Alcoholism may be best described as a kind of illness caused by drinking of alcoholic beverages to extents that interferes with the individuals physical health, mental health as well as his family or social occupational responsibilities.
The entire phenomenon of alcoholism may be divided into two basic categories:
a) Dependence People with alcohol dependence are known to suffer from the severest of alcohol disorders.
b) Abuse- Alcohol abusers may have legal problems such as drinking and driving. These individuals may also suffer from binge drinking that refers to the habit of drinking six or more drinks at one sitting.
Symptoms of Alcoholism:
The most common forms of symptoms associated with Alcoholism are:
Drinking alone
Making excuses to drink
Need of frequent use of alcohol for adequate function
Shaking in the morning
Abdominal pain
Sudden episodes of violence after getting drunk
Negligence in intake of food
Nausea and vomiting
Numbness an tingling
Tremors and seizures leading to hallucinations or confusion.
Any individual suffering from these should join rehabilitation centers or should
seek professional medical help.
Signs and tests
Alcoholics should undergo through a various tests conducted by physicians in
determining the condition of the suffering patients. The common test programs
include:
A toxilogy screen or blood alcohol level confirms the condition of the
alcoholic.
Liver function tests- This method includes testing of blood counts or the
size, volume of the blood corpuscles.
Available treatment for the alcoholics
Rehabilitation programs and medications are essential in trading the alcohol
habits of the people. The most common medications available are:
Naltrexone used to reduce alcohol cravings.
Disulfiram stops alcohol taking habits by producing unpleasant side effects on
the slightest of drinking.
Acomprosate that lowers relapse rates in those who are alcohol dependent.
