Consider how alcohol weakens the myocardium
Consumption of excessive alcohol leads to weakening of heart muscles which affects its ability to pump blood to other body organs. When the heart is unable to pump blood, other body organs are curtailed oxygenated blood thus disrupting their functions. This is as a result of left ventricular dilation, increased ventricular mass and reduced ventricular wall thickness due to excessive consumption of alcohol (Piano, 2017). The condition is referred to as alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Discuss several other long-term effects that you would expect to see on the cardiovascular system due to excessive alcohol consumption, and why each might result
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Other conditions such as hypertension, stroke, arterial disease and coronary heart disease may result. Hypertension is as a result of increased blood pressure when one consumes excessive alcohol for a long time. Alcohol leads to vasodilation in some vascular beds which affects the autonomic nervous system causing increased heart rate (Piano, 2017). Stroke is a condition caused by lack of oxygenated blood in brain tissues due to interruption or reduced blood supply to the brain. Drinking too much alcohol can cause atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which cause blood clot to form in the heart. The clots further restrain brain with blood rich in oxygen due to clots moving up to the brain tissues thus leading to stroke. Arterial and coronary heart diseases are diseases of heart emanating from weak blood vessels due to high cholesterol levels. Consistent drinking can prematurely age the arteries making them unable pump blood thus interfering with the flow of blood (Piano, 2017). This leads to high density lipoprotein cholesterol or decreased platelet stickiness.
What are some negative psychological effects of alcoholism at individual, family, and community levels?
Alcoholism causes anxiety and depression to the individual consuming it. Stress is main cause of ones indulgence in alcohol in an effort to forget the personal problems. Alcoholism damages family relationships as the person addicted to alcohol struggles to create strong emotional bond with their family. It raises family conflicts as finances get depleted and unable to provide for the family. To the community, alcohol addiction may lead to poor relationships among people in the community such as disagreements, conflict and lack of community development.
Reference
Piano, M. R. (2017). Alcohol’s effects on the cardiovascular system. Alcohol research: current reviews , 38 (2), 219.
