Understanding the Risks and Seeking Solutions

Alcohol Use Disorder

Overview

Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, a psychoactive substance with dependence-producing properties. While alcohol has been used culturally for centuries, its consumption poses significant health risks.

  • Global Impact: In 2019, 2.6 million deaths were attributed to alcohol, with younger individuals (ages 20–39) disproportionately affected.
  • Alcohol Use Disorders: Over 400 million people globally live with alcohol use disorders, yet access to treatment remains critically low, with only 1%–14% of affected individuals seeking help in many countries.
  • Health Policies: Progress has been made with national alcohol policies and excise taxes, but challenges persist, including interference from the alcohol industry.

Health Risks of Alcohol Use

Alcohol consumption contributes to over 200 diseases and injuries, including:

  1. Noncommunicable Diseases: Liver diseases, heart conditions, and cancers (breast, liver, colorectal, and more).
    • Cardiovascular Diseases: In 2019, alcohol caused 474,000 deaths globally from cardiovascular conditions.
    • Cancers: Alcohol is a known carcinogen, responsible for 4.4% of cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2019.
  2. Infectious Diseases: Increased susceptibility to tuberculosis and HIV.
  3. Pregnancy Complications: Risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, birth defects, and premature delivery.
  4. Injuries: Alcohol-related road traffic accidents, falls, and violence.

Alcohol doesn’t just harm the individual but also impacts others, such as through drunk driving or intimate partner violence.

Alcohol’s Effects on the Body

Drinking excessively, either occasionally or over time, can severely harm various organs:

Brain

Disrupted communication pathways leading to mood changes, impaired thinking, and poor coordination.

Heart

  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Arrhythmias
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure

Liver

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis

Pancrease

 Increased risk of pancreatitis due to toxic substances produced by alcohol.

Immune System

Weakened defenses, increasing susceptibility to diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis

Alcohol and Cancer

There’s a strong link between alcohol consumption and cancer, with even moderate drinking increasing the risk:

  • Breast Cancer: One drink per day raises a woman’s risk by 5%–15%.
  • Head and Neck, Esophageal, and Colorectal Cancers: Risks are significantly heightened for regular or binge drinkers.

A Solution from Biovista Pharma

At Biovista Pharm, we provide targeted solutions to help manage alcohol use disorder, focusing on:

  • Liver Protection: Supporting liver health to mitigate alcohol’s damaging effects.
  • Vitamin B1 Deficiency: Addressing thiamine deficiency, commonly seen in individuals with chronic alcohol use.

Take the first step towards better health—explore our comprehensive solutions tailored for alcohol use disorder today.

Address

Vision Plaza, Mombasa Road
P.O. Box 24422 - 00100
GPO, Nairobi

Call Us

+254 794 995 707

Email Us

info@biovista.co.ke