Alcohol affects the nervous system

The nervous system receives visual, auditory, and tactile information through the senses and executes the functioning of the limbs and various body parts. This is possible through the extensive network of nerves and the brain. This extensive precise circuit helps us to be aware of the various sensations and enables the functioning of limbs and equilibrium of the body. People in their ignorance inflict damage to the nervous system in many ways; consuming alcohol is one of them. As soon as alcohol enters the body after drinking, it is absorbed in the blood stream and passes on to the brain. Initially the thought process and intellect are numbed. Later on, alcohol can produce a depressant effect on brain cells. In contrast, it can also produce an excitatory effect on the brain cells. These different types of effects are manifest in the behaviour of an individual who has been drinking.Under the influence of alcohol, an individual can be seen to be crying incessantly for no reason on one hand, while at the other end, he may be laughing and joking loudly and unreasonably. At times, behaviour may be a combination of excitement and depression. People may mock, but they remain oblivious to everything around them. They have no memory afterwards of what they have done in the inebriated state. Chronic alcoholics suffer from multiple nutritional deficiencies because of various factors. Deficiency of vitamin B. complex, in particular, of Thiamine (Vitamin B1) leads to abnormalities of the gait and limb movements, eye movements, and memory loss. These symptoms also occur due to damage to part of the mid brain by alcohol. Deficiency of vitamin B12 causes affects the peripheral nerves and spinal cord.Alcohol can have a direct toxic effect on the optic nerve (nerve responsible for vision) causing sudden blindness. This happens more with methyl alcohol which is present in some spirits. Part of the brain responsible for the balance of the body (cerebellum) is also damaged by alcohol. This manifests in the inability of an individual to walk, sit or stand straight. Small chores like dressing or undressing become difficult because of tremors and lack of coordination in the hand muscles. Shoulder muscles and the hips are affected by chronic alcoholism. The person experiences pain when he does small movements like combing or climbing up stairs. The peripheral nerves, (which bring sensations from outside to the spinal cord and brain), are also affected by alcohol. This causes tingling, numbness and other abnormal sensations in affected limbs. Alcohol can damage the spinal cord directly, leading to paralysis of limbs in various degrees in the person. Sexual impotence is yet another unpleasant sequel to alcoholism which cannot be reversed, after onset. Over the time, brain cells become habituated to alcohol. This physical dependence creates a state where the individual cannot live without alcohol. Even if he spends 24 hours without alcohol, he develops tremors in the hands, restlessness, body pain and memory loss. In severe cases the affected person becomes disoriented. Some of these symptoms reverse after taking alcohol. Thus a vicious cycle is perpetuated. A person becomes sick without alcohol and when he takes it, damage to the nervous system is aggravated. Many of these problems cannot be reversed by treatment. But stopping alcohol can certainly prevent further damage.Prevention is said to be better than cure and stands very true for alcoholism. If a person has started drinking recently, he or she can stop it before it is too late. Good nutrition is of prime importance in helping an alcoholic with nervous system damage. Whole grains, cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and eggs are useful to improve the nutritional status. In addition nutritional supplements like multivitamin and or thiamine tablets are also useful.A person hopelessly addicted to alcohol needs to be counseled and enrolled in some de addiction program, before he is crippled by permanent neurological abnormalities. “Alcoholics Anonymous”(AA) provides opportunity for alcohol addicts to come together, discuss their problems and try to give up alcohol. Dr. Pande is a specialist Internal medicine