WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Many people can stop drinking after one or two beers or
glasses of wine, vodka, whiskey, or other alcoholic beverages.
Some people, however, can't stop, and are at great risk of
alcoholism. Alcoholism affects both your body and your
life. Excessive drinking over a long period can lead to
dependency--so great a need for alcohol that you will become
physically ill if you abruptly stop drinking. Constant
drunkenness can lead to loss of job and family, serious
accidents, and arrest. Large amounts of alcohol consumed year
after year also result in severe damage to the liver, brain,
and heart. Without treatment, an alcoholic faces increasing
illness and a needlessly early death.
Causes
The cause of alcoholism is unknown. It may be present
from birth. If women drink while they are pregnant, their
infants can be born with fetal alcohol syndrome, a serious
condition that affects the development of their brains and may
cause serious illness.
Signs/Symptoms
Tip-offs of an alcohol problem
include the need to drink more and more to get the same feeling
or ""buzz,'' drinking daily until you get drunk, drinking in
the morning and whenever you feel stress, and hiding the amount
you drink. Alcoholics often react with guilt and anger when
other people say something about their drinking. Drinking
starts to control their lives; they may skip work or drive
drunk. Another typical symptom: insomnia and bad dreams.
As the problem gets worse, alcoholics begin to have blackouts,
forgetting where they were and what they were doing. Other
possible symptoms include liver, stomach, pancreas, and heart
problems. Deprived of a drink, they may develop the condition
called delirium tremens (DTs). Typical symptoms include shaking
hands; sweating; nervousness, confusion, or depression;
hallucinations, and seizures.
Care
Your doctor may give you a checkup to see if you have any
other illnesses or injuries. Therapy may include a drug that
makes you sick when you drink. You also may need treatment for
withdrawal symptoms; and your doctor will probably ask you to
see a counselor or join a support group.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
If you have been abusing alcohol, the first step to
quitting is to admit you have a problem. Be honest and open
with family and close friends. Ask for their
help.
-
Stay away from people who use and abuse alcohol and
who encourage others to drink.
-
The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program can provide you
with essential support. Take advantage of
it.
-
Get the help of a counselor and keep seeing him or
her.
-
Don't give up. It can take many months or years of
treatment for some people to stop
drinking.
-
Eat a healthy diet, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a
day, and get plenty of rest.
-
Find new things to do. Get out of the house every
day. Go for walks outside.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You cannot fight the need to drink alcohol. Call your
doctor, a counselor, friend, or family member you trust
RIGHT AWAY.
-
You feel your problems are getting the best of you
and you can't deal with them on your
own.
-
You get an upset stomach and start
vomiting.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
You have severe chest pain, sweating, or trouble
breathing.
-
You get a severe pain in your head or stomach or
develop pain, a numb or prickly feeling, or burning in your
arms or legs.
-
You have hallucinations, pass out, or have a
seizure.
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