Alcohol, the Body and You!

It's a common occurrence in today's world; when life gives you lemons, have a slice of them with a shot of vodka. Today Britain has garnered a rather unsavoury reputation for drinking, and not just drinking, but binge drinking. Let's not split hairs here; there's nothing wrong with drinking in moderate amounts, in keeping with the daily recommended limits (3-4 units for men,  1-2 units for women). However binge drinking by definition is far from moderate.

But what's the big deal, you may well ask? After all, what could a little booze-up on the side possibly do? All this sounds like the typical British Nanny State.

Au contraire, mon ami. The effects of alcoholism on the human body are extensively documented and well-studied, and very few of the effects on the body can be considered positive. Remember: alcohol is, ultimately, a poison. It's a chemical that disrupts the delicate chemical balance of your body. It adversely inhibits your cognitive ability, such as memory and reflex times, which can also lead to brain damage, corrodes the liver and kidneys, and can also cause numerous illnesses, such as dysentery, diabetes, or even cancer. In extreme cases, it can very easily kill you.

Rest assured that although it's tempting to declare that only the occasional night of hard drinking is harmless, the truth of the matter is even just a weekly binge can cause colossal damage to your system. Perhaps the most insidious trait alcoholism possesses is the ability to convince you there is no danger. To paraphrase CS Lewis: "the greatest victory alcoholism can have is to convince you it does not exist". Like all addictions, alcoholism requires the individual to recognise for himself that he is suffering from a problem, something all too easier said than done.

So what can you do? Fortunately there is a wide berth of support available for those suffering from alcohol addiction. Clinics, rehab centres and hospitals across the country all possess effective programmes tailor-made to deal with alcoholism, from identifying the illness to treating the damage it causes. Alcoholics Anonymous is perhaps the most well-known support group known, and there are dozens, if not hundreds, others like it. Check with your local hospital for further information.