Stop Drinking Advice: Alcohol Is A Real Threat
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Society tends to aid in the development of alcoholism by making alcohol seem glamorous, showing that by drinking, you will become more popular, more glamorous and more worthy of respects from others. The physical effects of alcoholism are somewhat gruesome. Excessive in take and prolonged use of alcohol can cause serious disturbances in body chemistry. Many alcoholics exhibit swollen and tender livers. The prolonged use of large amounts of alcohol without adequate diet may cause serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholism also causes loss of muscular control. It is no exaggeration to suggest someone displaying any of these extreme signs should get help for their drinking problem. Treatment is available in many forms ranging from help from your GP to a stay in an alcohol recovery centre.
Generally speaking, the signs of alcoholism are unclear to many people. It is not unusual to have questions as to what alcohol dependency is exactly, how is different from alcohol abuse, and when an individual should look for treatment due to their drinking problem. The following information will provide you with the answer to these questions and many others you many have. Alcoholism addiction (also known as alcohol dependence) is characterized by several signs: Cravings - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. Loss of control - The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence - Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance - The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high.
Stopping alcohol completely is usually best if you are, or have been, alcohol dependent. Also, if you have a condition due to alcohol such as liver damage. Otherwise, reducing to a safe level of drinking is an option. (A note of caution: do not stop alcohol suddenly if you are alcohol dependent. Some withdrawal effects can be severe. It is best to cut down gradually and then stop, or see your doctor about a ‘detox’.) If you are trying to cut down, some tips which may help include the following: Consider drinking low alcohol beers, or at least do not drink ’strong’ beers or lagers. Try pacing the rate of drinking. Perhaps alternate soft drinks with alcoholic drinks. Consider cutting back on types of social activity which involve drinking. Perhaps try different social activities where drinking is not a part. Perhaps reduce the number of days in the week where you go out to drink. Resist pressure from people who encourage you to drink more than you want to.
Problem (harmful) drinking: This is where you continue to drink heavily even though you have caused harm, or are causing harm or problems to yourself, family, or society. For example, you may: Have cirrhosis or another alcohol related condition. Binge drink and get drunk quite often. This may cause you to lose time off work, or behave in an antisocial way when you drink. But note: not everybody with problem drinking binges or gets drunk. Many people with an alcohol related condition such as cirrhosis drink small amounts frequently, but do not get drunk. Spend more money on alcohol than you can afford. Have problems with your relationships or at work because of your drinking. Many problem drinkers are not dependent on alcohol. They could stop drinking without withdrawal symptoms if they wanted to. But, for one reason or another, they continue to drink heavily.
Exercise, diet, hormones, stress: keeping up with all the health issues facing women is a challenge. Alcohol is yet another health issue for women. Drinking, even in small amounts, affects women differently than men. And heavy drinking, in some ways, is much more risky for women than it is for men. With any health issue, accurate information is key. There are times and ways to drink that are safer than others. Every woman is different. No amount of drinking is 100 percent safe, 100 percent of the time, for every individual woman. With this in mind, it’s important to know how alcohol can affect health and safety.
Young women in their 20’s and early 30’s are more likely to drink than older women. No one factor predicts whether a woman will have problems with alcohol, or at what age she is most at risk. However, there are some aspects of a woman’s life experience that seem to make problem drinking more likely. Heavy drinking and drinking problems among white women are most common in younger age groups. Among African American women, however, drinking problems are more common in middle age than youth. A woman’s ethnic origins-and the extent to which she adopts the attitudes of mainstream vs. her native culture-influence how and when she will drink.
Aging seems to reduce the body’s ability to adapt to alcohol. Older adults reach higher blood levels of alcohol even when drinking the same amount as younger people. This is due to an age-related decrease in the amount of body water in which alcohol is dispersed. Even at the same blood alcohol level, older adults feel some of the effects of alcohol more than younger people. Alcohol problems among older persons are often mistaken for other aging-related conditions. As a result, alcohol problems may be missed and untreated by health care providers, especially in older women.
