Alcoholic lung disease
Encyclopedia
Alcoholic lung disease is disease
of the lung
s caused by excessive alcohol
consumption. Chronic alcohol ingestion impairs multiple critical cellular functions in the lung. These cellular impairments lead to increased susceptibility to serious complications from lung disease. Recent research cites alcoholic lung disease as comparable to liver disease in alcohol related mortality. Alcoholics have a higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS) and experience higher rates of mortality from ARDS when compared to non-alcoholics.
The mechanisms of alcoholic lung disease are:
These chemical changes compound the negative mechanical and microbiological effects of alcoholism on the respiratory system. These include: impaired gag reflex
and cilia function and greater likelihood of colonies of pneumococcal bacteria in the upper respiratory system.
Research on potential treatments for Alcoholic Lung Disease are ongoing.
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
of the lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
s caused by excessive alcohol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
consumption. Chronic alcohol ingestion impairs multiple critical cellular functions in the lung. These cellular impairments lead to increased susceptibility to serious complications from lung disease. Recent research cites alcoholic lung disease as comparable to liver disease in alcohol related mortality. Alcoholics have a higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome , also known as respiratory distress syndrome or adult respiratory distress syndrome is a serious reaction to various forms of injuries to the lung....
(ARDS) and experience higher rates of mortality from ARDS when compared to non-alcoholics.
The mechanisms of alcoholic lung disease are:
- MetabolismMetabolismMetabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
of alcohol reduces glutathioneGlutathioneGlutathione is a tripeptide that contains an unusual peptide linkage between the amine group of cysteine and the carboxyl group of the glutamate side-chain...
anti-oxidant levels in the lungs. - Oxidation damage to the cells impairs the ability of the lungs to remove fluid.
- Oxidative damage to cells reduces immune response.
- Oxidative damage to cells results in a reduced ability to recover from injury.
These chemical changes compound the negative mechanical and microbiological effects of alcoholism on the respiratory system. These include: impaired gag reflex
Gag reflex
The pharyngeal reflex or gag reflex is a reflex contraction of the back of the throat, evoked by touching the soft palate or sometimes the back of the tongue. It prevents something from entering the throat except as part of normal swallowing and helps prevent choking...
and cilia function and greater likelihood of colonies of pneumococcal bacteria in the upper respiratory system.
Research on potential treatments for Alcoholic Lung Disease are ongoing.