Monday 6 August 2012

Alcohol And Neuropathy

Today's article from digitalnewscafe.net (see link below) talks about an underestimated form of neuropathy that is brought about by alcohol abuse. With this form of neuropathy, it is important to treat the cause before treating the symptoms. Therefore, tackling the alcoholism must be the first priority to avoid the nerve damage becoming much worse. After that, hopefully that person can find a way to help his/her neuropathic problems.

Manifestations Of Alcoholic Neuropathy
by Staff on July 31, 2012

Alcohol addiction has numerous effects on individuals which may extend to the physiological, mental and interpersonal aspects of their life. Chronic alcoholism can cause alcoholic neuropathy, which is also known as alcoholic polyneuropathy. When this disorder is not dealt with, it may cause long-term problems like extreme pain, disability and damage to the hands and feet.

Alcoholic neuropathy is a nervous system disease that results from serious alcoholism. This affects body nerves that include hands, feet, muscles, reproduction system and gastrointestinal system. Some specialists in alcohol treatment centers claim that while the specific cause of the disorder is not known, it can be linked to alcohol-related nerve damage, vitamin deficiency and poor diet.

Sensory Nerve Damage
As alcoholic neuropathy leads to neurological damage, it will not enable the body to recognize sensation. This damage often manifests as numbness which can be felt through the legs and arms. The pain in these body parts may also suggests the development of alcoholic neuropathy.

Complications of Alcoholic Neuropathy in Body Organs
Alcoholic neuropathy can harm the autonomic nerves, which are in charge of the performance of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, heart and other internal organs. According to professionals from alcohol rehabilitation centers, when the nerves that supply an individual’s gastrointestinal tract is damaged, the foods that are consumed may not be properly transferred to the intestines and stomach which will result in constipation. Meanwhile, damage of the nerves that supply the urinary tract can lead to difficulty urinating.

The autonomic nervous system controls the muscles located in the blood vessel walls, controlling blood pressure. When these nerves are harmed, the blood pressure will not be properly regulated which may lead to orthostatic hypotension.

Dysfunctions of Muscles
When a person’s motor nerves are impaired, it can decrease the functionality of muscles that get impulses from the nerves. Medical specialists say that this condition manifests as muscle spasms, weakness and involuntary contractions. When a person who abuses alcohol has these symptoms, he may not be able to do normal movements every day. Loss of muscle function is likely to result in speech impediments and difficulty swallowing. When an individual is afflicted with alcoholic neuropathy for a long period of time, he may acquire muscle atrophy.

Available Treatments
Curing alcoholic neuropathy starts with finding medical help from specialists and addressing the alcohol issue. The treatment may include medications and vitamin supplementation to alleviate discomforts and pain.

Alcoholic neuropathy that is left untreated may have serious complications that can be fatal. It is important to minimize the risk of these complications by following a treatment plan that can be given by a medical professional.

http://digitalnewscafe.net/manifestations-of-alcoholic-neuropathy/

No comments:

Post a Comment

All comments welcome but advertising your own service or product will unfortunately result in your comment not being published.