INTEGRATING CARE: DEPRESSI… 11

KING'S COLLEGE LONDON

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3.11 YOU’VE COMPLETED 9 STEPS IN WEEK 3

Alcohol and health

94 comments

Drinking too much alcohol has negative

consequences for our bodies and our minds.

Long-term alcohol misuse increases the risk of

many types of cancer, including liver, bowel,
mouth and breast cancer. It can raise blood
pressure and blood cholesterol levels, increasing
the risk of stroke and heart attack. Alcohol
misuse weakens bones and the immune system,
leaving the body vulnerable to fractures and
infection. Drinking alcohol in excess also
exacerbates pre-existing long-term conditions
like diabetes and kidney disease. Alcohol
consumption elevates blood sugar levels initially,
followed by a steady drop. Because alcohol
inhibits the liver from producing glucose,
diabetics who drink too much are at risk of
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). Alcohol
also impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter blood
and keep the right balance of water in the body.
Drinking in excess is particularly risky for people
with kidney disease like Dave, who need to
restrict their fluid intake to prevent swelling and
high blood pressure related to fluid overload.

Initially, alcohol consumption can cause feelings

of relaxation or euphoria. When we face
challenges in life, when we are stressed, or in
pain, alcohol can temporarily help us cope. Over
time, we can become reliant on alcohol – to
relax, to sleep, to socialise, or to numb physical
or emotional distress. The problem is that the
feeling of wellbeing alcohol induces is short-
lived, and when it fades we often feel worse
than we did before. Hangovers can cause
emotional symptoms of jitteriness, guilt and
unease, in addition to physical symptoms of
headache, nausea, and fatigue. Long-term
alcohol misuse depletes the level of serotonin
and dopamine in the brain, which can inhibit
pleasure and contribute to, rather than relieve,
depression and anxiety.

For further information on how much is too

much, and when and how to seek help, see the
NHS Alcohol Support guidance.

94 comments

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SLEEP AND HEALTH

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WHAT IS MINDFULNESS AND DOES IT WORK?

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COMMENTS

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SH Syed Haider Follow 18h

HAIDER Alcohol is most addictive and damaging

drug yet its readily available every corner of
every town and city. Despite its serious side
effects including social, financial, physical &
mental health problems it’s so deep rooted in
western society/culture that every occasion
happy/sad, al-cohol consumption is a must.
(edited)

CA Carolyn Amos Follow 31 AUG

Its a hard problem to fight - alcohol. its

everywhere, in tv ads, radio, movies, sports.
Hard to avoid and kids look forward to turning
18 so they can drink 'legally' - as a rite of
passage in western culture. its a hard train to
stop or turn around.

CD Carolyn Dow Follow 30 AUG

Unfortunately our society and culture give

people the impression that alcohol will help
them be more relaxed, social confident etc. It is
in fact an addictive poison that just has big
companies that can afford great advertising
campaigns. As health professionals we need to
always check a patients alcohol consumption if
they are showing signs of anxiety/depression.
But also be aware most patients tell you what
they want you to hear rather than the true
amount. I was once told by a Consultant who
dealt with liver disease if a patient says they
drink 20 units a week it is more likely 30! Don't
know how true that was but made me think.

Beck L Follow 24 AUG

I have never really been one for alcohol (I

stopped drinking about 20 years ago (after
college) finding no need/use for it in my life),
but do have other vices. For example, I am a
chocolate addict and I know that this too can
have negative consequences for my mental and
physical health if I don’t indulge in moderation
(and that’s not always easy!). I have never had
anyone in my life whose mental and/or physical
health has been impacted by alcohol
consumption, though I have no doubt starting a
conversation with someone who does – out of
love and care – could be challenging.

SG Susan Gregory Follow 11 AUG

The article is informative. As outlined first step

is realising you need help. Having experience in
this field, that is the first major hurdle. I ve
come across high flyers who have lost
everything due to alcohol, home, family job etc...
and still use alcohol as a way of coping. This
just gives short term relief. Education and
knowledge are key for me, along with knowing
where to go for help, and not letting pride get in
the way.

JG Jacob Goh Follow 11 AUG

The article about alcohol and health was

educational and enlightening. In western
society, there is a problem with excess alcohol
consumption and use as a means of short term
relief. This has detrimental effects on the mind
and body that lead to long term adverse effects,
such as causing chronic physical and mental
health issues and also alcohol addiction /
misuse. Having alcohol for special occasions, or
consumed in moderation for relaxation does
provide some good benefits to your health, for
example, it helps protect the heart.
Unfortunately, many ignore its negative health
impacts, such as liver cirrhosis and cancers.
Excessive drinking can negatively impact life,
such as relationship problems with family or
friends, legal troubles, financial issues and poor
performance at work or in school, or in the worst
cases, leading to violence. Alcohol does have
both short and long-term effects on your brain,
even in moderate amounts. I think the
government should do more education and
create awareness of alcohol and its long term
impact and damage to health. Individuals, when
facing alcohol problems, should seek help. In
short, alcohol affects health, NHS and society.

BB bronwyn B Follow 11 AUG

I think that's a misconception that in the short

term alcohol helps us to cope - problem with our
society that we do rely on it for all the wrong
reasons!! For Dave, its an added problem - how
does he cut back or better still give up when he
doesn't seem to have any support or not a great
deal of 'good' things in his life. His consumption
creates more problems physically, mentally, and
socially, and of course adds to problems with his
sleep - waking in the early hours probably from
hypoglycaemia - I wonder if he is really aware of
just how much his alcohol consumption impacts.
His guilt and shame (of course along with his
depression) need to be addressed to. If he
decides to give up alcohol what does he do in
the evenings - no support, isolation!!

GM Gerard mitchell Follow 07 AUG

In the past I have used alcohol as a crutch.

Today I happily enjoy a pint as a social occasion
with a friend, generally watching football. I can
vaguely remember my granny being prescribed 2
bottles of Guinness a week for medicinal
purposes. Any one else aware of?

JW Joanne Wilson Follow 07 AUG

unfortunately a lot of people do turn to alcohol

as a coping mechanisms and then it can lead to
an addiction but more than often it is a habit
and this needs to be looked at when the
problem first arises so that it does not become
and addiction and a need.

MK Mala Kumari Follow 05 AUG

Drinking too much alcohol has negative

consequences of our bodies and our minds
because long term misuse of alcohol increases
the risk of many types of cancer, can increase
the risk of stroke and heart attack by increasing
raise blood pressure and blood cholesterol
levels , can make vulnerable to fractures and
infections by weakening bones and immune
system, can exacerbates pre-existing long term
conditions like diabetes and kidney disease.
Unfortunately people turn to alcohol for
relaxation or to numb physical or emotional
distress but over time , people become reliant
on alcohol which causes emotional symtoms of
guilt and unease in addition to physical
symptoms of headache , nausea and fatigue.

LE Leah Edgar Follow 02 AUG

Unfortunately people do turn to alcohol to help

them cope and end up getting into the habit of
having a number of drinks a night. It is so
important for people to understand how alcohol
effects both the mind and body, and actually
makes depression/anxiety a lot worse.

JG jonathan goodwin Follow 02 AUG

you drink the booze, you lose

RC RoseMarie Cooke Follow 01 AUG

Very interesting

Denise Smith Follow 01 AUG

Yes alcohol can make you feel better short

term,but can cause health problems long
term,like cancers.It can inhibit pleasure and
contribute to depression and anxiety,so not to
be used to cope with mental and physical health
problems.

SS SAMER SHAHEEN Follow 30 JUL

interesting

Hilda Soraya Jimenez Follow 28 JUL

Hernandez

Las bebidas alcohólicas son depresores

Wendy Perkins Follow 28 JUL

This really makes sense, drinking can help at the

time , but can have a big impact the day after, it
can make you an imotional wreck, which does
not help at all

RN Rachael Nakawungu Follow 27 JUL

Alcohol is a very bad habit especially for people

who are depressed. Although there are services
to address alcoholism, in most cases it’s
secondary to something else. These patients
also need to see a psychologist to explore the
reasons or the predisposing factors that lead to
the alcoholism.

AV Alberto Vasquez Follow 25 JUL

Definitivamente el consumo de alcohol afecta a

largo plazo o corto plazo el aspecto mental y
físico.

LH Lorraine Hunt Follow 23 JUL

Oh my word I never had a clue the impact

alcohol misuse has on long term health, that's
shocking

Georgina del Pilar Nieto Follow 22 JUL

Valdivieso

El saber como puede afectar el alcohol nuestra

salud y nuestra vida es de gran importancia.

CC Carolina Coronel Follow 22 JUL

Es muy importante saber como afecta el alcohol

y la falta de sueño en nuestra vida.

LB Lucy Bailey Follow 22 JUL

Alcohol misuse prominently affects physical

health but alcohol is highly addictive which
means it can become an illness in itself. Over
time it can have a negative impact and influence
on relationships and at work. Many people use
alcohol in social situations but others could use
it to cope or block things out on an emotional
and personal level. Overall it makes matters
worse in all aspects, physically and mentally.

JC Joanne Cleland Follow 21 JUL

Alcohol is never the answer to any problem,

however i can understand why people turn to
alcohol during difficult times, as a nurse it is not
my job to be judgmental.

BD bernadette doherty Follow 21 JUL

Exactly, too much dependence on alcohol is not

good. My aunt suffers from depression and
anxiety. She likes a drink and although she may
go for periods of not drinking, she might then
drink when she is alone. She is lonely and hates
to be by herself, which probably doesn't help.
This problem also doesn't help with her inability
to sleep at night.
(edited)

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