Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

We know that people who start drinking at an early age for example, at age 14 or younger--greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives. Young men (and women) who abuse alcohol often take risks that endanger their health and the health of others, especially with having unsafe sex. Having unsafe sex can lead to teen pregnancy or to unwanted pregnancy, or to getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HIV/AIDS. If you have a problem with alcohol, know that you are at risk for these diseases, which can cause serious, even life-threatening health problems.

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:

• Craving a strong need, or urge, to drink.
• Loss of control not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
• Physical dependence withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.
• Tolerance the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get "high."

Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism runs in families, but lifestyle factors, such as having friends that use or abuse alcohol, having a high amount of stress in your life, and having alcohol easily available to you also are factors. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol. And with support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.

What is alcohol abuse?

A person can abuse alcohol without actually being an alcoholic that is, he or she may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to complete tasks for your job, school, or family; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related health problems. Sometimes, even social or moderate drinking can be a problem-such as drinking and driving.

Is there a safe amount of alcohol for men?

You shouldn't drink at all though if you:

• plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as driving and using high-speed machinery)
• take certain over-the-counter or prescription medications (ask your health care provider or pharmacist if it is safe to drink alcohol while taking them)
• have a health problem that can be made worse by drinking
• are a recovering alcoholic
• are younger than age 21

Is alcohol good for a man's heart?

Studies have shown that moderate drinkers men who have two or less drinks per day are less likely to die from sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac death usually happens when the heart begins beating too fast or chaotically to pump blood in the right way. Small amounts of alcohol might help protect the heart by cutting the risk of blood clots in the heart's arteries and by reducing problems with the heart's rhythm. Heavy drinking though, can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure, and cause many other health problems. If you don't drink alcohol, you should not start drinking solely to benefit your heart. Learn more about how to protect yourself from heart disease by clicking here.

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Provided by www.4woman.gov