Alcoholics underestimate the risk of bleedingFebruary 19, 2008Gastrointestinal bleeding can be fatal - something which is not known to many alcoholics. This was the conclusion reached by the Leipzig gastroenterologist Niels Teich and his colleagues, on the basis of a survey in the current edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2008; 105[5]: 73-7). More than 400 patients from the major German cities of Leipzig and Munich were included in the study. Average alcohol consumption was 660 g ethanol per week. The study shows that alcoholics often do not know enough about the possible symptoms of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. After vomiting blood, 71% of those asked would contact an emergency physician. The corresponding figure for a "black fluid" is only 51%. Only 32% would call emergency medical aid if they were to pass black stools, and only 25% would seek medical help for all three symptoms. Alcoholics who rarely see a doctor are particularly ignorant about how urgent treatment is. Women and patients who had seen a doctor more than 12 times in the course of the preceding year were best informed. Further non-significant differences were found in respect of patient age. Younger alcoholics were more likely to call a doctor than older patients. In addition, earlier consultation of an emergency physician was associated with lower alcohol consumption, completed vocational training, and being married. The longer the patient delays till the emergency endoscopy, the worse is the prognosis. ### http://www.aerzteblatt-international.de/v4/archiv/pdf.asp?id=58802 Deutsches Aerzteblatt |
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| Related Alcoholics Current Events and Alcoholics News Articles BUSM researchers show dieters can experience neurobiological similarities of drug addicts Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that intermittent access to foods rich in fat and sugar induces changes in the brain which are comparable to those observed in drug dependence. Alcoholism's effect on sleep persists during long periods of sobriety A study in the Oct.1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that long-term alcoholism affects sleep even after long periods of abstinence, and the pattern of this effect is similar in both men and women. Researchers find alcoholics display abnormal brain activity when processing facial expressions Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that individuals who have a long history of alcoholism, but who have been abstinent for at least a month up to many years, showed abnormal brain activity when looking at facial expressions of others. From the Glass to the Brain in Six Minutes Just one drink can quickly go to your head. Researchers in Heidelberg tested this well-known adage. Glucose metabolism and recidivism of severe violent crimes in alcohol intoxications It is commonly known that alcoholism and alcohol intoxications are connected with severe violent crimes such as homicides. People with parents who fight are more likely to have mental health problems in later life People with parents who were violent to each other are more likely to have mental health problems when they grow up. Treating drug-addicted doctors is good medicine Doctors who become addicted to alcohol and other drugs can be treated successfully and returned to medical practice with the help of special programs that couple referral to treatment and monitoring with rapid responses to noncompliance, University of Florida researchers report. UVA Researchers Uncover Gene's Role in Severity of Drinking New research from the University of Virginia Health System could help explain why some alcoholics are more severe drinkers than others. A UVA team has found strong evidence that the serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4, plays a significant role in influencing drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals. Epilepsy drug may help alcoholics recover from dependence, small study suggests It's a Catch-22 of the highest order. People with alcohol problems often use alcohol to get to sleep -- but it actually keeps them from getting good-quality sleep all night long. Coffee and cigarette consumption are high among AA attendees More than one million Americans currently participate in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program. While AA participants are reportedly notorious for their coffee drinking and cigarette smoking, very little research has quantified their consumption of these two products. More Alcoholics Current Events and Alcoholics News Articles |
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