2/8/11

The Effects Of Alcoholism In The Legs


Alcoholism can be kind of difficult subject to tackle, especially because the disease is serious social consequences. Many who suffer from alcoholism ashamed, depressed or irritable, and those around them also suffer. The alcohol can be highly addictive, and therefore the habit of drinking can be difficult to break, even when they want.

Just as the social consequences of alcoholism can be devastating, as are the physical consequences of his body. One of the dangers of alcoholism is that it can damage important nerves. You've probably heard how people with diabetes may suffer from peripheral neuropathy (or nerve damage), but people with alcoholism may develop neuropathy as well. This nerve damage can be caused by ethanol, which is considered toxic to nerve tissue. However, nerve damage can result from lack of nutrition often seen in alcoholics. Alcoholics can drink instead of eating right, and alcohol can be used up or interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals, thus depriving the nerves of essential nutrients. It is very likely that the neuropathy is caused by a bit of both.

The device (including feet) may be particularly susceptible to nerve damage. Any of its various types of nerves may be affected: the sensory nerves (which provide information on sensation, like pain or heat), the motor nerves (which carry signals to the muscles to invigorate, and movement), or autonomic nerves (which control the functions of reflection, injury or involuntary, like breathing, heart rate and digestion). Nerve damage is more likely to directly affect their feet are the sensory and motor nerves.

Lose motor nerve function may or may not seem a big deal for you. I mean, your feet should be fully exposed, to do their job properly? Well, sort of. lost motor nerves in the foot can mean that the muscles in the feet, will weaken. This weakening can lead to deformities such as claw toes (toes to curl down into the soles of your shoes like the claws of a bird), which can cause severe discomfort when they rub against the inside of your shoe and Calluses form. If associated with sensory nerve damage, these calluses become serious problems.

Imagine being infected toe. It hurts, right? Then you go to a podiatrist, who takes care of it for you, and you get well and go about your business. Now, imagine if you were still infected toenail, but it is feeling. Or, if you had a blister at the bottom of the foot and continues to walk around. Or coconut. Or a stress fracture.

The sensation is a vital signal of our body. Pain, while unpleasant, let us know when something is wrong. If you could not feel pain in the feet, then hurt them, the damage gets worse over time, possibly leading to ulcers, Charcot foot, or other serious complications.

Sometimes, damage to sensory nerves causing pain rather than numbness. Some people feel tingling or prickling sensations and tingling in the feet, others may feel pain so intense that even with a sheet on top of your feet is unbearable.

Treating alcoholism can be difficult. Sure, get support, when you win your problem with alcohol is necessary, and support groups like AA and other exists only for this purpose. When you start to take control of their alcohol consumption, it is important to address the medical problems from other angles as well. Although nerve damage is usually permanent, there are things you can do to prevent damage to them. When food supplements (especially folic acid and thiamine) can help, because they avoid alcohol.

Analgesics, physical therapy, antidepressants or anticonvulsant drugs can help alleviate the symptoms and the doctor may have other suggestions based on your case. It 'also important that we treat your foot carefully. Be careful not to burn your feet in hot water, check your feet regularly for damage, check your shoes before putting them on objects.

It can be difficult, but with the help of professional sources as well as family and friends, you can overcome your addiction. It may not be able to reverse some of the physical damage caused by alcoholism, but with the help of your doctor, you should be able to control symptoms and have a life that you and your feet.

Copyright (c) 2011 Benjamin Marble

Dr. Marble has more info on the other foot and ankle conditions free of charge. Visit http://www.puebloankleandfoot.com more enlightening and interesting information for free on other conditions of the lower limbs. Dr. Marble is a podiatrist who lives and practices in Pueblo, Colorado.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benjamin_Marble

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