Alcoholism Signs and Symptoms
Alcohol addiction influences numerous aspects of an individual’s life, including financial, physical, emotional and social matters. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), over 18 million Americans are struggling with an alcohol abuse problem.
As indicated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) alcohol abuse or alcohol use disorder is characterized as having in excess of a specific measure of alcoholic drinks in a single event.
Symptoms of Alcoholism
There are different warning signs to help identify potential alcohol abuse. While numerous signs are identifiable, others might be increasingly hard to recognize.
Gone untreated, alcohol abuse can get worse. At the point when alcohol abuse starts to adversely affect an individual’s life and causes any damage, it is known as alcohol use disorder (AUD). Identifying the signs of alcohol abuse and getting appropriate treatment can have a critical effect on somebody’s recovery process.
Physical Symptoms & Signs of Alcohol overconsumption and intoxication
- Slurred or indistinguishable speech
- Stomach pains, vomiting or nausea
- Redness of the face amid or after consumption
- Poor balance and uneasy
- Deferred reflexes
- Loss of awareness
Psychological symptoms of Alcohol abuse
- Experiencing impermanent blackouts or momentary memory loss
- Extreme mood swings and irritation
- Finding reasons to drink
- Choosing to drink over duties and commitments
- Becoming disconnected and far off from loved ones
- Being secretive about drinking
How to make sure it’s Alcoholism?
There are a few screening tools that can help determine if someone has alcohol use disorder. One of them is a CAGE. This is a questionnaire that estimates the severity of a drinking problem. In the event that you answer “yes” to at least two CAGE questions, you should look for expert medicinal help.
The four CAGE screening questions are:
1) Have you at any point felt you should eliminate your drinking?
2) Have individuals irritated you by censuring your drinking?
3) Have you at any point felt terrible or regretful about your drinking?
4) Have you at any point had a drink before anything else in the morning to stable your nerves or get over a hangover?
Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcoholism
Defiance is one of the primary reasons why a large number of individuals don’t get treatment for alcoholism. A few people will attempt to defend their drinking practices. For example, you may accuse other individuals or certain conditions for drinking.
Without proper medical advice or supervision, individuals who are in long-term alcohol abuse and addiction are prone to serious medical outcomes. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms manifest complex addictive disease and ought not to be denied.
- Tremors, seizures, or uncontrolled shaking of the hands (or even the whole body)
- Persistent insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Profuse sweating, even in cold conditions
- Tremendous anxiety
- Nausea or vomiting
In general, medical detox is required to carefully withdraw from heavy drinking. Alcohol detoxification poses more prominent withdrawal symptoms than any other drug. Abrupt discontinuance of alcohol consumption can induce a situation called delirium tremens which can also result in an individual’s death.
Impact of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Addiction
Long-term alcohol abuse presents extraordinary risks to an alcoholic’s mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. This may also lead to an individual’s profession, loved ones; alcoholism can cause permanent damage to the body:
- Liver
- Heart
- Stomach
- Nervous System
- Brain
There are other medical side effects caused by alcoholism. Some of the common medical side effects include:
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Osteoporosis, particularly in women
- Sexual problems
- Stomach problems
Apart from the physical and mental symptoms, alcoholism may also cause social problems in an individual’s life. Being drunk at work may cause loss of job, leading a person and his family into a financial constraint. Further, alcohol misuse has been demonstrated to have caused domestic violence, conflicts in marriage, legal issues and segregation from friends and family.
How does alcohol work on the body?
Alcohol is a depressant on the central nervous system. Most strikingly, alcohol works by binding to GABA receptors in the brain and stimulating the release of inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
About AKUA Mind and Body
88,000 people die each year due to alcohol-related causes, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that alcohol is the fourth-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.
If someone you know who is looking for details about a reliable alcohol addiction treatment center in the USA, Akua Mind and Body is a widely acclaimed substance abuse recovery treatment center in California. At AKUA, we provide personalized inpatient alcohol rehab treatment plans that will foster the exceptional needs of our clients and help them overcome alcohol addiction. To learn more about our treatment programs, please call on our 24/7 Admissions helpline at 833-AKUA-NOW for a confidential assessment.
