Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Chronic Drinking Increases Cortisol Levels

Chronic Drinking Increases Cortisol Levels Addiction Alcohol Use Print Chronic Drinking Increases Cortisol Levels By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 03, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 14, 2020  South_agency  / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Long-time heavy alcohol consumption can have many effects on the drinkers system, including cognition,?? emotion, reward, immune function,?? and energy utilization. When chronic heavy drinkers are intoxicated â€" and when they are withdrawing from alcohol intoxication â€" they can experience mood swings,?? diminished cognitive abilities, memory loss,?? and a decreased ability to learn. Some research has found that heavy alcohol consumption can begin to cause negative health effects on the body after only several weeks or a few months of drinking. Its not just long-term drinkers who can develop these symptoms, but also those who drink heavily for a relatively short period of time.?? What is not clear is exactly how heavy alcohol consumption can affect so many systems of the body â€" from brain function to the immune system to the digestive system. Alcohol Increases Cortisol Levels One theory about how alcohol causes these effects is that heavy alcohol consumption produces an increase in cortisol,?? also known as a stress hormone. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and its the bodys primary glucocorticoid. The body naturally produces more cortisol when you are affected by stressors such as fear or anxiety. Its part of the bodys stress-response system. Short-term, stress-induced cortisol can increase blood pressure,?? focus alertness and attention, a longer term can adversely impact some body functions such as bone growth, digestion, reproduction and wound repair. Alcohol Withdrawal Also Increases Cortisol Cortisol also plays an important role in regulating the bodys immune,?? reward, cognition, and emotion systems, as well as cause sleep disruption. Research has found that alcohol consumption also increases the bodys production of cortisol, not only while the person is intoxicated, but also when the drinker is withdrawing from the effects of intoxication. Researchers believe that a high level of intoxication can cause a state of general stress, which can stimulate cortisol release and suddenly stopping alcohol consumption can cause an even higher level of stress for the drinker.?? It is also thought that alcohol could affect brain chemicals that signal the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. Alcoholics Tested for Stress Hormone To test these theories, researchers at the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System in Dallas recorded the breath alcohol concentrations and cortisol levels of 73 alcohol-dependent patients and 22 alcohol-dependent patients who were abstinent and participating in a residential treatment program.?? Because 38 of the 73 alcohol-dependent patients who were seeking treatment were intoxicated and 30 were not intoxicated, but going through withdrawal, the researchers were able to compare  the three groups. Using saliva tests, the patients were checked for cortisol levels. The study found that both the intoxicated group and the withdrawal group had increased cortisol levels compared to the abstinent group and that the cortisol concentrations actually increased during the progression from intoxication to withdrawal.?? Alcohol and Its Impact on Metabolism Cortisol Could Cause Significant Morbidity The study confirmed that cortisol does remain elevated throughout the drinking cycle, not just during intoxication. The researchers, led by professor Bryon H. Adinoff, were quick to point out that research has not yet shown that cortisol is responsible for the medical and psychiatric problems associated with heavy drinking, but could very well cause costly wear and tear on the body resulting in significant damage to the central nervous system and peripheral organs.?? They believe future studies should explore how increased cortisol levels affect sleep disruption, cognitive deficits, diabetes and mood disturbances in alcoholics. The study authors conclude that it may be important to decrease cortisol levels during both chronic drinking and withdrawal to protect the health of the alcoholic patient. How Alcohol Can Impair the Bodys Hormone System

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