Dangerous Drink: Four Greatest Perils of Alcohol Abuse

Enjoying a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail is a common practice in today’s society. However, some people who are susceptible to binge drinking and alcoholism are unable to stop at just one or two drinks. They continue drinking until they have reached a dangerous level of drunkenness. This type of drinking behavior affects the well being of both the alcoholic and society. Here are four of the most dangerous side effects of consistent heavy drinking.

 

Obesity

The obesity epidemic is often thought of as a food problem. However, it is also an alcohol problem. Heavy drinkers, who consistently drink more than four alcoholic beverages a day, are 46% more likely to obese than non-drinkers. When inebriated, individuals are unable to control impulses, such as the urge to overeat. Also, they often feel hungrier because alcohol hinders the ability to process the signals that tell the brain know the body is full.

Domestic Abuse

Alcoholics are three times more likely to abuse their spouses and domestic partners. This means seventy-five percent of reported cases of spouse or domestic partner abuse involve alcohol. Also, children whose parents abuse alcohol are three times more likely to suffer abuse than children from families without an alcoholic. Since many cases of domestic assault go unreported, these numbers cannot accurately reflect the abuse suffered at the hands of alcoholics, though they do provide a close approximation. Alcoholics with violent tendencies should strongly consider professional rehabilitation. Rehab centers like Ascend Recovery and a multitude of others can help reshape the behaviors of those afflicted with alcoholism and correspondingly reduce violent episodes.

 

Crime

One-fourth of all violent crimes, in the U.S., are committed by individuals who were abusing alcohol prior to the crime. Since overconsumption of alcohol often leads to aggressive behavior, this statistic isn’t surprising. What is surprising, however, is how much higher the chances of an alcoholic committing a violent crime is than non-alcoholics. There were roughly 1.2 million violent crimes committed in the U.S last year, and approximately 17.6 million adults out of a population of 313 million individuals suffer from alcoholic tendencies. This means, alcoholics have a 5.5 times greater chance of committing a violent crime.

 

Disease

While it’s common knowledge alcoholism can lead to heart and liver diseases, it’s less commonly known that alcohol abuse can lead to diabetes and other diseases, as well. Alcohol abuse causes type 2 diabetes, first, because it interferes with the body’s glucose levels and the hormones that control blood glucose levels. Second, drinking heavily causes pancreatitis, and type 2 diabetes is a side effect of pancreatitis. Next, heavy consumption of alcohol suppresses the immune system, making it easier for over-drinkers to contract infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, and pneumonia. Alcoholism isn’t just responsible for physical ailment, but also causes several mental health issues. It is known for damaging memory, causing anxiety and depression, and it is suspected in certain cases of psychosis.

 

Light to moderate drinking, or one to two alcoholic beverages a night, is quite healthy and unlikely to lead to any long-tem social or physical problems. However, unchecked alcoholism and constant overconsumption of alcoholic beverages lead to many issues, damaging both the individual and society. These include a higher chance of being a violent crime offender, assaulting family members and loved ones, contracting serious diseases and developing obesity.

Categories: abuse, Alcohol, alcohol abuse, alcoholic, alcoholic beverages, Dangerous, drink, glucose levels, perils, violent, violent crime, violent crimes

The Perks and Perils of Wearing High Heels: An Overview

Let’s face it ladies. The words “seven-inch stiletto” and “everyday wear” cause even the most daring fashionistas to cringe and curl their toes.We’ve all thought we could do it; that enthusiastic strut and twirl in a fabulous new pair of heels at the start of the day quickly devolves into the agonizing “how-could-I-have-done-this-to-myself” pilgrimage to the closest store for flats. Even a few hours clubbing in height-defying pumps is enough to compel some women to wave their little white flags of surrender as they wince and walk home barefoot. Yes, dramatic high heels can transform an attractive ensemble into a runway ready heart-stopper, but unless you intend on sitting, floating, or being carried around everywhere you go, donning these luxurious death stilts can be a very painful, unhealthy choice.

Christian Louboutin, the esteemed French footwear designer, is openly unapologetic about the subject. In an interview with Grazia, one of U.K’s premiere fashion magazines, he insists that “high heels are pleasure with pain…If you can’twalk in them, don’t wear them.” Let’s be honest. Anyone who can afford a pair of Louboutinswants to wear them no matter how much they hurt.  But for those that believe the temporary pain of wearing high heels is always worth the cost might want to reconsider that perspective.Let’s investigate the true damage of subscribing to the idea that it always “hurts to be beautiful.”

Not only does the design of a high-heeled shoe cause one’s body to tilt haphazardly forward, but this unnatural distribution of weight virtually deforms the foot and shortens the muscles in the calves and lower back. This unhealthy posture places an inordinate amount of pressure on nerves in the back and can cause a painful condition called sciatica, which triggers spasms of pain and numbness. Additionally, a woman who wears high heels for extended periods of time at least three times a week can experience a shortening of her Achilles’ tendon. This can lead to plantar fasciitis: an inflammation or deterioration of the connective tissues in the foot.

Therefore, to be absolutely clear, wearing high heels to the point where it becomes painful to walk can cause irreparable damage to your body. Celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Beckham, who often flaunt wasp-thin stilettos,have recently disclosed that they must undergo surgery to either restructure bones in their feet or remove unsightly bunions. Parker reveals, “I went to a foot doctor and he said, ‘Your foot does things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there…You’ve created that bone. It doesn’t belong there’.”

On a separate but related issue, wearing seven-inch platforms inevitably increases your risk of falling over or into things. A woman who brazenly attempts to wear high heels without knowing how to walk gracefully in them increasesher possibility of falling down a flight of stairs, twisting her ankles, falling into oncoming traffic, and other countless tragedies.

It boils down to this: high heels, like everything else we wish to indulge in, should be worn in moderation.  If you simply cannot give up your glorious pumps, recognize that a shoe of this design should not be worn for extended periods of time while walking.  Here are some tips for women who seek reasonable common ground between seven soaring inches and day-to-day flats:

-Find heels that properly fit your foot shape and distribute weight more evenly.Platforms, and shoes with less dramatic “dips” will place less weight on the front of the foot.

-Many shoes feature pointed fronts that squeeze toes together, leading to corns, hammertoes, blisters and more. There are wider, rounded box-toe alternatives sold by popular brands like Dansko, found here.

-Add cushion inserts like these for comfort. Furthermore, either find footwear with reliable treading or buy shoe traction adhesives.

Marilyn Monroe once stated, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”  Monroe’s keen observation packs a powerful proverbial punch: if it hurts too much to walk, you certainly won’t go very far.  So weigh the risks of your fashion choices ladies, as we’ve got exciting places to go!

*This article has been contributed to Yourwellness by Britany Hoxie

Categories: extended periods, foot, heels, high, high heels, perils, perks, walk, wear, wearing, wearing high