Question by Olympic fan: “Does alcohol kill brain cells?
Just wondering, are brain cells really killed when alcohol is consumed?

Best answer:

Answer by C H R I S (Philippines)
“Usually brain cells are not killed. For 16 years, Roberta J. Pentney, professor of anatomy and cell biology at the University at Buffalo, has studied chronic alcohol abuse and brain function. She concludes that alcohol does not kill brain cells but rather damages dendrites–the branched ends of nerve cells that bring messages into the cell.

Alcohol surely affects the brain, as we all know, causing slurred speech, clumsiness, slow reflexes, and a loss of inhibition. But alcohol doesn’t destroy the brain cells to cause these problems.

Rather, alcohol dilates the channels in the cellular structure that regulates the flow of calcium. More calcium than normal flows into the cells and stimulates increased activity. Somehow this abnormal “turning on” of activity causes a loss of the end segments but does not kill the whole cell. Losing the end segments, however, means losing incoming messages, which disrupts brain function.

The good news is: the damage to the brain cells, for the most part, isn’t permanent. The brain repairs itself but the recovery process does change nerve-cell structure. So most function returns to normal but some does not.

Another researcher, working independently finds similar results: Alcohol doesn’t kill brain cells; instead it slows communications. Richard Gross, professor of medicine, chemistry, and molecular biology and pharmacology at Washington University in St. Louis, discovers alcohol combines with the brain’s fatty acids and forms compounds called fatty-acid-ethyl esters. These compounds, in turn, change the flow of electric and chemical signals in the brain. A change in this flow alters how the brain works.

A molecule of fatty-acid-ethyl ester latches onto and enters a nerve cell. Inside the cell, the compound speeds up a release of potassium ions, which inhibits the release of neurotransmitters, and that slows down communication between cells.

A drink doesn’t kill brain cells. It damages the way brain cells communicate and the damage is largely reversible.

(Are you a heavy drinker? If you don’t mind? Anyway good question!)

Give your answer to this question below!

Question by : critical review of the literature “Alcohol abuse is genetic and abstinence is the definitive treatment”?
define the parameters of your search and explain the steps you would use to conduct a thorough, broad and deep review of the nursing and related health literature

Best answer:

Answer by Funky Bird iz a CHICK
Seriously? For two points?

Do your own homework.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Question by : Is past extensive cocaine use and alcohol abuse treatable?
Im sorry if my question did not come out right, i’ll do the best i can to explain my situation.

My mother is 54 going on 55. In the past back in the 80s up to the 2000s, she did extensive coke use and was(or is) an alcoholic. She appears to be lack confidence and can be so controlling at times. She can never calm down nevertheless hold a job i think. When you do alot of cocaine, i know you lose your mind. You go a bit insane and paranoid. Is there any long-term treatments or options that i should take that can calm her down? She smoke cigarettes every day, so many packs and it will not improve her heart and medical conditions at all. Im very very close to sending her to a nursing home or have her seek counseling, but im trying to find out what other options that i can take that dont involve her leaving the house. Im so extremely lost, please help and God bless.

Best answer:

Answer by Techwing
It sounds like she has a personality that is very prone to addiction. She sounds like she may have other issues as well, which might benefit from professional help.

You can recover from addictions, but they don’t really go away, in the sense that you cannot resume use of a substance to which you’ve previously been addicted without running the very real risk of falling into addiction again. Thus, alcoholics (for example) remain alcoholic for life, even though they may recover from their alcoholism by abstaining permanently from alcohol. A recovered addict is, for all practical purposes, the same as anyone else, except that he can never touch the substance to which he was previously addicted without the risk of a major relapse.

What do you think? Answer below!

UB researchers granted .7M to study alcohol treatment
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Types of Alcohol Rehab Facilities

Rehab facilities may vary but they all share a common aim and that is to help addicts recover from their addiction. Many facilities today concentrate on detoxification. The process can be done in a hospital in which a minimum of 10 days is required for the personnel to totally free the person from alcoholic elements. Although hospitals can accommodate this, the danger of withdrawal can harm other patients that is why it is recommended that detoxification is done in a rehab facility that can fully supply and facilitate the safety of the patient and the people around him

Alcoholics can still undergo treatment without confining themselves in a rehab center. Outpatient treatments are applicable to those who are less dependent on alcohol and the severity of their addiction is still containable. This is also applicable to those who have been in a facility and are deemed sober and alcohol free. Outpatients are closely monitored by rehab facility personnel assigned to them and are required to attend counseling on schedule.

Inpatient treatment is applicable to those who have severe alcohol dependency. It is required to be able to monitor them 24 hours a day and induce medical treatment whenever needed. Inpatients are considered totally dependent of alcohol and needs close monitoring. This is also to give immediate help in situations such as relapse and intense urge to give in to their addiction.

Adolescent addiction rehab is a rehabilitation option that specializes in the treatment of adolescent patients. Treatment of younger generation on alcohol abuse is different from adults. The formulation of counseling techniques is more defined and requirements to help them become sober are more intense.

Faith based rehabilitation refers to the patient’s willingness to enter a facility out of his faith on himself and his ability to fully cooperate with the rehab personnel for the glory of freedom from alcoholism. It is similar to Christian alcohol rehabs which involve a great deal of counseling and help from support groups.

There are other forms of alcohol rehab facilities that offer more and even detailed process of leading an alcoholic person to sobriety. A person may choose according to his preferences and the severity of his addiction.

Alcohol-Rehab

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