Any kind of addiction can result in some severe and dangerous side effects. We all know that addiction throws a negative impact on the addicted person and the people close to them. The excess consumption of alcohol or drugs can bring some severe effects in your life.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has printed in 2013 that around 86 percent of Americans aged 18 or older have consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime. Although drinking alcohol occasionally is not bad, even alcohol is praised for having specific health benefits.
However, you everyone is aware of alcohol poisoning, alcoholism, and other severe problems that can drive from drinking, which also includes some weird behavioral issues. But have you heard about the severe health problems that alcohol abuse can cause for your body and your brain? There are some psychological syndromes related to alcohol abuse that can cause irreversible and even life-threatening impacts. Here we will discuss wet brain, which is among those dangerous diseases.
What is a Wet Brain?
Wet brain is a word used to describe a chronic brain disorder; the disease is caused by the deficiency of Thiamine (vitamin B1) and occurs among people suffering from alcohol addiction. However, Thiamine deficiency can also be seen in people with poor nutrition.
Wet brain is a layman’s term for brain disorder known as Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome. The condition is comprised of two states. The first part is Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a temporary but severe disease featured by confusion, loss of muscular coordination, and abnormal eye movements with changes in the vision.
The second aspect often follows Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which can cause significant impairment in learning and memory interfere with an individual’s ability to function normally.
The other names or parts of the disease consists of the followings-
- Alcohol dementia
- Korsakoff’s psychosis
- Alcoholic encephalopathy
- Wernicke’s dementia
- Wernicke’s disease
Wernicke’s encephalopathy symptoms start with the deficiency in Thiamine, which is usually connected with heavy alcohol consumption but can also be occurred because of malnutrition and other diseases. Around 80 percent of people with severe alcohol addiction become the target for thiamine reduction.
If you are not getting sufficient Thiamine in your diet, it can lead to a wet brain. Or else you can be participating in the conditions that are stopping you from absorbing vitamin B1 properly.
Who Can Get Wet Brain?
People who are likely to consume alcohol daily for a more extended period tend to get a wet brain. However, it can also be caused due to poor nutrition and a series of vomiting. Alcohol intervenes with the body’s capacity to grasp vitamin B1. So the individuals who drink regularly or consume an abundance of alcohol are likely to develop a wet brain.
Signs and Symptoms of Wet Brain:
The wet brain’s behaviour is not easily recognizable because the wet brain’s symptoms can be misunderstood as other health issues. However, unlike many other dangerous effects of alcohol abuse that can develop over time, a Wet brain occurs suddenly and exhibits itself into two distinct stages.
Stage 1- Wet Brain Symptoms
Stage 1 of the wet brain is known as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and its signs include the following-
- Sudden reduction in mental ability
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Leg shakings
- Abnormal eye movements
- Dual vision
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Dropping of the eyelid
Stage 2- Wet Brain Symptoms
The second stage of the wet brain is known as Korsakaff psychosis, and its symptoms include the following-
- Loss of memory
- Making up of the stories
- Incapable of making new memories
- Audio and visual hallucinations
Signs and symptoms of the wet brain-
- Loss of memory
- Eyelid drooping
- Leg shakings
- Uncommon eye movements
- Remembering things that never happened
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 80 to 90 percent of alcoholic people develop Korsakoff’s psychosis.
Can You Reverse Wet Brain?
Stage one of the wet brain is reversible, but only if it is treated immediately with vitamin B1 injections. Contrary to this, if stage one is left untreated, it will progress towards stage two of the wet brain. However, stage two can be improved over time with vitamin B1 and restraining from alcohol, but it cannot be fully reserved.
Wet Brain in Alcoholics:
Wet brain in alcoholic people can occur for a variety of reasons, among which some of them have been discussed-
- Poor nutrition- Individuals who consume alcohol daily are more likely to have poor diet and nutrition deficiencies like B1 deficiency. And the vitamin cannot be naturally produced by the body. Instead, it must be consumed by in-taking nutrition-rich foods like poultry, whole grains, cereals, nuts, and dried beans. However, alcohol consumption can damage and irritate tissues of the digestive tract, which makes it difficult for the body to digest and swallow nutrition from the food.
- Any other health problems- Those who are regular drinkers are more likely to suffer from other severe health issues like cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart failure, or even long-term dialysis. All these diseases can increase the risk of establishing a wet brain and cause a deficiency of vitamin B1.
- Raised vomiting- Events of vomiting can also deplete the body’s essential nutrients and vitamins like vitamin B1. People with alcohol consumption disorder may vomit more as compared with someone without the disease. Because of the overdose and hangovers and poisoning are much more tend to occur regularly.
How to Treat Wet Brain?
It is always better to start treating wet brains in stage 1; the wait will progress in stage 2, which could be more harmful and fatal.
However, the primary aim of wet brain treatment is to control the Wet brain’s symptoms and prevent them from worsening. Though, there are various methods of treating wet brain, which includes the followings-
- Injection of vitamin B1
- Completely avoiding alcohol
- Following a balanced diet and nutritious diet
The best way to cure a wet brain is to seek medical help. The worst conditions can be treated in a medical environment.
Alcohol addiction destroys the life of not only the individual but also his family and close ones. Alcohol addiction can lead to many severe conditions, which can be deadly. Wet brain is among those dangerous conditions that can have many negative and adverse effects.