Alcoholism Facts
Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal disease.
In Ireland and all throughout Europe, there is an ongoing problem of alcoholism.
One of the best ways to be armed against alcoholism in yourself or another is through information.
There are three stages of alcoholism. The first stage is drinking socially to help you feel relaxed. The second stage is thinking of drinking all the time in a way where it interferes with work, school, and your relationships. The third stage is physical dependency when experiencing withdrawal symptoms for days or weeks. See functional alcoholism.
Ethyl is the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic drinks. Ethyl alcohol is made from fermented yeast, sugar, starches from grains, fruits, vegetables, and plants. By drinking heavily, you are overwhelming the liver and goes to every organ in the body which is what makes you drunk.
Men and women are affected by alcohol differently. Women absorb more alcohol and metabolize it slowly, making them at greater risk for long-term damage. Men drink excessively and also engage in high-risk behaviours which can lead to death and hospitalization.
Alcohol withdrawals can be very dangerous. The nerve cells become agitated which can cause delirium tremens which can lead to seizures.
It takes half an hour to feel the effects of alcohol. It may take an hour to metabolize the drink but it takes half an hour before the effects kick in. More than one drink every thirty minutes means you are drinking too much too fast.
Alcohol is considered a depressant. Alcohol can act as a depressant not just psychologically but physically as well. It can slow down breathing, impair thinking, and relaxes the muscles. When your speech is slurred, having slow reaction time, and a lack of coordination means that alcohol is depressing the central nervous system.
When you drink, you lose more liquids than you gain. While you may be drinking liquids, you can lose a lot through frequent urination as well as vomiting. Dehydration can cause headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, insomnia, and irritability.
Going to sleep is the worst thing to do when you are intoxicated. If you lie down and you vomit, this can cause you to choke and die. Make sure that you are lying on your side with your head tilted to the side as well. As soon as you feel drowsy, someone should get you to the emergency room to avoid alcohol poisoning.
The strongest factor in alcoholism is family history. Alcoholism can come from the genes passed down from your parents as well as the environment your parents raised you in which can impact how you respond to treatment options as well. More.
Smarmore Castle Private Clinic in County Louth, near Dublin, was founded in 1988 as a residential rehabilitation hospital treating people suffering from drug and alcohol purposes. Smarmore Castle believes in helping patients lead a life of abstinence through 12 Step programs, detox and medical treatment, psychotherapy, and complementary therapies. For more information, please call +353 41 214 5111. For those who live out of the country, the international number is 00353 41 214 5111.
