The physical signs of alcoholism may not always be obvious. One of the most common signs of alcoholism is a change in physical appearance, specifically the face. A condition in which individuals become dependent on alcohol to cope with the pressures of life. Unfortunately, the physical and mental effects of alcohol can often lead to addiction.
We must get that message out into the world as quickly as possible.Alcoholism is an increasingly prevalent social issue that affects individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. “Right now, the warning label only conveys part of the story. “Change the alcohol warning label to remove the maternal emphasis and put it on both parents to say, ‘The decision to consume this beverage can have significant, life-changing consequences to a future child,’” he said. Ultimately, Golding emphasizes that the first step in this process is expanding messaging outreach about the reproductive dangers of alcohol use to both parents. “The second,” he said, “is the fact that both parents are responsible for preventing alcohol-related birth defects.”įAS has significant, life-changing consequences for children.īecause their study identified FAS-related craniofacial differences in offspring born to fathers who regularly consumed alcohol at or more than the legal limit, Golding pointed out that both parents should commit to limiting or omitting their alcohol consumption before trying to become pregnant. “I’m not saying that this is not appropriate I’m just saying it’s not the complete picture and we need some balance. “Research examining fetal health is overwhelmingly focused on maternal health,” he said. Golding pointed out that paternal health before conception is a novel consideration in terms of pregnancy outcomes and fetal health as a result, raising awareness of the role a father’s health plays in his offspring’s health is just as important as awareness of the mother’s contributions from preconception and through gestation. “First is the recognition of the importance of male health in pregnancy outcomes and fetal health,” he said. Golding explained that findings from his holistic approach that examines both parents’ contributions to FAS reveal the need for two critical changes. “In this study, we call into question the dismissal of the mother’s denial and really examine the capacity of male alcohol use to induce FAS growth defects.” “Our research proves there’s a plausible alternative explanation – the father’s contribution, which has never been examined before,” he said. Keck Foundation and the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, reveals a potential blind spot in the current diagnostic criteria for FAS, the most severe form of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which requires documentation of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. Golding said this research, which was funded by a Medical Research Grant from the W.M. When they do, there’s this stigma or this notion that women are lying about their alcohol use.” “It’s not uncommon for the mother to deny consuming alcohol while pregnant. “When doctors suspect a child has FAS, they sit down with the mother to confirm the diagnosis by discussing her drinking habits during pregnancy,” Golding said.
#ALCOHOLIC FACE CHANGES VERIFICATION#
“When it was the dad drinking, we saw a profound shift in the organization of the face.”Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), FAS is a fetal disorder caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.įAS is hard to diagnose, but when doing so, doctors currently look for abnormal facial features lower-than-average weight, height or both central nervous system problems such as a small head size, problems with attention and hyperactivity or poor coordination and verification of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. “We found that male exposures actually drive certain craniofacial differences much stronger than maternal exposures do, so this programming effect that’s coming through sperm has a profound effect on the organization of the face and the growth and proportion of different facial features,” Golding said. In a new article published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Golding and his team found that male alcohol consumption before conception caused FAS brain and facial growth defects.
Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
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