| Overview of alcoholism and its causes, symptoms and | | | | alcoholism lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a |
| treatment. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and | | | | predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for |
| sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and | | | | developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's |
| historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that | | | | genes and by his or her lifestyle.Signs and |
| results in the continued consumption of alcoholic | | | | symptomsBefore treatment or recovery, most people |
| beverages despite the health problems and negative | | | | with alcoholism deny that they have a drinking problem. |
| social consequences it causes. Medical definitions | | | | Other indications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse |
| describe alcoholism as a disease which results in a | | | | include: * Drinking alone or in secret * Being |
| persistent use of alcohol despite negative | | | | unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink * |
| consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a | | | | Not remembering conversations or commitments, |
| preoccupation with or compulsion toward the | | | | sometimes referred to as "blacking out" * Making |
| consumption of alcohol and/or an impaired ability to | | | | a ritual of having drinks before, with or after dinner and |
| recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol | | | | becoming annoyed when this ritual is disturbed or |
| consumption.CausesAlcoholism is a type of drug | | | | questionedMedical TreatmentA team of professionals |
| addiction. There is both physical and psychological | | | | is often needed to treat the alcoholic. The physician |
| dependence with this addiction. Physical dependence | | | | usually plays a key role in medical stabilization and |
| reveals itself by withdrawal symptoms when alcohol | | | | facilitating treatment entry, but others are routinely |
| intake is interrupted, tolerance to the effects of alcohol, | | | | needed beyond the initial management (for example, |
| and evidence of alcohol-associated illnesses.Alcohol | | | | alcoholism counselors, social workers, family therapists, |
| affects the central nervous system as a depressant, | | | | psychologists, and pastoral counselors).Treatment of |
| resulting in a decrease of activity, anxiety, tension, and | | | | the alcoholic can be divided into 3 stages. Initially, the |
| inhibitions. Even a few drinks can result in behavioral | | | | person has to be medically stabilized. Next, he or she |
| changes, a slowing in motor performance, and a | | | | must undergo a detoxification process, followed by |
| decrease in the ability to think clearly. Concentration | | | | long-term abstinence and rehabilitation.Is alcoholism |
| and judgment become impaired. In excessive amounts, | | | | inherited? Research shows that the risk for developing |
| intoxication may result.Alcohol also affects other body | | | | alcoholism runs in families. The genes a person inherits |
| systems. Irritation of the gastrointestinal tract can occur | | | | partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. |
| with erosion of the lining of the esophagus and | | | | Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how |
| stomach causing nausea and vomiting, and possibly | | | | readily available alcohol is also are factors that may |
| bleeding. Vitamins are not absorbed properly, which | | | | increase your risk for alcoholism. But remember: Risk is |
| can lead to nutritional deficiencies with the long-term | | | | not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in |
| use of alcohol. Liver disease, called alcoholic hepatitis, | | | | families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent |
| may also develop and can progress to cirrhosis. The | | | | will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some |
| heart muscle may be affected.Is alcoholism a disease? | | | | people develop alcoholism even though no one in their |
| Yes. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can | | | | family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not |
| be as strong as the need for food or water. An | | | | all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with |
| alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, | | | | alcohol. |
| health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, | | | | |