Alcohol in Human Muscles - Research Paper Example

?Alcohol in Human Muscles Introduction Alcohol can pose a variety of effects in the body, and the negative effects are quite common as the substance is frequently abused. Drinking alcoholic beverages can be an alternative hobby for some, and it eventually causes them harm and even death if prolonged usage of alcohol is practiced. Alcohol can be any form of substance that may alter any bodily function. This altered body function affects all systems in the body primarily the ones used in the activities of daily living. The muscles are the common part of the body that would be affected primarily once alcohol has entered the body. The muscles are vulnerable, since these are used in almost all bodily systems; these are the ones who would manifest the effects when activities are done or movement of the body is present. This paper aims to identify the effects of alcohol in the muscles focusing on Toxic Myopathy, and how these effects would be sustained. Alcohol Entering the Body System As what is commonly understood, anything that enters the human body in any form of drink, nutrients or food is digested. However, alcohol entering the body has special considerations, and this does not go through digestion. Alcohol is rapidly engrossed by the linings of the stomach wall once it is taken. It reaches the brain in a matter of seconds, thus, activating cells that would eventually manifest the effects of alcohol in the body. The individual would then feel a sense of elation or ecstasy. This elation is rapidly felt, especially when alcohol is taken prior to any meal or food intake.1 It is in fact, advised to eat meals prior to a drinking session, or at least consume finger foods while on the drinking session to promote the slow absorption of alcohol and its effects. Heavy meals are usually advised as these promote peristaltic movement in the stomach. The stomach utilizes its “alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme,” which is in fact less in women. This explains as to why women easily manifest the signs of intoxication.2 Nevertheless, it will all depend on the discipline and tolerance of an individual as there are some who can actually consume tons without getting intoxicated. To Alcohol or Not Alcohol It has already been generalized that alcohol intake has negative effects in the body. In a lighter side, alcohol can somehow contribute to body weight. However, there is a need to identify if this contribution to the body weight is beneficial or not. Insel, Tuner, and Ross stated that alcohol provides a certain amount of calories in the body. This has 7 kcal per gram that can technically provide an increase in weight, and if not controlled, the probability of obesity is high.3 Alcohol intake has 2 structures that are important to note in drinking patterns to conclude that weight gain is, in fact, contributed largely by drinking. The first one would be the amount of intake or “quantity,” and the other one would be the “frequency” or the times of drinking sessions. There were also debates pertaining to the benefits that alcohol can provide. Some experts stated that alcohol can provide these benefits but are only limited by boundaries, and not everyone is susceptible to such benefit. A study conducted indicated that “low to moderate” intake of alcohol aids in decreasing mortality rate.4 The debate and study whether alcohol can provide beneficial effects or not are common, especially because this is influenced by the emergence of media advertisers. These media advertisers would promote while stating the less calorie content of some alcoholic beverages, and in fact, posting beneficial effects in the body. Whether it is true or not, too much of anything is not ideal, so it is best to practice moderation and tolerance in all aspects. Effects of Alcohol in the Muscular System Alcohol can greatly impact the body’s total body functioning and at some point, may also affect a person’s logical thinking and capacity. The muscles as stated earlier in this paper, have the vulnerability to be affected once alcohol is introduced in the body. Alcohol is said to make the muscles implausible. This can also produce stiffness, pain and even deterioration. As stated earlier in this paper, a feeling of elation and ecstasy is noted when consuming alcohol. The certain elated feeling of an intoxicated person will also manifest through the muscle weakness.5 According to the Montclair University Counselling and Psychological Services, alcohol can also alter recovery of muscles on its healing process, when the muscles are known to experience an injury such as prolonged exercise and others. This is due to the fact that alcohol is a toxin that passes by the blood and other components in the body that aid in the healing process. Alcohol is also known to alter an equilibrium of water in the cells of muscles, which later on would hinder its capability to produce “adenosine triphosphate,” or ATP that provides energy to the muscles.6 Alcohol is also known to restrain muscle growth. This usually occurs gradually and is not limited to abusive drinkers only, but also for moderate drinkers. Prolonged alcohol intake can cause dehydration, which then restrains growth in muscles. Muscles are enhanced when they work with water; thus, dehydration can severely affect muscles. Protein construction is also affected with alcohol intake. This process involves muscle build up and may be altered when alcohol is present in the body. It is not advisable to consume alcohol when an individual is into exercising or working out to the gym, since alcohol hinders the goal of building up and strengthening muscles during exercise.7 Another effect of alcohol in the muscles is pain or malaise. This is due to the limited blood supply brought to the muscles. This usually occurs after an individual has consumed alcohol is already in the recovery stage or hangover state. Alcohol may also affect sleeping pattern, which causes serious problems not just with the muscles, but with the total body functioning as well.8 Toxic Myopathy Alcohol when abused can clearly lead to undesirable effects in the muscles. One of which is toxic myopathy. Toxic myopathy is defined as any inherited or acquired complication that can be associated "to pathological, biochemical, or electrical changes occurring in muscle fibers, or the interstitial tissue of voluntary musculature.” This complication does not prove to be caused by the "nervous system dysfunction."9 Myopathy can be caused by various forms, but is usually vulnerable to toxins. Alcohol as stated earlier in this paper is a toxin entering the body; thus, alcohol can cause toxic myopathy in the body. Toxic Myopathy is said to happen when abuse of drugs and other toxins such as alcohol are present. Medications that cause the lowering of cholesterol such as the “statins,” are also known as one of the most common drugs that can cause toxic myopathy. Weakness in the torso, difficulty in mobilization, dysphagia, muscle fatigue and pain are the common symptoms of toxic myopathy.10 Alcohol as one of the common toxins introduced in the body does not focus on one single part of muscle in the body. Alcoholic myopathy is said to be in different kinds of forms. These are “acute necrotizing myopathy, hypokalemic myopathy, chronic alcoholic myopathy, and cardiomyopathy.”11 There is a need to determine the presence of toxic myopathy in the human body, since the symptoms are quite common among ordinary individuals, and are often times neglected. Tests and accurate examination are required to conclude that the toxin taken is causing toxic myopathy. The tests cover the blood, physical assessment of the patient, obtaining medical history, and tests on electric transmission of the body are done.12 Medical Research Medical research is expanded worldwide to promote awareness on the negative effects of alcohol that are related to toxic myopathy. A research presented the negative effects of alcohol in the heart. Alcohol is said to limit the mobility of sodium and potassium ions on their travel to the cells, which is needed to enhance contraction of muscles in the heart. Furthermore, alcohol can interfere with the calcium production that is needed for the contractile muscles of the heart.13 Another research indicates the effects of alcohol on muscle glycogen storage after exercise. This implied that taking large amounts of alcohol affect CHO and lipid breakdown on athletes.14 Controlling and Stopping Alcohol Intake Controlling alcohol will not suffice or will not ensure the need for the body to recover from its negative effects. As stated earlier in this paper, alcohol intake does not depend as to the amount of intake, but rather the frequency of such intake. It was also emphasized that regardless if the individual is just an occasional drinker of alcohol, he or she is still vulnerable to all these negative effects. There are ways to avoid and quit alcohol intake such as setting of goals, assessment of condition, seeking medical attention and others.15 There is a need to identify the ideal steps to take to ensure effectiveness. Change is not to be expected overnight, but dedication, perseverance, and proper steps to consider will contribute to a rapid change. Summary Alcohol no matter how minimal is the intake, causes a significant negative effect in the muscles that must be considered, regardless if these effects seemed to be common or tolerable. These effects are not even limited to the muscles alone, but will eventually affect the body system in general, if prolonged alcohol intake is present. The frequent interpretation of alcohol intake is that the signs and symptoms felt are normal, since these are signs of intoxication. This would then be considered as normal for an abusive drinker or even for occasional drinkers, since they are unaware that these signs and symptoms are already altering the body system. The effect of alcohol in muscles may seem to be limited, but there is a need to consider the fact that muscles are shields and foundation of all the systems in the body. Therefore, it is understood that alcohol as a toxin is not to be taken or introduced in the body, regardless of its frequency or amount, as this gradually destroys all the bodily components and their processes. Bibliography “Alcohol-Effects on the Body.” Hare Krishna Networks. November 15, 2011. http://www.hknet.org.nz/AlcoholEffects.html. Burke, Louise M., et al, "Effect of Alcohol Intake on Muscle Glycogen Storage after Prolonged Exercise." Journal of Applied Physiology 95, no. 3 (2003): 983-990. http://jap.physiology.org/content/95/3/983.full. Insel, Paul R., Elaine Tuner, and Don Ross. Discovering Nutrition. Sadbury, MA: Jones and Barlett Learning, 2009. Magee, David J., James E. Zachazewski, and William S. Quillen. Pathology and Intervention in Masculoskeletal Rehabilitation. St. Loius, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008. Montclair State University Counselling and Psychological Services. "How Alcohol Affects Muscle Development and Recovery." Montclair State University. November 15, 2011. http://www.montclair.edu/psychservices/alcoholmuscle.pdf. "Muscle Tissue can be Damaged by Alcohol." How to Quit Drinking Now. November 15, 2011. http://howtoquitdrinkingnow.com/Alcohol-and-Muscle-Tissue.php. Rubin, Emmanuel, and Doria, John. "Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: Alcohol as a Cause of Heart Muscle Disease." Life & Health Library. November 16, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0847/is_n4_v14/ai_11876912/pg_4/. Selzer, Michael E., Stephanie Clarke, Leonardo G. Cohen, Pamela, W. Duncan, and Fred H. Gage. Eds. Textbook of Neural Repair and Rehabilitation: Medical Neurorehabilitation. Vol. 2. Campbridge University Press, 2006. "Toxic Myopathies: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Options." JohnsHopkins Medicine. November 15, 2011. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/myositis/myositis/toxic-myopathies.html. Whitney, Ellie, Eleanor Noss Whitney, and Sharon Rady Rolfes. Understanding Nutrition. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Read More