Search Results for: blog is alcohol abuse hereditary

Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol Abuse

When I was getting ready to go away to college, my parents sat me down and said something to the effect of “you’re probably going to drink when you’re at college, just do it responsibly.” They didn’t know that I’d already been faced with offers of alcohol and turned them down without hesitation. But then, I wouldn’t consider myself a typical teen with a typical curiosity about drinking. I had already seen up close what serious drinking could do to a person, and was not at all interested in alcohol. I never had more than a sip to taste until … Continue reading →

Symptoms of Alcoholism

You don’t have to drink often to be at risk for alcohol abuse or dependence. You might not drink every day. You might go weeks between drinking, and call yourself a social drinker. Start by taking a look at the risk factors for alcoholism — are you at risk? I am. These are the signs that you are abusing alcohol: You have problems at work or school related to your alcohol use — tardiness, absenteeism, increased injuries, or decreased performance. You drink in dangerous situations — like before or while driving. You have blackouts — when you are sober after … Continue reading →

Risk Factors for Alcoholism

I worry that I am at risk for alcoholism. When I was a child, I remember my grandfather mixing his “tea” at noon. I’m pretty sure there was no actual tea in his glass, despite that being what he called it. I remember incidents of irrational behavior — like the time he shook my brother for dropping a piece of meat on the floor. It made me afraid of him. It made me afraid to drink. When my friends experimented in high school, I abstained. Even if I tried a sip, I told myself I didn’t like the taste. Once … Continue reading →

Risk Factors for Addiction

I’ve talked a bit about alcoholism here at the Families.com Health Blog, and my own fears about addiction. There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing an addiction — but it is important to remember that a risk does not mean a guarantee. Still, it can be helpful to identify risk factors. Family history (or you can call it genetics if you like) is a big risk factor for addiction. If a family member has shown signs of trouble with addiction, you may want to be careful. My grandfather was an alcoholic, and I tend to avoid … Continue reading →

Zinc Deficiency

When the body isn’t taking in enough zinc — or zinc isn’t being absorbed in the right amounts — it is possible to develop a zinc deficiency. What are the signs of zinc deficiency? Growth retardation including delayed sexual maturity Hair loss Loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and other gastrointestinal issues. Skin and eye lesions Delayed wound healing Problems with smell and taste Mental lethargy Some people are at higher risk of a zinc deficiency than others, including: Vegetarians. The body tends to absorb less zinc from plant foods than from animal sources. If you are following a vegetarian … Continue reading →

Men Who Drink Are At Risk For Sleep Disorders

A new study from the University of Wisconsin at Madison found that men who habitually consume alcohol are twenty-five percent more likely to have a sleep related breathing disorder than those who do not. The study looked at both men and women, but there was no significant relationship between alcohol consumption and sleep related breathing disorders. This may have been due to the fact that the 645 women in the study tended to generally drink less habitually than the 775 men in the study. Further studies are planned to look at the relationship between alcohol and sleep related breathing disorders … Continue reading →

Generational Curses

Are they real? Yes they are and it is so important when contemplating sin to understand consequences that can surpass the moment inflicting pain on future generations. We can read about the first generational curse in Genesis upon Adam and Eve’s consumption of the forbidden fruit. Although the curse from that still remains in labor and physical death, by our Lord’s grace and mercy, in accepting His gift of salvation, we can be spared eternal spiritual death (separation from God). We see stories throughout the Bible of curses affecting generations that are perhaps examples that God allowed to be shared … Continue reading →

A New Kind Of Playdate

Okay parents repeat after me, ALCOHOL AND PLAYDATES DO NOT MIX . But apparently a group of women in Philadelphia disagree with me. In a case of “now I’ve heard everything”, I was shocked to read in the Chicago Times a story about a group of eight mothers who formed a group five years ago that meet weekly, mostly on Fridays. While their kids are playing they sit back and drink! They discuss their problems, eat pizza or hot dogs, dance with their kids and drink. Welcome to the world of Happy-hour playdates. The article went on to talk about … Continue reading →

Men & Stress

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It’s been discussed many, many times. Men and women are different. We know this. You may be thinking that’s rather obvious, I would respond that it is – and it isn’t – always obvious. First and foremost, men and women have different biological mechanisms and hormones. They possess different outlooks on life. Men and women are often exposed to different societal contexts. As a society, we nurture the emotional reactions, personality traits and yes – the differences – between the two genders. However, stress is a physiological reaction to change that occurs in every day life. Hard to think that … Continue reading →