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by: EdPhilips
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Although the use of the term 'alcoholism' is common, it has varying definitions. It usually refers to any condition which causes a person to keep drinking alcohol despite the evident negative medical and social consequences. The compulsion to drink alcohol, and a lack of awareness of the negative effects of heavy drinking are also referred to as 'alcoholism'. Not all definitions of alcoholism specify that recent or continuous intake of alcohol is a required, and some note the long-term effects of alcoholism such as symptoms of withdrawal.

The behaviour regarding alcohol consumption which leads to alcoholism varies wildly. It is impossible to predict the probability of becoming an alcoholic based on drinking habits, though obviously some alcohol intake is required. The biological processes which cause alcohol dependence are not fully understood, though influences such as mental health, genetic predisposition and social surroundings have been researched.

Most people think of the Alcoholics Anonymous when asked about the term 'alcoholism'. In fact it was first used as early as 1849 by a Swedish physician. In the U.S.A., 'alcoholism' was first brought into popular use by the birth of the AA in 1939. The 'Big Book' used by the AA lacked any clear definition, so it compared it to an illness like an allergy.

A study done in 1960 by Dr. Jellinek put forward the modern theory that alcoholism is a disease. Although the medical definition in usage has been altered since, the perception of alcoholism as a disease has a large influence and following. A few medical experts still content that alcoholism is not a disease and refer to it instead as 'heavy drinking' when talking about alcohol dependence.

Due to alcoholism's unclear definition, the disease is often hard to precisely detect. There is no physiological difference between someone who drinks frequently and an alcoholic. One must assess objectively the negative effects alcohol consumption is having on a person's life and the benefits the drinker believes to be receiving from continuing to abuse alcohol. It is often obvious when an alcoholic's life has been severely damaged by excessive drinking, but identifying the person as an alcoholic can be difficult in more complicated cases.

The primary effect of alcoholism is to encourage the sufferer to drink at times and in amounts that are damaging. The secondary damage caused by an inability to control one's drinking manifests in many ways.

It is not unusual for an alcoholic to keep drinking even after his physical health deteriorates. The negative health issues caused by excessive alcohol consumption include alcoholic dementia, heart disease, epilepsy, cirrhosis and in many cases death.

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Learn how to Stop Drinking Alcohol In 21 Days - Guaranteed by expert Ed Philips and find further Advice here to help you Stop Drinking Alcohol.

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