Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism

July 14, 2015

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism: The evidence of being an alcoholic

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism gives us the strength of working together in fighting all manner of drug and alcohol addiction.

Alcohol consumption is one of the most cherished practices during marry making across the globe, whether it is on occasions like wedding, birth parties, anniversaries or any other event where people are celebrating something. Besides that this substance is also commonly used for relaxation after a day’s long labour yet again others use it to hide their feelings. When they feel bad and are stressed for whatever reason they resort to alcohol for solace. In all these one is likely to be persuaded that alcohol is delivering good result to their respective users but is that really the case? Are you a user of alcohol? And how well do you understand the drink you take? In fact knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism will be very helpful for you to know whether you are on the right truck or not. This is what doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center wants to share with us in this article. We therefore request for your indulgence to stay on the link to get the necessary tools you need to make very important decision about alcohol intake.

Now back to the discussion, studies have established that alcoholism is actually the most severe form of drinking problem. Doctor Akoury explains that alcoholism is wide and it involves all the symptoms of alcohol abuse alongside with other elements like physical dependence on alcohol. It is therefore very important to note that if you rely on alcohol to function or feel physically compelled to drink then there is likelihood that you’re an alcoholic and action needs to be taken in good time. You can begin by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a one on one discussion about all your concerns. Now the following are some of the indicators of alcoholism.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism: Tolerance

Tolerance is the first major warning sign of alcoholism in any users’ life. Therefore if you are compelled into drinking a lot more than you used to in order to get cope or to feel relaxed or when you drink more than other people without getting drunk, then these are signs of tolerance, which can be early indicators or warning sign of alcoholism. Remember that tolerance comes in situations where, over a period of time, the user finds him or herself in need of more and more alcohol to feel the same effects they felt previously.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism: Withdrawal

Withdrawal is the second major warning sign of alcoholism. Therefore if you realized that you need a drink to fix your problem of the shakes in the morning, or you’re drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, then these are also indicators of alcoholism and a huge red flag for that matter. Remember that when you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away. The following are some of the withdrawal symptoms:

Anxiety or jumpiness
Shakiness or trembling
Sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Insomnia
Depression
Irritability
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Headache

Doctor Akoury says that in severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve more complicated problems like hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. It is very important to note that these symptoms can be dangerous and addressing them with your physician in good time is advisable. Therefore if this description suits your situation, then talk to your doctor to help you through the recovery process.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism: Other signs and symptoms of alcoholism

You’ve lost control over your drinking – You often drink more alcohol than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself you wouldn’t.

You want to quit drinking, but you can’t – You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your alcohol use, but your efforts to quit have been unsuccessful.

You have given up other activities because of alcohol – You’re spending less time on activities that used to be important to you (hanging out with family and friends, going to the gym, pursuing your hobbies) because of your alcohol use.

Alcohol takes up a great deal of your energy and focus – You spend a lot of time drinking, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. You have few if any interests or social involvements that don’t revolve around drinking.

You drink even though you know it’s causing problems – For example, you recognize that your alcohol use is damaging your marriage, making your depression worse, or causing health problems, but you continue to drink anyway.

Finally the problem of addiction is one that has been with us from time immemorial. The fact that this problem is that old doesn’t mean that it cannot be addressed to its logical conclusion. We appreciate that there are a lot of teething problems in dealing with substance abuse and more so to alcohol. But when you take the right direction and you engage the right professionals, you will succeed in eliminating this problem out of your life and that of your community. Speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury would be the starting point for you when it comes to matters addiction. Why do I say this, it will interest you to note that doctor Dalal Akoury seeing how drugs was ruining the societies across the globe, made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Up on scheduling for that appointment with her, she will evaluate your individual condition and put you on the right treatment that will help you reclaim your life back in the most professional way. Take that initial step of calling her today and you will live to tell the story of your complete revival.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism: The evidence of being an alcoholic

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction

July 13, 2015

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: Are you worried about the alcoholism?

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction is aimed at creating an awareness that will support preventive measures so that alcohol do not lead to block outs

I was walking along one of the street during my holiday and I was surprised at the name given to the street. Guest what, that street was called the pubs lane. Out of curiosity I decided to find out what was so special about this name and to my surprise, and as the name suggested, that was a liquor street. Both side of the street was drinking spots of about half a kilometer stretch. Not a single chemist for medicine, grocery shop, just bars and bars all through the 500 miters street. This left me wondering, was it the local authority policy to license drinking spot to one location! Being a writer about health articles I need to bring this to your attention, and I could see how alcohol was people’s little god in this street. It actually reminded me of the prevalence of alcoholism and drug addiction in most of our societies. Therefore I want to bring to your attention some of the realities around us. Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction should have been the concern of the authorities in this town because by licensing bars and pubs in one street like that, they were actually succeeding in elevating crime in that location of the town.

The only good thing that was evident with this street is that there were some health workers with their van offering the HIV test services to those who were willing to be tested and so I spoke to a few of these health workers and you could feel the pain of alcohol addiction. And so I want to raise certain concerns which doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center will help us to bring to perspective. Now looking at the happenings along this street I ask can alcoholism be treated?

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: Can alcoholism be treated?

Doctor Akoury says that strictly speaking, there is no ‘cure’ for alcoholism. My eyes frown at the revelation nonetheless she continued, there are lots of ways that you can overcome your dependency and achieve sobriety once you’ve identified your problem. I noted from her expression that the first step is identification of the problem. To her different types of alcoholism treatment work for different people and the most successful route will depend on the cause of the drinking problem. This gives me hopes that the street of pubs can be rehabilitated. But that a side, are you struggling with alcohol abuse? If you are, establish the problem and seek for help from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Akoury today and get your life back for greater productivity.

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: Quitting drinking

The hardest part of beating alcoholism is stopping drinking in the first place. Your GP will be able to help you with this. Almost all alcoholics will suffer some sort of withdrawal symptoms, ranging from mild shakes and nausea to delirium tremens (or DTs), which can be severe and even life threatening. If you’ve been a heavy drinker your GP may recommend that you’re admitted to hospital for the detox process so that your vital signs can be monitored. While there are very few dedicated NHS detox facilities there are several private clinics in nearly all the towns and cities around you, where you can get services conveniently. Remember that the detox process takes between three and seven days, and you may be given tranquilizers, such as diazepam (Valium), to help you through. After this, alcohol is no longer a predominantly physical or chemical need, but will often remain as a strong psychological desire.

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: How to stay sober?

The fact that you have stopped drinking is only half the battle worn, after this the problem of relapse will certainly be knocking from time to time. Anyway you need not to worry if it happens to you once or twice because it is bound to happen, how you deal with it is what matters most. Your GP will be able to offer medical help in the form of drugs that can help you overcome the cravings that come with alcoholism. These medications may include acamprosate calcium which helps to reduce cravings, naltrexone which blocks the effects of alcohol in the brain, and disulfiram which induces nausea, headaches and discomfort if you do drink. However, it should be noted that none of these is a ‘magic pill’ or cure for alcoholism. They simply provide help in overcoming the cravings experienced as you try to stop. A much more important factor is psychological support. Your GP may refer you to a counselor who will work with you to identify the root cause of your addiction, and help you deal with the stress, or other issues, which drove you into drinking in the first place.

There are also many support groups where fellow alcoholics support one and other in their battle with alcoholism. The most famous of these is Alcoholics Anonymous which holds meetings all over for people from all walks of life with all kinds of alcohol related problems. There are also support groups for the family and friends of alcoholics, such as Al-Anon to help them to cope with the difficult task of helping an alcoholic beat their addiction.

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: Can alcoholism be cured?

The short answer to the question of whether alcoholism can be ‘cured’ is likely to be no, in most cases. Once you’ve identified a problem with alcohol, the chances are that this will be with you for life. Even if you never actually drink again the risk of relapse will always be there if you do. However, the good news is that there is a great deal of help and support available, both physical and psychological, to conquer your dependence on alcohol and achieve sobriety. So with all these supports coming your way, you need not to suffer in silence, come out of your hiding place and face your problem head on for the betterment of your life with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today.

Raising concerns about dangers of alcohol addiction: Are you worried about the alcoholism?

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction

July 13, 2015

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Defeating the element of denial

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction will start with individuals decisions to make a difference by quitting and not toasting in parties.

Alcohol consumption has two sides of life, that is to say, it can either be the cause of a lot of good times to its users or on the other side, it can also be the cause of a lot of pain and suffering for many people beyond the direct users. I believe that when you hear that it can cause good times, you may be interested in knowing the good things that come with alcohol consumption. For the users yes there are those isolated good times but when you look at it professionally and from a medical point of view, alcohol has nothing to offer. What is felt by users is only temporal and survives as long as the alcohol is still in the body but the moment it subsides the problems of withdrawal begins. So in essence there is nothing good about alcohol consumption. That is why we are determined to finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction from the root course. This problem is one that has been on the surface of the earth from ancient time and several researches done so far suggests that alcoholism affects millions of people globally and the statistics is even worrying. From the statistics the number suffering from alcohol related consequences is ranging between 15 – 30 million people at any given time. Doctor Akoury a veteran addiction expert says that the effects of having too much to drink can be absolutely devastating to one’s life. She is going to share with us a few insights so that anyone who is currently suffering from alcoholism can get the requisite knowledge that will help them overcome the daring addiction scourge. Remember that all the problems relating to drug addiction and alcohol abuse in particular will be well taken care of at her founded facility(AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center). The following are some of the few tips on how to deal with alcohol addiction.

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Recognize there is a Problem

The first thing that every patient must consent to is that of acknowledgement of the problem. When this is done, the next step would desire to seek for help. Of course at the back of your mind you must have realize is that an alcohol addiction is extremely dangerous not just for your health, but even for the health of your loved ones. Alcoholism is considered by many experts to be a drug addiction. Doctor Akoury warns that with every drink taken, the user is actually killing his or her brain cell and body cells gradually. You may not notice the gravity of danger you are exposing your health to, but this will become evident progressively as you continue into the bad habit of drinking this unhealthy substance. The best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones is to acknowledge the problem and begin walking the journey of finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction.

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Talk to someone about it

Having accepted that you have a problem that needs to be solved, it is important to appreciate that you cannot do it all alone. Therefore begin by sharing with someone you can trust. Talking about it is very healthy and it is a very fundamental treatment procedure when it comes to the treatment of an addiction. Therefore of you have accepted the situation, try to talking to someone that is close to you possibly a friend or a relative. Tell them about the discovery you have made in your life and that you need their help. Majority of people have alcohol addictions because they do not want to face other problems in their life. It may help you to clear your mind by venting to someone who wants to listen to you. Do not take this for granted, it is very important for your recovery process.

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Get Treatment

Eventually, you may want to take steps to find an alcohol addiction treatment centre. It may be to your advantage to find a treatment centre where you can live during treatment. This will help you in many ways. You may be able to be provided with medication that can help ease withdrawal symptoms. You will also most likely be monitored for any medical problems that you might encounter during recovery. It can be hard to know how to deal with alcohol addiction. But the most important step is the first one – recognizing that there is a problem and beginning the healing process. Remember that addiction is a disease possibly more worse than any other you have known. That is why doctor Akoury found it necessary to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. With is kind of information, you will be able to find solutions to all your addiction problems to alcohol.

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Overcoming alcoholism

Like i had indicated before that the first step in treating alcoholism just like all other addiction problems is the acknowledgement of the problem in the first place. Unless a person understands that their drinking has reached problem levels there is little chance that they’ll have the desire and the drive needed to overcome the problem. Often it takes the intervention of family and friends to force the person to face the fact that they’re drinking too much. If you’re unsure whether or not you have a drink problem, you should ask yourself the four questions of the CAGE Questionnaire:

Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
Have you ever felt annoyed by other people questioning your drinking?
Have you ever felt guilty about drinking?
Have you ever felt the need to drink first thing in the morning to face the day?

If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, then chances are you have an alcohol dependency problem. If this is you I am now addressing, then I want to introduce you to the home of experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. This is the place of real time solution for all manner of addiction complications. All you need is to call doctor Akoury to schedule for your appointment today.

Finding lasting solutions towards alcohol addiction: Defeating the element of denial

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking

July 13, 2015

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking: What is alcohol?

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking is a perfect opportunity for people not to make dangerous mistakes that can affect them and their generations to come

The better way of understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking can be found in the clear definition of the substance. In simple terms alcohol is a drug by all standards. It is derived from the fermentation of sugar by yeast. It is important to appreciate that the main psychoactive ingredient in alcoholic drinks is the ethanol, or ethyl alcohol. Therefore on consumption of alcohol, the ethanol element dissolves quickly in water and is absorbed into the blood streams. Up on the dissolution in just a short term and in smaller doses, it acts on the receptors of the brain to make users feel uninhibited and provides and provides a general sense of well-being. From the experts point of view when an individual drinking becomes more often, with time alcohol will starts to affect the general balance and the speech center of the brain. This therefore means that if you drink regularly, the brain’s receptors adapt to the alcohol and prompting the need for higher doses to cause the same effect. This is what then causes one to be addicted to the substance according to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD and the founder of the establishment. Doctor Akoury says that it is important to appreciate that alcohol is a depressant and instead of acting as a stimulant, it is likely to have the opposite effects on the individual abusers of the substance.

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking: What happens when you drink alcohol?

Alcohol is quickly soaked up through the lining of the stomach and the upper part of the gut (intestine) and into your blood stream. The higher the concentration of alcohol, the faster it will be absorbed like for instance elements like whisky will be faster than beer. From there the journey continues to the liver and then to other organs of the body tissues. However the brain will be affected specifically by the flow of alcohol which acts on the central nervous system to alter your physical coordination and mental judgments.

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking: What happens to the liver if you drink too much?

It is important to note that the function of the liver is not to store alcohol. Its role is to metabolize (processes) about 90% of the alcohol you drink to eliminate it from your body. It then breaks down the alcohol into water, gas (carbon dioxide) and fat. However with the central nervous system the liver becomes the biggest casualty from alcohol consumption. This is because the liver can only handle up to a certain amount of alcohol in any given time (one unit an hour). Meaning that if you are drinking quickly, your liver cells will have to work overtime to process the alcohol. When this is more than the liver can handle, the excess is transported to the rest of your organs. And for this to be done, the liver will need water to be effective in its delivery. Nonetheless, since alcohol acts as a diuretic, it dehydrates the body thereby forcing the liver to divert water from other sources.

Remember that when the liver is processing alcohol, it produces a substance called acetaldehyde. This has a toxic effect on the liver itself, as well as the brain and stomach lining. This is what causes your hangover. Acetaldehyde is subsequently broken down into chemical called acetate, which is broken down further into carbon dioxide and water outside the liver. Therefore the heavy drinkers can strain or disrupt this process which is likely to cause some live infections.

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking: What are the recommended safe limits of alcohol drinking?

Even though alcohol is not good for your health, people will always consume this substance. Therefore to put some ceilings scientific research has established that consumption of alcohol is very much different in terms of gender as follows:

Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week (and no more than four units in any one day).

Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week (and no more than three units in any one day).

Pregnant women – There is no known safety consumption of alcohol when it comes to pregnant women. Therefore doctor Akoury’s advice is that pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant should not drink at all. If you do choose to drink when you are pregnant then limit it to one or two units, once or twice a week however it would be healthy for you and your baby if you abstain from drinking completely.

In general, the more you drink above the safe limits, the more harmful alcohol is likely to be. And remember, binge drinking can be harmful even though the weekly total may not seem too high. For example, if you only drink once or twice a week, but when you do you drink 4-5 pints of beer each time, or a bottle of wine each time, then this is a risk to your health. Also, even one or two units can be dangerous if you drive, operate machinery, or take some types of medication.

Finally we know that the effects of alcohol can be very devastating, and we also know that once you have started drinking, stopping can be very difficult. These are known facts and if they are your point of concern, then you are justified. The good news about all these concerns is that, they are doable. If you or any one you know is struggling with alcohol abuse, then this is the right place to be for the commencement of your recovery treatment. All that stands between you and your total recovery is that one phone call to doctor Dalal Akoury. Call her today to schedule for an appointment and you will never regret it all the days of your life.

Understanding the nature of alcohol and drinking: What is alcohol?

Social and economic cost of alcohol abuse

July 13, 2015

Social and economic cost of alcohol abuse: The impact of drug addiction

Social and economic cost of alcohol abuse is touching every individual irrespective of race, religion, status or education background

Even though we are all aware of the consequences of misusing alcohol, it is regrettable that users of this substances particularly those that abuse its usage are still deeply rooted in their habit of misuse. The various authorities entrusted with ensuring safety of their subject are not doing enough either to remedy the situation. All that they do is to use these harmful substances as sources of income by levying heavy taxes under the pretext of making the substance out of reach to many due to the high cost. While this formula may be working on one hand, it may not on the other hand because not only those who can afford the high cost alcohol do take the drink. In fact majority of the alcohol abusers are those low income people. This can only mean that increasing the levies is not a lasting solution to the problem of alcohol abuse. Because of this fact, we are prompted to discuss the social and economic cost of alcohol abuse in our societies. To help us address this professionally we posed these two questions to doctor Dalal Akoury for guidance:

What is the link between alcohol and violence between partners?
What are the estimated economic and social costs?

Before we get into the discussion, doctor Dalal Akoury is a veteran expert in addiction and seeing the suffering of both the young and the old in the hands of drugs, she made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. It is important to appreciate that for any meaningful treatment of any kind of addiction, prevention and underlying causes must be established before the commencement of any treatment. This way we will be able to address the future problems before they happen and that is what doctor Akoury is championing for. I really don’t know what you may be going through, but if it is anything to do with any kind of substance abuse, then this is the place to be (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care). You can therefore schedule for an appointment with her today and she will professionally attend to all your concerns, leaving you with a more vibrant life a head of you to live it to the fullest.

Social and economic cost of alcohol abuse: What is the link between alcohol and violence between partners?

The discussion about social economic cost of alcohol abuse will not be over until its effect on the family unit is properly addressed. This is because the role that alcohol is playing in several disputes and disagreements that culminates to domestic violence incidences is very substantial. The problem of domestic violence is always compounded in the event that the partner abusing the substance in that relationship is the husband. However in most of the recorded cases, both the offender and the victim have been drinking. Experts are actually in agreement that the relationship between alcohol and violence is very complex even though the precise role of alcohol remains unclear. Excessive misuse of alcohol has been in many occasions associated with violence between partners and by extension to a lesser extent to violence towards others besides the family. This is possibly because proximity increases the opportunities for violence.

Experts have been busy conducting various studies across the globe with a view of trying to find the connection between the incidences of domestic violence and alcohol consumption. The findings have been very interesting, like for instance in one of the studies conducted in Uganda east Africa, it was established that up to 52% of the women who recently experienced domestic violence were very categorical that their partners had consumed alcohol prior to the incidence while in India Asia it was established that up to 33% of abusing husbands were also using alcohol. Therefore doctor Akoury is recommending that based on these facts, it is very important that we need to understand the possible role of alcohol intoxication or dependence in the processes through which incidents escalate into violence. With this knowledge, we will be able to address some of these situations and possibly even prevent them from happening all together. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are saying that even though as things stand right now, there is no doubt that alcohol consumption has many social consequences, nevertheless to get a more concrete and solidify comparisons between nations, a more quantifiable data is needed to enable the success of the end result.

Social and economic cost of alcohol abuse: The estimated economic and social costs of alcohol use

Individual states are making very strong efforts to ascertain the exact estimate of the overall economic and social costs of alcohol use. This will take a while to conclude and tabled because of the different dynamics of different countries. Nonetheless social and economic costs under normal circumstances will cover the negative economic impacts of alcohol consumption on the material welfare of the society in general. They comprise both direct costs which are the value of goods and services delivered to address the harmful effects of alcohol, and the indirect costs which is the value of personal productive services that are not delivered as a consequence of drinking. In industrialized countries, estimates of social and economic costs of alcohol use can reach several percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ranging for instance from 1.1% in Canada to 5-6% in the case of Italy. Estimates of social and economic costs can help:

Make the case for public policies on alcohol,
Target policies and public expenditure on the most important problems (e.g. the costs of alcohol versus other psychoactive drugs such as tobacco),
Identify information gaps,
Assess the effectiveness of policies and programs against alcohol abuse.

Finally estimating the costs of the impact of alcohol on the material welfare of society is often difficult and requires estimates of the social costs of treatment, prevention, research, law enforcement, lost productivity and some measure of years and quality of life lost. All these put together can only mean that the impact of drug addiction and in our case study of social and economic cost of alcohol abuse is not anything to take lightly. When one notices any kind of addiction, prompt action must be taken. You can therefore schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for help today.

Tag Archives: alcoholism