Is alcohol good for your heart?

Studies have shown that moderate drinkers – men who have two or fewer drinks per day and women who have one or fewer drinks per day – are less likely to die from one form of heart disease than are people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink more. It's believed that these smaller amounts of alcohol help protect against heart disease by changing the blood's chemistry, thus reducing the risk of blood clots in the heart's arteries.

If you are a nondrinker, however, you should not start drinking solely to benefit your heart. You can guard against heart disease by exercising and eating foods that are low in fat. And if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic, or have another medical condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink.

If you can safely drink alcohol and you choose to drink, do so in moderation. Heavy drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke and high blood pressure, and cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis.

ARE YOU AN ALCOHOLIC?

1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family's welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking?


If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, there
is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic.


If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you
are an alcoholic.

If you have answered YES to three or more, you
are definitely an alcoholic.


(These questions were made up by Dr. Robert V. Seliger for use
at John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, in deciding whether a patient
is alcoholic.) Copyright © Recovered Alcoholic Clergy Association, 2000

Overcoming Alcoholism, Smoking and Drug Addiction

An Inspiring Story from one of Alcoholics Nucleus Members

It's been more than 5 years since i decided to stop smoking, doing drugs and drinking alcohol. I consider it as one of my greatest achievements in life.

It was an abrupt withdrawal from an addiction that started when i was in my Junior high.
I even skip classes back then just to attend drinking sessions or sometimes attend class drunk as early as 7am and get scolded by teachers for smoking insde the school premises.

I started using drugs when i was a senior student in high school.
I guess like most typical teenagers, there's a certain time in our lives when we feel like "its me against the world"... and unfortunately encounter people with the same kind of thinkin and get bad influence from them. I easily get into a fight... I chose not to listen to whatever other people say and stand by my decisions though sometimes it's pretty obvious that i'm wrong.

Though God says we should accept everyone the way they are, I think its still wiser if you choose the right kind of people to associate yourself with.

I've learned that when i met my "real" friends in college who brought me towards the light.
I could still remember that dawn of January 12, 2002 when I said to myself and my friends that it would be the last time i'd get drunk and do drugs come what may.

I simply stood by that decision and though it was really hard i tried not to be in places where i used to hang out. Basically tried to keep myself away from everything and everyone who would consciously or unconsciously encourage me to go back to my old habits.

I suffered a lot, It wasnt an easy job, but i think "conviction" would be the right magic word to use.

A lot of alcoholic people say its hard and those who are extremely addicted says its next to impossible to actually rehabilitate yourself and to keep away from alcohol or in other cases drugs. But i think all we need is to believe that we can do it and live a clean life.

When i finally lived a clean life, i started to have a better disposition in life, making sound decisions, and learned to appreciate the things and people around me.
Slowly but constantly moving on... away from my old rotten spirit.

I dont regret that i have ever gone through all those experiences, because everything that happened to me molded me to what i am now, my mistakes serve
as my guide to do right this time. And what's important is now and tomorrow...

So if you're still in the dark, dont be scared to come out so people can help you...

Alcoholics Nucleus

Currently, our members age range is 15-27
Thats why we consider our Organization "Junior" level , Follower of AA
But we want to make it known to everyone that there is no age limit
whatsoever for as long as you are willing to be a part of the campaign.

Alcoholics Nucleus is open to all alcoholics who wants to change
and to all those who support the drive for an alcohol-abuse free society.
Alcoholics Nucleus is currently working on putting up
an online forum as well as the official website which hopefully
would be up and running soon.


Meanwhile,
Please Support the Alcoholics Nucleus blog

You can:
*E-mail your essays, articles, artwork, poems or any resource
that you think may be helpful.
*E-mail a request to be one of the authors of this blog.
*Share your experiences and inspire others.