk for alcoholism among children of alcoholic parents is 25%. The family link is weaker for women, but genetic factors contribute to this disease in both genders.

A family and a stable mental health are not protective in people with a genetic risk. Unfortunately, no way to predict which members of alcoholic families are at higher risk of alcoholism. In studies, young men with alcoholic parents responded to alcohol differently than people without a family history, showed fewer signs of intoxication and had lower levels of stress hormones. In other words, they held their liquor better. Experts suggest that such people can inherit a lack of those warning signs that make other people stop drinking.

It was once thought that a family history associated with a passive personality and abnormal dependency needs increased the risk, but studies have not supported this theory. It is important to note, however, that inherited or not, people with alcoholism are still legally responsible for their own actions.

Drinking in adolescence

People with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to start drinking before age 19 and become alcoholics. But anyone who start drinking in adolescence is at increased risk for alcoholism.

Early drinking increases the risk for drug abuse.

Ethnicity and social condotions

Ethnic differences affect the sensitivity. Although the biological reasons for the altered risk are not known, people in certain groups may be at less risk due to the way they metabolize alcohol. Some Asians have a dormant gene for alcohol dehydrogenase chemistry.

This chemical is used by the body to metabolize the alcohol, and in his absence, toxic substances accumulate causing flushing, dizziness and nausea. People with this genetic defect, then, are likely to experience adverse reactions to alcohol. This defect is not completely protective against drinking, however, particularly if there is social pressure added, as among the group members house on campus.

The risks for alcoholism are higher among people with lower educational levels and people who were unemployed.