| Alcoholism can only be treated after the addiction to | | | | give some insight into how serious the problem is, but it |
| alcohol is dealt with. The medical profession regard | | | | doesn't indicate any problem that may have arisen due |
| alcoholism as being a disease and it is determined as | | | | to long term alcohol consumption. |
| being a physical or mental condition which has a | | | | Testing the kidneys, liver and for reduced testosterone |
| negative affect on the human body. The worst of | | | | levels (in men) will help to determine just how deep |
| which is death, although other conditions include | | | | alcohol has got into damaging our general health. Tests |
| discomfort, dysfunction, irregular behaviour, syndromes | | | | are also carried out on the red blood cells in seeing |
| and distress. | | | | how much larger they have become, this being |
| On the whole, as the disease's name would suggest, | | | | another serious symptom of alcoholism. Doctors will |
| alcoholism will do everything possible to make the | | | | also test for "carbohydrate-deficient transferring" also |
| patient continue consuming alcohol. You can compare | | | | know to be a symptom of excessive alcohol |
| the craving to alcohol with our basic need for water, | | | | consumption. |
| and it's so strong that not even a worsening health | | | | Treatment: The negative factor with alcoholics is that |
| pattern will stop the patient from drinking. Through pure | | | | they will always deny having alcohol addicted related |
| frustration, the patient will become more defiant and | | | | health problems. The main reason being that they |
| aggressive as the withdrawal symptoms kick in. It | | | | know quite well that it would lead to them having to |
| won't be long though before vital organ damage takes | | | | give up their daily dosage of alcohol. It is so important |
| the stage and then death will follow shortly. | | | | that family and friends insist on initiating treatment to |
| When it comes to actually looking for a cure to | | | | stop this terrible developing into something even more |
| alcoholism, guilt will play a major factor as the urge to | | | | damaging. There are several treatments available |
| drink alcohol starts earlier in the day and the quantities | | | | depending on each individual, although in general it will |
| increase with the hope of just forgetting the matter at | | | | consist of either an outpatient program or a residential |
| hand. This is the point when medical support should be | | | | inpatient treatment. |
| contemplated in order to cure alcoholism. | | | | Evaluating the Level of Dependence: The first step is |
| Screening and Diagnosis: At first the normal symptoms | | | | to determine the level of the patient's dependence to |
| of alcoholism such as memory loss, dyspepsia, pain | | | | alcohol. You may have not entirely lost your control |
| and weakness could actually be confused with similar | | | | over your craving for alcohol. In such a situation the |
| signs of old age. So a Doctor will confirm his | | | | treatment may start with counselling and brief |
| suspected diagnosis by prescribing a screen test as | | | | intervention. The supply of alcohol may have to be cut |
| well as the patient having to fill out a standard | | | | down to overcome its negative effects. |
| questionnaire. | | | | Intervention by Specialists: Normal practise involves |
| Withdrawal Symptoms: An alcoholic has a daily quota | | | | specialised alcohol addiction medics determining a |
| of drinks like a routine, and if you deny him alcohol at | | | | specific treatment strategy. This will of course include |
| any of these times, then he will suffer from withdrawal | | | | counselling with relative behaviour therapy, prevention |
| symptoms such as head aches, nausea, pains, and | | | | therapy, the identification of paranoidism and beliefs |
| other such symptoms. When this is happening, it should | | | | that lead to psychological stress, learning how to cope |
| be quite east to recognise, either by the alcoholic or | | | | with traumatic events, learning how to put mind over |
| somebody close. | | | | matter, behavioural modification techniques, the use of |
| Blood Alcohol Tests: Such tests are important for | | | | self-help manuals. Once all this has been put into |
| discovering what level of alcohol consumption we are | | | | practise then it is time for follow-up care in a treatment |
| dealing with at a particular point of time. This test can | | | | center. |