Alcoholism Facts

Alcoholism facts reveal alcoholism is a serious and sometimes deadly disease that can affect all kinds of people. When a person experiences alcoholism, their body becomes dependent on alcohol and he/she loses control of his/her drinking. Many people who are alcoholics have trouble controlling when they drink, how much they drink or how often they consume alcohol. The repercussions of alcoholism usually result in problems with family, relationships, finances, work and/or health. There are about 17.6 million adults in the United States that are alcoholics, according to recent alcoholism facts. Keep reading to find out more about alcoholism facts including symptoms, complications and treatment options.

Alcoholism symptoms:
There are many different symptoms associated with alcoholism. It affects some worse than others. Others are also more genetically inclined to become alcoholics. Some of these alcoholism symptoms include:

• Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you consume
• Feeling a strong need to drink alcohol
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol so that you need to drink more to feel its effects
• Experiencing problems with relationships, work, finances or the law because of excessive drinking
• Drinking alone or having to hide your drinking habits
• Experience withdrawal symptoms if you don’t drink like nausea, sweating and shaking
• Drinking to feel “normal”

Alcoholism Complications:
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can cause serious health issues, according to many alcoholism facts. Some of the complications associated with alcoholism include depression, an increase in violent behavior or tendencies, poor performance at work or school, motor vehicle accidents or other types of accidents that can easily occur under impaired judgment. Other types of health problems that result from alcoholism include liver disorders. Excessive and long-term drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. Digestive problems with the lining of the stomach can result from excessive drinking. Damage to the pancreas, the heart and sexual functions are also the result of alcoholism. If experiencing alcoholism while pregnant, there is a strong likelihood of birth defects in the baby. Alcoholism facts also cover the fact that this chronic disease leads to bone loss, neurological complications as well as an increase in some types of cancer. With so many risk factors and complications, it is vital for those experiencing alcoholism symptoms and issues to get medical and professional help right away to prevent the serious and sometimes deadly complications of alcoholism.

Alcoholism Treatment:
There are many different options when it comes to alcoholism treatment. It varies depending on what is needed for the alcoholic, some people respond better to one kind treatment while others do better with a different alcoholism treatment option. For some counseling and therapy groups are the best treatment. Many alcoholics first begin drinking as an effort to cope with emotional issues. The counseling form of treatment can help battle these inner demons, and help the person suffering from alcoholism resolve the issue that got them drinking in the first place. By doing this, they may be less likely to relapse. The alcoholism facts also point out that many alcoholics have more successful treatments with oral medications like Antabuse. These oral or injected medications can help them to battle the physical dependency of alcohol by reducing the urge to drink and causing negative repercussions of using alcohol while taking Antabuse. Some alcoholics are so severely affected that they may need to take advantage of a program like a residential treatment center. Having their entire day devoted to beating the alcoholism, with the help of experienced and professional staff, can help increase the success of the alcoholism treatment. It is best to do research to find out which treatment option is best for the alcoholic to use in order to ensure a successful outcome.

Sources: mayoclinic.com, nlm.nih.gov