Alcoholism - A Social Evil

All of us have nurtured our habits as per our likes and dislikes. To be frank, in most of the cases we cannot overcome our bad habits because we have become addicted to it. Then be it watching television whole day long, smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, gossiping, adultery, late night partying and the list continues. But one of the biggest evils of our times in the modern civilized society has to be alcohol consumption. It is seen in most of the cases, that drinking liquor is more of a style statement in the so called upper class rich population. May it be a developing country like INDIA or developed country like US, ALCOHOL seems to flow like water in all big socializing parties. The saddest part of the story is that as any country is progressing the minimum age for alcohol consumption is decreasing. No doubt today you find students in their teens boozing whole night long.

Breach In The Defence Mechanism 

Now why is alcohol so harmful and at the same time so much in demand? Quite a paradox right!! Well several scientific researches have been carried out in establishing facts regarding toxicity of alcohol on human body as a whole. You will be surprised to know that alcohol is one such agent whose sphere of action encompasses almost every organ of the human body, especially liver. When the capacity of liver to detoxify the products of alcohol metabolism is overcome, liver degeneration starts and can even progress to liver cirrhosis in advanced cases. Strangely enough, people are not so concerned of the harmful changes taking place inside their bodies. On the contrary, they are more conscious of the changes in their personal appearances brought about by excessive alcohol drinking.

Bad Efects Of Excessive Alcoholism

Prominent symptoms amongst them are:-

1] Jaundice
2] Loss of weight
3] Bleeding abnormalities
4] Gynaecomastia [enlarged breasts in males]
5] Testicular atrophy
6] Ascites
7] Fever
8] Hepatic encephalopathy [complication of cirrhosis]
9] Clubbing [obliteration of angle of nail bed] and many other distinguished features.

And in addition, one of the commonest side effects of alcohol is hair loss, not only on the scalp but also in the axillary and pubic region. This is because hair being the least useful part of the human body is sacrificed first so that the other important organs are protected. Due to inadequate nutrition reaching the scalp the hair tends to become loose and comes out easily. These changes are completely reversible provided alcohol consumption is controlled or rather stopped. Also, hair loss is postulated due to the endocrinal changes occurring as a result of excessive alcoholism. The scalp simply loses the hair holding capacity and hair loss occurs. Although the effects are equivalent in both males and females, they are more so visible in male population. Partly because men have less hair on scalp as compared to females and partly because women tend to booze off less frequently as compared to men.

Stress And Strain In Day Today Life

Stress plays an important role in many non communicable diseases of the twenty first century. Stress is also one of the leading causes of hair loss in our times. Alcohol being a stimulant, acts as a stress reliever. Hence, most of the hardcore businessmen who keep the “midnight oil burning” for professional success are addicted to alcohol. But the irony of the situation is alcohol though being a stress reliever it has its own limitations. After a certain amount of time it starts adding to the stress. You may have experienced this on consumption of stimulants like coffee. Initially it keeps you awake but later on it causes increased drowsiness and sleepiness contrary to its stimulating action. Funny but it is true!

Dealing With Alcoholism

So you can imagine the combined effect of alcoholism and a stressful life. It makes the existing condition all the worst. Now how to combat hair loss due to alcoholism? Well is it such a difficult question to answer. I don’t think so. This is because the most complicated questions in our life have simple answers. I have not heard anyone dying craving for alcohol. Some of the noblest men have spent their entire life without alcohol.