What is alcoholism?
Alcohol dependence syndrome, or alcohol use disorder, commonly known as alcoholism, is a chronic and multifactorial disease. That is, several factors contribute to its development, including the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption, the individual's health condition, and genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors.
According to the World Health Organization, alcoholism is characterized by "a set of behavioral, cognitive, and physiological phenomena that develop after repeated alcohol use, typically associated with different symptoms."
What are the symptoms/signs of excessive drinking?
The higher the concentration of alcohol in the blood, the more severe the changes in consciousness and the symptoms of alcohol intoxication can be: The symptoms of excessive alcohol consumption are diverse and include:
- nausea
- Sweats
- Memory lapses
- depression and/or excitement
- headache
- dehydration
- Lack of coordination
- Slow reflexes
- Vertigo
- double vision
- Loss of balance
On the other hand, alcohol dependence can manifest itself through the following signs:
- inability to reduce alcohol consumption
- development of its tolerance, which requires a higher intake to obtain the same effect
- physical sensation of withdrawal with tremors
- Reduction of inhibition
- lack of physical and speech coordination
What are the risk factors for developing alcohol dependence?
Some risk factors for the development of alcohol dependence have been identified:
- Regular consumption: over time, which generates a physical dependence
- Age: The earlier you start, the higher the risk of developing addiction
- Family history: the risk is higher when there are close family members with the same addiction
- depression and other mental problems, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder
How is alcoholism diagnosed?
In order for the diagnosis to result in treatment, it is important that the patient is aware that he or she has excessive alcohol consumption. It is then essential to do:
- Evaluation of daily consumption
- Clinical analysis
- abdominal ultrasound
- liver biopsy
- other complementary tests to determine other associated complications
How does alcohol consumption work in the body?
A few minutes after ingestion, alcohol enters the bloodstream, where it can remain for hours, exerting its action on various organs. Alcohol works by blocking the functioning of the brain system responsible for controlling inhibitions, which means that, at first, you may feel euphoric, joyful and with a false self-confidence.
After the initial feeling of euphoria and disinhibition, a state follows that decreases the ability to understand, pay attention and react, affects vision with blurred vision, causes drowsiness and muscle incoordination and may give rise to some irritability.
In excessive doses, it can induce coma or cause death.
What are the main complications of excessive alcohol consumption?
Alcoholism has several negative effects on physical and mental health, which most of the time cause serious damage in the various contexts in which the person moves, whether they are work, family or social. Thus, the main complications are related to:
- risk of intoxication
- risk of cancer
- sleep disorders
- menstrual disorders
- sexual problems, such as infertility or erectile dysfunction
- liver diseases such as cirrhosis
- weakening of the immune system and potential increase in communicable diseases
- fetal alcohol syndrome, in case of pregnancy
- Risk of intentional and unintentional injury
- risk of depression, dementia and other conditions affecting mental health
In addition, excessive alcohol consumption is also related to social exclusion, traffic accidents and aggressive behaviour.
What is the treatment of alcoholism?
The primary goal of alcoholism treatment is to achieve a stable and definitive deprivation (abstinence) of alcohol consumption. For this, it is essential that there is medical follow-up, since several areas of intervention may be necessary. This treatment process may involve:
- Detox Plan
- oral or injectable medications
- Psychological counseling
- Support Groups
- rehabilitation
It is very important that the patient remains committed to the treatment process, since the sudden cessation of consumption, and without medical monitoring, can lead to withdrawal syndrome.
What is withdrawal syndrome?
Withdrawal syndrome is a characteristic set of signs and symptoms that occur after stopping (or reducing) the consumption of addictive substances, including alcohol.
This syndrome can trigger symptoms such as:
- Tremors
- Sweats
- nausea
- Vomiting
- irritability
- anxiety
- headache
Where can I receive support to quit my alcohol dependence?
If you want to fight alcohol dependence, or help someone overcome their addiction, you should contact your treating doctor or family nurse.
Source: SICAD – Service for Intervention in Addictive Behaviors and Dependencies