Alcohol
The
kidneys are vital to human survival. Most people are born with two of these
bean shaped organs, which are located in the middle portion of the back.
Kidneys function by removing excessive water and waste from the bloodstream.
This waste eventually becomes urine which is passed through tubes.into the
bladder where it is eventually released from the body.
Polycystic
kidney syndrome is a condition in which multiple cysts grow within the kidneys.
The water-filled cysts are typically benign or noncancerous growths that can vary
in size. An enlarged kidney is generally a symptom of this syndrome, as the
cysts will cause the kidneys to expand. Other common symptoms may include
abdominal swelling, back pain, headache, frequent urination and high blood
pressure If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to other serious
health problems, such as stroke, Heartattack and kidney failure.
A
kidney stone is a hard deposit of minerals and salt that form inside the
kidney. Commonly, stones form as minerals in urine crystallize and attach to
each other. The development of stones inside the kidneys can cause them to
grow, leading to an enlarged kidney. Kidney stones can grow quite large. An
individual with this condition may experience frequent and painful urination,
nausea, fever and pain in the back, Abdmen or sides.
Unilateral
hydronephrosis refers to one enlarged kidney that is swollen due to backed up
urine. If both kidneys are swollen the condition is known as bilateral
hydronephrosis. Generally, these conditions occur as a result of another
problem with the kidneys which prevents urine from entering into the bladder
and therefore backing up in the kidneys. An obstruction can be a possible
reason for this occurrence. For this reason, in addition to kidney enlargement,
an abdominal mass can sometimes be present in an individual with this
condition.
Alcohol and the Brain
When we think about a drunk person, we
think about someone who staggers, slurs his or her words or someone whose
responsiveness is somewhat compromised.
Alcohol enters the brain and alters the
messages the neurotransmitters send to the rest of the body. The faster alcohol
is consumed, the higher the blood alcohol level. Within several minutes, normal
neuron responses are diminished, allowing the alcohol to manipulate the
receptors. Because the receptors are associated with pleasure centers in the
brain, the body easily adapts to the manipulation. Yet the desire for pleasure
will quickly require more alcohol to achieve the initial experience. Soon that
pleasurable sensation is gone, though the body continues to seek the stimulus.
The more a person drinks, the worse the impact is on the brain structure and
the brain function. Scientists are still exploring the long-term effects of
alcohol on brain function.
Consuming large quantities of alcohol
leads to a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which is an essential nutrient
for all body tissues. Thiamine deficiency causes some alcoholics to develop
Wernicke-Korsakoff, a severe, two-phased syndrome.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy, the first
phase, includes “mental confusion, paralysis of the nerves that move the eyes,
and difficulty with muscle coordination. Such a condition can leave a person
confused about finding his or her way out of a room. Even if a person does not
suffer from all the characteristics, they may have the syndrome.
About 80 percent of people who develop
Wernicke’s encephalopathy will eventually develop Korsakoff syndrome. This
syndrome is chronic and irreversible. It affects a person’s ability to both
learn new information and to recall old information. Furthermore, people with
Korsakoff syndrome experience forgetfulness and are frustrated easily.
Thank you.
MEHEDI HASAN
So be careful
ReplyDelete