Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol dependence syndrome, is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in problems.[1] It was previously divided into two types: alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.[2][3] In a medical context, alcoholism is said to exist when two or more of the following conditions is present: a person drinks large amounts over a long time period, has difficulty cutting down, acquiring and drinking alcohol takes up a great deal of time, alcohol is strongly desired, usage results in not fulfilling responsibilities, usage results in social problems, usage results in health problems, usage results in risky situations, withdrawal occurs when stopping, and alcohol tolerance has occurred with use.[3] Risky situations include drinking and driving or having unsafe sex among others.[3] Alcohol use can affect all parts of the body but particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system. This can result in mental illness, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, an irregular heart beat, liver failure, and an increase in the risk of cancer, among other diseases.[4][5] Drinking during pregnancy can cause damage to the baby resulting in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.[6] Generally women are more sensitive to alcohol’s harmful physical and mental effects than men.[7]
Both environmental factors and genetics are associated with alcoholism with about half the risk attributed to each. A person with a parent or sibling with alcoholism is three to four times more likely to be alcoholic themselves.[4] Environmental factors include social, cultural, and behavioral influences.[8] High stress levels, anxiety, as well as inexpensive easily accessible alcohol increases risk.[4][9] People may continue to drink partly to prevent or improve symptoms of withdrawal. A low level of withdrawal may last for months following stopping.[4] Medically alcoholism is considered both a physical and mental illness.[10][11] Both questionnaires and certain blood tests may detect people with possible alcoholism. Further information is then collected to confirm the diagnosis
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