Home  >> Articles  >> Diet and Wellness

Brain Damage and Alcohol Consumption by Stella Morgan

Rate This Article

Brain damage and alcohol consumption are directly correlated. Post birth injury to the brain of the infant is referred to as acquired brain injury. Alcohol is one of the most common causative factors to this disorder and such injuries are referred to as ARBI (Alcohol Related Brain Injury). The degree of damage or injury depends on the individual’s sex, age, alcohol drinking pattern and dietary regimen. Typical symptoms of arbi involve poor cognitive development, lack of coordination and loss of memory. The chances of cure are better in early stages, owing to their positive retrieval. Cases of permanent damage are more. Alcoholic damage on the brain has a toxic effect. The nervous system is affected and wastage of brain cells is a result of dehydration. Brain injury increases the risk of accidents, thereby hurting the brain. It is also linked to poor dietary pattern. Injury to the nervous system leads to malfunctioning of the heart and blood circulation. Thiamine, essential for brain functioning is poorly absorbed. Heavy drinkers face the problem of brain damage, on continuous consumption for a long period.  Violent drinking for a short span of time also results in arbi. Safe consumption levels for men are around 4 standard drinks per day, for a period of 4-5 days per week. Two drinks per day for 4 days is allowed for women. ARBI (Alcohol Related Brain Injury) correlates with lack of concentration, neurological problems and poor thinking. Damage to the frontal lobes affects the cognitive deciphering ability. Loss of short term memory or Korsakoff’s amnesic syndrome is an offspring of ARBI. Ataxia or difficulty experienced in balance and walking is due to arbi, resulting in cerebellar atrophy. Hallucination and mood swings are common in those with alcohol related hepatic disease or hepatic encephalopathy. Wernicke’s encephalopathy, an outcome of B1 deficiency, causes eye problem, ataxia and confusion. Pins and needles and pain in the extremities is typical of peripheral neuropathy. These conditions call for a neuropsychologist. Intervention depends on the individual nature and kind of brain damage. People suffering from ARBI, require a lot of care. Reduce distractions when conversing with them and avoid a stressful situation. Provide them with some time to complete a piece of work. Rest periods in between work prove beneficial. Allow them to face a single problem at a time and help them in their understanding by splitting the information into pieces.  A team of support groups, physician, neuropsychologist and acquired brain injury associations play a vital role in their treatment.

Rate This Article Rate Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor Email * Comments

Read more articles from the Diet and Wellness Category.