Alcoholism is a chronic (long-term) and progressive disease characterized by problems controlling drinking, continuing to drink alcohol, not giving up alcohol even after problems have occurred, physical dependence on alcohol, and withdrawal symptoms.
If you are addicted to alcohol, you will not be able to decide how much you will drink, how long you will drink, or what the consequences will be.
This happens when you drink so much that your body eventually becomes addicted to alcohol.
People with alcohol addiction are not able to give up alcohol despite its bad consequences such as losing a job or having problems in relationships with people.
The affected person realizes that his addiction to alcohol negatively affects his life but he cannot stop himself from drinking it.
What are the Stages of Alcoholism
There are three stages of alcohol addiction:
1. Preliminary Stage
The early stages of alcohol addiction are often difficult to detect because there are no obvious harms or disadvantages in the beginning.
During this stage, the drinker’s body builds up a tolerance to it, so that the person can drink large amounts of alcohol without losing control.
If you find that you constantly drink alcohol to cope with stress or other problems, you may be in the early stages of alcohol addiction.
2. Middle Stage
During the middle stage of alcohol addiction, you will experience physical and social changes.
You can get blackouts after drinking too much alcohol. You will have a strong craving for alcohol and, in the absence of it, may experience symptoms.
3. Final Step
The final stage of alcohol addiction is when you lose control and it starts affecting you physically, socially, and mentally.
At this point, you may have become so used to drinking that you have destroyed your relationships with friends and family.
Blackouts are more frequent in this phase and you are unable to sleep through the night without drinking alcohol.
Many people can handle their jobs even at this level but they are not able to do so for long.
Even if they are physically able to work, their mind remains only on alcohol.
Whether you realize it or not, you end up facing medical problems due to excessive drinking.
Drinking alcohol can lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, recurrent respiratory infections, and pancreatitis.
In severe cases, alcohol can cause heart failure or even brain damage.
Alcoholism Symptoms
The symptoms of alcohol addiction are based on the behavioral and physical consequences that result from it.
People suffering from alcoholism may have the following symptoms:
- Drinking alcohol alone
- Drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol (having a higher tolerance).
- Do not eat properly.
- Not maintaining personal hygiene.
- Not going to work or school because of drinking alcohol.
- Being unable to control alcohol consumption.
- Finding excuses to drink alcohol.
- Continuing to drink even if there are legal, social or economic problems.
- Quitting important social, business or recreational activities because of alcohol use.
People suffering from alcoholism have the following physical symptoms:
- Alcohol craving.
- Having other symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, without drinking alcohol.
- Tremor the next morning after drinking alcohol.
- Having diseases such as alcoholic ketoacidosis (involving dehydration-type symptoms) or cirrhosis.
Causes
The cause of alcohol addiction is still unknown. This addiction occurs when you drink so much alcohol that chemical changes start to happen in your brain.
These changes make drinking alcohol more enjoyable for you, making you crave more alcohol, even if it does harm.
Alcohol addiction usually develops slowly over time. It can also be your family habits.
Prevention
How much they are influenced by alcohol advertising, how early in life they begin using alcohol, their psychological need for alcohol and genetic factors can increase the risk of alcohol addiction.
If you have a teen around, pay attention to their symptoms that may indicate a problem with alcohol addiction. These symptoms are:
- Bloodstains in the eyes, inability to speak properly, coordination problems, and memory problems.
- Changes in relationships with friends.
- Failure to study and problems in school.
- Frequent mood changes and defensive behavior.
You can help a teen stop alcohol addiction. Be a good example to him and talk openly with your child and spend time with him and be actively involved in his life.
Diagnosis
Identifying alcohol addiction is not always easy for a doctor. If the doctor suspects an alcohol problem, he may ask that person a variety of questions, if the person answers in a certain way, the doctor may use a custom-designed question.
The following symptoms may point toward alcohol addiction:
1. Tolerance to alcohol – A person needs a large amount of alcohol to feel its effects. However, when the liver is damaged and unable to digest alcohol well, this tolerance may decrease.
2. Effects of not drinking – When a person avoids or cuts down on alcohol, they may experience tremors, insomnia, nausea, or anxiety. Usually, the person starts drinking more to avoid these symptoms.
3. Drinking more than thought – Individuals tend to drink more alcohol than they think or drink for a long period of time.
4. Unsuccessful attempts to cut down – The person constantly tries to cut down on alcohol consumption, but is not successful or has a persistent desire to give up alcohol.
5. Spending time – The person spends too much time acquiring, using, or giving up alcohol.
6. Withdrawal – the person withdraws from recreational, social, or professional activities.
7. Persistence – The person does not give up alcohol, however, he is aware that it is harming him physically and psychologically.
Tests for alcoholism
1. Blood tests – blood tests can only show recent alcohol consumption. If the blood test shows that there is an increase in the size of red blood cells in the body then it can be a sign of long-term alcohol consumption.
2. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) – This is a test that helps detect heavy alcohol consumption. This is also a blood test itself.
Alcoholism Treatment
The following remedies can help in quitting alcohol addiction:
1. Advice – A qualified counselor can help you by giving you ways to quit drinking based on your problems and then devise a plan to stop drinking.
2. Treating the Underlying Problems – An alcoholic may have low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, or some other mental health problem. It is also important to treat these problems.
3. Drugs that trigger a severe reaction to alcohol – There are also some medications that can cause severe reactions such as nausea, flushing; a feeling of warmth in the face, neck, ears, and trunk, vomiting, and headaches when drinking alcohol.
4. Medications for the urge to drink alcohol – Certain medications can help fight the urge to drink alcohol.
5. Detoxification – Certain medications are used to prevent the symptoms caused by not drinking alcohol. Its treatment lasts for four to seven days.
Risks & Complications of Alcoholism
What are the risk factors for alcohol addiction?
The following are the risk factors for alcohol addiction:
1. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis – Drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis can lead to physical dependence on alcohol.
2. Age – People who start drinking at a young age are at higher risk of developing alcohol addiction or physical dependence on it.
3. Family history – The risk of alcohol addiction is higher for people whose parents or other close relatives already have it.
4. Depression and other mental health problems – People who have certain problems, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, are more likely to develop alcohol addiction problems.
5. Social and cultural factors – Friends or close partners who regularly drink alcohol can increase your risk of alcohol addiction. Sometimes even the flashy ways of drinking that are portrayed in the media can send the message that it is okay to drink alcohol.
6. Drugs and alcohol – Some medicines interact with alcohol and increase its toxic effects. Drinking alcohol while taking these medicines can either increase or decrease its effectiveness or make it dangerous.
Complications of alcohol addiction
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to the following complications:
1. Fatigue – The person is tired most of the time.
2. Loss of memory – especially in the short-term memory of the person.
3. Weakness of eye muscles – The muscles of the eye can be very weak in a person.
4. Liver diseases – a person is more likely to get hepatitis and cirrhosis.
5. Gastrointestinal complications – a person may develop gastritis or damage to the pancreas.
6. High blood pressure – Regularly drinking too much alcohol can increase a person’s blood pressure.
7. Heart problems – Regular excessive drinking can lead to cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle), heart failure, and stroke.
8. Diabetes – Alcoholic drinkers are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
9. Menstrual problems – Drinking alcohol usually leads to menstrual problems.
10. Erectile dysfunction – Drinking alcohol can cause erectile dysfunction in men.
11. Infant Problems – Pregnant women who consume alcohol during pregnancy can have problems from birth to their babies.
12. Bone thinning – Individuals who drink alcohol have problems with bone thinning because alcohol interferes with the production of new bones. This means an increased risk of fracture.
13. Cancer – Drinking alcohol has a very high risk of getting many types of cancer.
14. Accidents – Drinking alcohol increases the chances of getting car accidents, injuries etc.
15. Work problems – employment problems, unemployment, and school problems are often alcohol-related.
16. Suicide – The number of people who commit suicide after drinking alcohol is very high.
17. Mental illness – Excessive use of alcohol increases the risk of mental illness and can worsen existing mental illnesses.