With today's competitive world and the endless pressures that come along with the breakneck pace at which we live, resorting to a soothing drink to tide you through the tough times isn't an uncommon phenomenon. In fact, with every day that passes, larger numbers of people are falling prey to the devastating disease called alcoholism. The problem lies not only in the fact that they are trying to drink their worries away, but also that they are in the dark about the fact that alcohol is in itself a depressant. And hence, they continue to drink, in order to relieve the depression which they have brought on to themselves by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. And while they delve deeper into the recesses alcohol plunges them into, their bodies also suffer severe and often irrevocable damage, which if not treated in time, can also result in death.

Alcohol travels down your esophagus, into your stomach from where it spreads into your bloodstream. This blood then flows to your liver which metabolizes the alcohol by first breaking it down into simpler chemicals and finally into carbon dioxide and water for your system to excrete. Your liver is capable of converting only a certain amount of alcohol at a given point of time and if you inundate your system with larger amounts of alcohol than your liver can process, the alcohol stays back in the bloodstream, increasing the toxic levels of your blood tremendously.

The liver is the first to face the wrath which alcohol lashes out on your body. Alcohol makes your liver store excessive amounts of fat, which, if disregarded, can culminate in Alcohol Hepatitis. Although this condition can be averted by simply cutting down on your intake of alcohol at the early stages, it is relatively difficult to do so as Hepatitis does not boast of any typical traits which can be accorded to it. However, if you allow the inflammation of your liver to become chronic, your liver will begin to produce surplus amounts of bilirubin which results in jaundice and ultimately liver failure. Your alcohol abuse can also lead to the formation of scar tissue in your liver, which damages the healthy cells and prevents new ones from taking their place. Thus, your liver grows weaker and finally gives up on you, a condition which is known as Cirrhosis. This disease many take years to progress to its advanced stages and usually does not display any major symptoms before the disease is at its most crucial phases.

Alcohol is also a primary villain in the development of heart disease. Heavy drinking, over a period of time, damages the heart and leads to high blood pressure and even stroke. Further, alcoholism is also known to cause Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy, where your heart becomes weakened and enlarged on account of your prolonged alcohol abuse. Excessive intake of alcohol also increases the triglyceride levels, making you more vulnerable to heart disease.

Sustained abuse of alcohol also results in Alcohol Dementia, where your drinking patterns inflict severe damage on your nervous system, negatively influencing your memory, learning abilities and reasoning. With time, you may even begin to experience lapses in your memory which many alcoholics try to cover up with elaborate tales, which is called Korsakoff Psychosis which can even result in paranoia. The alcoholic may also experience difficulties with his basic cognitive functions like reasoning and problem solving which impairs his social and personal interactions.

Prolonged abuse of alcohol also affects the pancreas, causing a severe inflammation which is called Pancreatitis, a condition which may also lead to him contracting Diabetes. Also, the high calorific content of most alcoholic drinks makes the victim susceptible to obesity and high blood pressure. A victim of alcoholism may also be undernourished as alcohol wears out the inner lining of the stomach and thus interferes in the absorption of many essential nutrients, while also impairing the individual's appetite. Alcohol is also directly responsible for the growth of cancerous tissue in the mouth, liver, colon and gullet while also causing erectile dysfunction in males and putting female alcoholics at an acute risk of developing complications during pregnancy.

Although research has proved that the body can absorb moderate levels of alcohol and even profit from the lowered risk of heart disease that alcohol grants, it is vital that you remember that drinking any more than three times a day, brings the negative traits if alcohol to the fore. There are several other, more proven ways to boost your cardiovascular health, like a well-planned diet and an active lifestyle which incorporates a reasonable amount of exercise. It may so happen that you, as a victim may very often be unaware of the devastating impact your consumption of alcohol is causing, as one of the primary symptoms of alcoholism. Many symptoms may not be discernible, until they are at their most crucial phases, which makes treating them a lot more difficult. So, the next time you set out on a night of mindless partying, which can't do without frivolous amounts of alcohol, pay heed to that little voice which reminds you of all the damage you are inflicting on yourself and consider if that shot of vodka is indeed worth jeopardizing your physical and mental wellbeing