Introduction
The liver is a substantial body organ that performs many critical functions in the human body. A product known as bile is produced in the liver, which aids in the removal of waste substances from the liver and the digestion of fats found in the small intestine during digestion. Additionally, the liver is responsible for breaking excess glucose and converting it into glycogen for storage, helping in blood clotting, hemoglobin processing, and producing some proteins for blood plasma. Excess intake of alcohol is a habit that leads to liver damage and may be associated with many disorders. In addition to liver disease, alcohol has other side effects on the brain affecting the emotional component of human beings. Heart muscles get damaged after long-term engagement in alcohol intake. Breast, colon, liver, throat, and mouth cancers are additional risks that alcohol abuse victims may experience. A case study of a 68-year-old man known as Robert is examined in this context. He has been an alcoholic for over 30 years and has cirrhosis and anemia. This paper examines the disorders associated with alcohol and its associated side effects on the human body.
Mechanisms that Cause Hematologic Disorders
The liver is a delicate organ prone to hematologic disorders like clotting and anemia. Some causes of anemia include hemolysis, malnutrition, chronic disease, and chronic and acute blood loss originating from upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Eating a poor diet, which lacks enough minerals like iron, leads to malnutrition. These minerals lead to proper liver functioning, and diseases are prone to attack when they are inadequate. Liver cirrhosis is a chronic disorder that contributes to the development of anemia in the liver (Ruiz Escobar et al., 2021). It forms scar tissue around the liver, making it less effective. Hemolysis is a process that occurs in the body when the destruction of faulty red blood cells takes place. In the process, hemolytic anemia results due to insufficient red blood cells after prolonged hemolysis. It occurs when an individual has low red blood cells due to too much hemolysis.
A clotting disorder is also a common problem associated with liver disease. It can be associated with anemia, where the platelets responsible for clotting are produced in fewer amounts. The causes are similar to anemia since it can be associated with impaired coagulation. It occurs when the clotting function of the liver is destroyed. Hemorrhage occurs, leading to increased cases of overbreeding. Excess loss of blood from the body originates from a poor clotting process. When the liver is damaged by excess alcohol, the clotting process is interfered with drastically.
Gastrointestinal Bleedings
In addition to the hematologic disorders of the liver, severe gastrointestinal bleedings can also occur. Damage to the mucosal membrane results in blood spots in waste products from the human body. Variceal bleeding has the highest mortality rate in patients with advanced cirrhosis disease (Eslam et al., 2022). A high number of alcohol victims die due to acute variceal bleeding. The pathophysiology of gastrointestinal bleeding originates from bleeding in the lower GI, rectum, or small bowel.
Further, the causes of acute lower GI bleeding can be classified into groups like traumatic, inflammatory, vascular, neoplastic, and iatrogenic. Causes of lower GI bleeding include angiectasia, diverticular, and neoplasms. Additionally, the pathophysiology of variceal bleeding can be presented by portal hypertension. This originates from portal flow and vascular resistance. A distortion of the vasculature membrane by cirrhotic nodules contributes to the effects of this disorder.
Acute Pancreatitis Disorder
Acute pancreatitis is a disorder whereby the pancreas becomes swollen in a short period. The pancreas is an organ found behind the stomach and helps digestion. Most individuals with GI disorders have been hospitalized due to this condition. Tachycardia and hypotension are among the common indications of acute pancreatitis. Tachycardia is a speedy heartbeat that may be irregular or regular and occurs due to differences in age, activity, or level of anxiety. The cardiovascular system has the heart, which controls blood pumping in the human body. Patients suffering from acute pancreatitis are the primary victims of this disease. These patients suffering from hypotension and tachycardia are prone to acute inflammatory processes of the pancreas due to a connection of pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue found in the cardiovascular system. Hypotension is a condition of low blood pressure leading to difficulties functioning in essential organs like the brain and heart due to low blood supply.
Varying Effects of Alcohol on Women and Men
Men and women have different and varying body structures and components, making them respond differently to alcohol use. From the societal view, most men are prone to taking alcohol compared to men. However, the effects and individual predisposition puts women at high risk. The female body has more fatty tissues, and their sizes differ from men’s. The water component and level in women is less, making them vulnerable and at high risk of developing disorders of the liver.
Research in the United States implies high alcohol use in girls and young women. Half of the adult women were reported to abuse alcohol within the last 30 days of the study. 25% drink alcohol weekly and 26% engage in such activity at parties and ceremonies. In the year 2019, a report indicated that 32% of school-attending female students preferred alcohol when compared with 26% of male learners (Cusack et al., 2023). In addition to body size and structure, biological differences lead to many cases of women being reported as drinking alcohol. The female body absorbs alcohol at a higher rate while the absorption rate is low. This retains a higher component in the body while men absorb it quickly. Through this chemistry, women suffer long-term health effects and associated diseases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, alcohol abuse is a significant problem affecting society from many perspectives. Economically, more money is spent on treating diseases associated with it hindering progress. Many families have been affected by diversity and misunderstanding. Children have lost their caring parents and suffered emotionally and physically. As a result of the many challenges faced, all society members must be responsible and do away with this habit. Healthcare professionals should create public awareness of the dangers of taking alcohol to promote preventive care. The liver organ is damaged when excess alcohol intake is made a habit. Diseases such as liver cirrhosis, anemia, and clotting affect the body’s normal functioning. Therefore, abstinence is the best remedy to deal with the effects of alcohol abuse. Guidance and counseling sessions can also be conducted for those individuals who have found it difficult to stop drinking. The effect of alcohol varies on individuals depending on their sex and size. Women’s bodies retain alcohol in the system for long when compared to men.
References
Cusack, S. E., Wright, A. W., & Amstadter, A. B. (2023). Resilience and alcohol use in adulthood in the United States: A scoping review. Preventive Medicine, 168, 107442. Web.
Eslam, M., El-Serag, H. B., Francque, S., Sarin, S. K., Wei, L., Bugianesi, E., & George, J. (2022). Metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease in individuals of normal weight. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 19(10), 638–651. Web.
Ruiz Escobar, E., Pathak, S., & Blanchard, C. M. (2021). Screening and referral care delivery services and unmet health-related social needs: A systematic review. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18. Web.