Alcoholic Myopathy - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What Is Myopathy?

Myopathy is a skeletal muscle disease with multiple causative factors characterized by muscle weakness. In general, any condition that affects the muscle, such as inflammation, weakness, spasms, or paralysis, may be called myopathy. Myopathy can result from either an acquired muscle disease or any inherited genetic disorder. Muscle weakness can affect any part of the body, such as eyes, arms, face, etc.

What Is Alcoholic Myopathy?

Alcohol has a harmful effect on many body systems, including the muscular system. The weakness in the muscles happens due to abnormal breakdown of the muscle tissue, and this gradual degeneration of the muscles leads to muscular dysplasia. If muscle weakness or any muscle condition occurs due to excessive alcohol usage, it is called alcoholic myopathy.

Alcohol usage is one of the critical factors in the development of both acute and chronic alcoholic myopathy. Studies have shown that around 45% to 60% of adults who have chronic alcohol disorder have the possibility of developing alcoholic myopathy. However, the drinking pattern tends to influence or decide the development of alcoholic myopathy.

Adults who have been binge drinking occasionally but have followed the same pattern for an extended period tend to develop acute alcoholic myopathy. In contrast, individuals who have been heavy drinkers throughout their life tend to develop chronic alcoholic myopathy.

How Does Alcohol Contribute to Myopathy?

Alcohol consumption has many harmful effects on our bodies. Alcoholic myopathy is not fully understood, and there has been only limited research and studies done on the same. However, one of the most accepted findings is that alcohol consumption leads to nutritional deprivation and becomes subject to malnutrition. The fact is put forth because alcohol reduces the ability of our body to break down and absorb certain nutrients and minerals.

In addition, several studies show that alcohol consumption leads to vitamin D deficiency in most people. Hence, many essential nutrients and minerals that are required to maintain the muscle cell's proper functioning become reduced due to malnutrition and vitamin D insufficiency. Eventually, this may lead to improper muscle functioning and decreased muscle stability. This gradually develops into muscular dysplasia, or myopathy caused due to alcohol.

What Are the Causes of Alcoholic Myopathy?

The cause of alcoholic myopathy is different in both acute and chronic conditions.

Acute Alcoholic Myopathy-

This type of myopathy happens when a person continuously drinks four to five alcoholic drinks within a two-hour interval, accounting for 0.08 grams per deciliter of blood alcohol level. It can lead to a life-threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis, where the alcohol causes the muscle tissue to break down and release into the blood.

Chronic Alcoholic Myopathy-

This type of myopathy is caused in people who have been heavy drinkers for the whole of their drinking lifetime. Too much alcohol leads to deficiencies of nutrients like zinc, potassium, vitamins, etc., which also leads to tissue damage. Due to these deprivations, the proper healing or repairing of the muscles does not happen, leading to reduced muscle function and weakness.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcoholic Myopathy?

The symptoms associated with alcoholic myopathy vary from one person to another based on the condition's form and severity. Also, the symptoms of acute alcoholic myopathy differ from that of chronic alcoholic myopathy.

Symptoms of acute alcoholic myopathy include:

1. Dark urine.

2. Muscle cramps.

3. Tenderness of muscle.

4. Muscle weakness.

5. Swelling of muscles.

6. Pain in the affected areas.

7. In severe cases, kidney failure.

Chronic alcoholic myopathy symptoms are slightly different and include:

1. Atrophy of muscles.

2. Dark urine.

3. Tightness of muscle.

4. Muscle twitching.

5. Abnormal walking.

6. Weakness of muscle that surrounds the pelvis.

7. Very little pain and muscle cramps.

What Are Some of the Risk Factors Associated With Alcoholic Myopathy?

One of the significant risks associated with alcoholic myopathy is the development of cardiomyopathy (weakness in the heart muscles). Cardiomyopathy is characterized by weakening the heart muscles, leading to the thinning of the heart muscles over an extended period. Hence when the heart muscles thin, it leads to improper functioning of the heart and thereby leads to other cardiovascular diseases such as:

1. Arrhythmia.

2. Heart attack.

3. Heart failure.

4. Stroke.

Also, cardiomyopathy has been associated with liver damage in people struggling with alcohol use disorder.

How Is Alcoholic Myopathy Treated?

It is possible to treat and reverse both acute and chronic types of alcoholic myopathy. The first and most crucial step towards the treatment of alcoholic myopathy is to stop consuming alcohol in both scenarios. In the case of acute myopathy, the symptoms usually last for one or two weeks from the day of binge drinking. Hence, stopping alcohol consumption after the day of the episode will produce significant results.

In chronic alcoholic myopathy, where the condition is severe, it will take even more effort to resolve. This means overcoming chronic alcoholic myopathy might take weeks, months, or in worst cases, even years to regain full muscle functioning. If the person gets affected by any heart disease, it is vital to receive treatment for the condition for the rest of their life. In the case of developing cardiomyopathy, the condition is reversible only upto a specific situation.

However, if a person has trouble abstaining from alcohol, it will be even more difficult. Due to alcohol use disorder, the person will have cravings and experience withdrawal symptoms. Hence, other programs or treatments are required to help the person in these scenarios.

Some of the options include:

1. Family therapy.

2. Peer support groups.

3. Exercise programs.

4. Behavioral therapy.

5. Nutritional guidance.

6. Strength training.

The doctors will also provide medications to improve the heart's functioning if the heart muscles are involved.

Some treatments include:

1. Beta-blocker medications.

2. Diuretics.

3. ACE-inhibitors.

4. A low salt diet.

Conclusion:

Alcoholic myopathy is a severe condition, and with proper medical treatment and behavior changes, it could be treated. However, if left untreated, it might lead to many life-threatening health conditions that involve the heart, kidneys, and lungs. Hence always follow a healthy and nutrition-filled diet and avoid excess or binge alcohol drinking. Though abstaining from alcohol might be difficult initially, proper help and support can help reverse alcoholic myopathy.