Treating Alcohol Withdrawal

What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal occurs when an alcoholic person is suppressed from drinking alcohol. Suppressing it abruptly will create a combination of physiologic and psychologic response that is manifested by the alcoholic person

What Causes It?

Alcohol withdrawal are common in adult who are obsessed with alcohol intake. It may also happen to the puberty stage in which teenagers are starting to explore their independence and get too used to drinking alcohol. The main cause of it is sudden termination of the alcohol which the body of the alcoholic cannot tolerate. Consistent intake of alcohol in large amounts can distort a person and may ruin his ability to carry out his daily tasks.

A person can be considered Alcoholic which is described as excessively divulging alcohol when the amount of alcohol intake that he or she takes in in a day would already reach 2-6 pints of beer per day, that’s 4 oz of alcohol.

Things To Be Careful About

Health providers can check for these signs and symptoms to confirm whether the person being assessed is indeed experiencing withdrawal:

Tachycardia (fast heartbeat, >100 beats per minute)

Tachypnea ( fast respiration >20 cycles per minute)

Pyrexia (Increase in temperature)

Arrythmias (abnormal heart beats)

Hand and body tremors

Anormal eye movement

Internal bleeding

Dehydration

Impaired liver function

A confirmatory test that would screen the blood can be performed as well.

Treatment

The goal in treating every alcoholic is to provide immediate relief from the symptoms brought about by alcohol withdrawal. By doing so, further complications can be prevented and a long term rehabilitative therapy can be started.

Hospital stay is most probable for persons who are undergoing the treatment for alcohol withdrawal. This is to make sure that close monitoring is done to the client so that the person’s needs can be addressed immediately in cases of emergency. The person’s vital signs and body’s fluid’s and electrolytes are the main concern that are given much attention in patients recovering from alcohol withdrawal.

Treatment Modality

Close monitoring of the client is necessary to make sure that when the symptoms rapidly worsens, emergency measure can be performed to stabilize the client’s condition. Downers also known as CNS depressants can be given to minimize the symptoms that are experienced by the client. Usually they come in the form of sedatives, and are often administered in moderate to large doses. Maintaining the client calm for a week or two is necessary. This is done by moderately sedating him or her until they have fully recovered from the withdrawal symptoms.Treatment may require maintenance of a moderately sedated state for a week or more until withdrawal is complete.

Benzodiazipines is the usual drug of choice in keeping the client well sedated for a long period of time.

It is the responsibility of the health care provider to monitor the client closely for possible signs of delirium tremens. When Hallucination alone occurs without other withdrawal symptoms associated, it should be reported immediately since it not common.

The client should be screening for other medical conditions that maybe associated with alcoholism. Problems like blood clotting disorders, alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic neuropathy, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic brain syndromes and malnutrition should be watched out for.This may aggravate the condition of the client.

It is highly recommended to Rehabilitate the alcoholic client. This is to further prevent the client from regressing back to his or her alcoholic state, thus promoting lifetime wellness.

What To Expect

Symptoms for alcohol withdrawal usually arise at around 12 hrs form the last intake of alcohol. It is to be expected that the symptoms will be high with 48-78 hrs from the last intake, and this will usually persist for a week or even more. Diurnal variation, fatigue and sleeping pattern changes may take 3-12months to shake away.

All information about alcohol and alcohol withdrawal you can find at http://www.genericlook.com/

Side Effects of Alcohol on Your Appearance

You wouldn’t scoff down chocolate bar after chocolate bar would you? At least not without feeling distinctly guilty about it, so why do many women think it’s acceptable to drink far more than the recommended 2-3 units (3-4 for men) of alcohol per day?

What do chocolate and alcohol have in common? In a word – calories.

The number of calories in alcohol is incredibly high with a bottle of wine exceeding 500, a medium glass (175ml) coming in at 125 and even the dieters favourite, the G&T, is a whopping 120kcals. And if you think cocktails are good for you with all that fruit, think again.

While this doesn’t sound too bad in terms of your recommended daily calorie intake, when you consider you’re consuming these empty calories in addition to food, which may be a carb filled dinner to line your stomach or a meal out, it suddenly starts to add up.

It is also believed that the toxins contained in alcohol can contribute to the appearance of cellulite, so if you’re drinking too much you can look forward to a flabby tum and orange peel bum.

And unfortunately it’s not just the calories in alcohol you need to worry about.

In the short term…

When it comes to your appearance and the short term side effects of alcohol there is a whole list of things to consider including bloating, bloodshot eyes, spots, smelly breath, red skin while drinking and dull looking, grey skin the next day due to dehydration.

Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists explains:

“Alcohol dehydrates your body generally, including the skin, which is your body’s largest organ. This happens every time you drink. Alcohol is also thought to deprive the skin of certain vital vitamins and nutrients”.

Sadly yet another thing alcohol affects is your sleep, so even if you go to bed early you can expect to wake up feeling exhausted with tired, puffy eyes. And when you do you’ll probably smell, as although your liver metabolises most of the alcohol you drink, five to 10 percent is excreted through your breath, sweat and urine.

In the long term…

The long term effects of regularly exceeding the daily guidelines are also something to think about. If you’ve ever seen someone who drinks too much you might have noticed they’re a bit red in the face. This is down to Rosacea, a skin condition linked to alcohol, which can begin with a tendency to blush and flush easily and can eventually lead to permanent facial disfigurement.

“One of the effects of alcohol is to dilate the small blood vessels in the skin, which can make the skin appear redder,” says Goad. “The central areas of the face can become studded with small red bumps and pus spots, which come and go in crops. Small dilated blood vessels also appear, looking like thin red streaks.”

All in all it doesn’t paint a very pretty picture, so if you want to keep your good looks and minimise the side effects of alcohol why not cut down on the amount you drink for 2010? With all the money and calories you’ll save you can even treat yourself to a nice meal to celebrate.

Visit Drinkaware for all the facts about alcohol or use Drinkaware’s free unit calculator to uncover the hidden calories in alcohol.

How to Get a Beach Body For Summer?

Introduction

How Cutting Back on Alcohol can Help you Get in Shape for Summer?

Whether you’re planning a trip to sunnier climes or enjoying the British summer, the hot weather provides the perfect opportunity to catch some rays.

Inevitably, this involves showing off our bodies a little more and squeezing in to last year’s swim suit. Unfortunately, if you’ve spent the winter months snuggling up with a hot chocolate on the couch, it’s possible your body won’t be as beach ready as you had hoped.

Most of us know that eating well and exercising regularly will help shift those winter pounds for the summer months. But it’s worth noting that what you drink could also have a big impact on your appearance.

Calorie Controlled Diet

Research shows that the best way to lose weight is through good old fashioned diet and exercise. A vital element of this is keeping track of the number of calories you consume. According to Claire Williamson from the British Nutrition Foundation, alcohol can contain even more calories than food.

“Alcohol is a significant source of calories,” she says.

“Each gram of alcohol you consume contains seven calories. In contrast carbohydrates, such as bread, only contain four.”

Surprisingly, just one pint of beer can have up to 250 calories. It’s easy to see how drinking to excess can add up and cause weight gain. Claire explains that people’s regular drinking habits can have a big effect on their appearance.

“The calorie intake from alcohol tends to be in addition to the rest of our diet,” she says.

“For instance, if you eat a big breakfast, you’re likely to feel fuller and so eat less at lunch. However, many people will drink wine with a meal even if they already feel full – adding to the number of calories they’ve already consumed.” Alcohol can also increase your appetite.

Getting Active

Running to work or taking classes at the gym can be a great way to get your body looking toned for the summer sun. Working up a sweat can be hard work and, more often than not, drinking too much alcohol can undo the benefits of exercising.

Our bodies work by storing nutrients, protein and carbohydrate; however we do not store alcohol in the same way. As a result, burning alcohol takes priority over burning fat. Not good news if you’re hitting the gym to shed some pounds.

Whilst working out at the gym could help shift some excess weight, it won’t help curb the long term effect s of drinking alcohol. Choosing to drink less alcohol lowers the risk of developing liver disease, contracting cancer and developing heart disease later in life.

Getting a Beach Body

If you’re planning on getting in to shape for the beach, it’s best to start by setting achievable goals and keeping track of the alcohol you drink on a regular basis. Starting with the recommended daily guidelines will help. The guidelines recommend that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily. A glass of wine, or a pint of 5% lager, is around three units.

Keeping track of your drinking as part of a healthier lifestyle can help you look great for summer and in the long term. Claire recommends making a long-term healthy lifestyle change, rather than trying crash diets or intense periods of exercise.

“Dieting to lose weight is relatively difficult,” she says.

“It may sound boring, but a balanced diet along with regular exercise is much more likely to have a beneficial effect.”

Drinkaware – for the facts about alcohol Use Drinkaware’s free calculator to calculate the number of alcohol units in your drinks.

What Complications Can Arise When A Person Suffers From Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a serious disease, what makes it worse is that there are complications that can arise that puts the individual at grave risk for other body system failures that may even put their life at risk. These complications include birth defects, bone loss, cardiovascular problems, diabetes complications, gastrointestinal problems, liver disorders, menstruation problems, and neurological complications, sexual function and also puts the person at risk for certain cancers.

All of the above listed possible complications of the disease, alcoholism are possible because alcohol is a drug that depresses the central nervous system. Initially alcohol stimulates the individual who first begins the habit of drinking alcohol. As the individual continues the habit the drug, alcohol starts to sedate instead of stimulate and begins to lower your inhibitions and to affect your emotions, judgments and your ability to think. Alcohol can also impair your speech and your ability to coordinate your muscles. If you consume alcohol to an excessive amount over to short of a time period you can poison your system and severely depress your vital centers of the brain that control breathing and heartbeat which are vital to your survival putting the individual into a coma and possibly cause death.

Long-term alcohol use can cause physical fatigue and short-term memory loss. An individual who drinks alcohol to excess over a long period of time may also experience weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles.

As mentioned earlier there are other complications to your health if alcohol is consumed over a long period of time including:

Leading to alcoholic hepatitis, which involves inflammation of the liver. The symptoms for alcoholic hepatitis include loss of appetite, abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and confusion can also occur.

Alcoholic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and an irreversible, progressive damage and scarring of liver tissue.

Those who suffer from alcoholism often have gastritis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

Those who drink heavily can also damage the pancreas.

Drinking heavily can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can damage the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure, heart attack, or a stroke.

Alcohol over time will prevent the release of glucose from the liver, which will increase the risk of having low blood sugar known as hypoglycemia. If you happen to be a diabetic this can be a dangerous situation for you.

Those who suffer from alcoholism also report erectile dysfunction and interruption in menstruation, birth defects if drinking while pregnant, fetal alcohol syndrome for those unfortunate fetuses born to women who drink while pregnant, bone loss which can lead to an increased risk for fractures, nervous system disorders including dementia and an increased risk for breast cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, liver and colon cancer, and also rectum cancer.

Understanding What Alcoholism Is

Many individuals are misinformed when it comes to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a chronic disease in which the individual is dependent on alcohol. The person becomes obsessed with the need for alcohol and is unable to control the amount of alcohol they drink, not even being able to stop when they realize that alcohol is causing them to experience serious health problems. Alcohol can also cause relationship, financial and work-related problems.

What can be confusing is that individuals can have a problem with alcohol but not outwardly show the characteristics of the disease, alcoholism. When someone has a problem with alcohol but does not crave it or have it become something they need to have it is said that they are suffering not from alcoholism but from alcohol abuse because they merely drink too much, which can cause problems but they do not crave alcohol. The excessive drinking that a person does that is abusing alcohol can also cause problems with health or relationships but the difference is that when a person has the disease, "alcoholism" they have an uncontrolled need to consume alcohol and when alcohol is denied them or not available they experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, being anxious, or experience trembling or they can feel waves of nausea.

Because alcoholism is a chronic disease, it is handled just like other diseases in that it has symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, treatments and preventions.

Symptoms:

There are recognizable symptoms that can be experienced and observed and which are utilized by doctors to help make the diagnosis of alcoholism. The symptoms of alcoholism include drinking in secret or often drinking alone, not being able to limit the amount of alcohol consumed or to stop drinking, experiencing "blackouts", making ritual times to drink such as before or after dinner and becoming irritable or greatly disturbed if these ritualistic drinking times are disrupted, having a strong compulsion to drink that can not be ignored, drinking large quantities of alcohol in order to become intoxicated intentionally so that a feeling of "normalcy" or "feeling good" can be achieved, encountering legal problems or relationship or financial problems as a result of alcohol, building up a tolerance for alcohol that is ever increasing in order to feel the same level of intoxication, experiencing withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is withheld or unavailable.

Individuals who abuse alcohol and are not alcoholics can also experience some of the same symptoms as listed above. The difference is that a person who suffers from alcoholism as symptoms along with the ability to not be able to ignore the craving for alcohol and is unable to control the amount of alcohol they are consuming or to stop drinking alcohol even when they are experiencing serious health issues because of the alcohol.

There are four causes of alcoholism:

• Cultural or social factors such as strong media pressure to drink
• Emotional state including anxiety, emotional pain or stress
• Genetics
• Psychological factors such as low self-esteem or depression

Risk Factors:

There are several risk factors for alcoholism including:

• Age (those who started drinking before age 16)
• Emotional disorders may increase the chance for the need for alcohol such as being severely depressed, or having attention-deficit disorder or hyperactivity
• Family history such as being raised in an environment where alcohol is accepted as a norm of life
• Genetic makeup may predispose a person to being susceptible to alcoholism
• Men are more likely to become dependent on alcohol than women

Complications:

There are quite a few medical complications that can arise when a person suffers from alcoholism including birth defects (when mom is an alcoholic), bone loss, cardiovascular problems, divorce and domestic violence, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes complications, poor work performance or poor performance at school, sexual function, problems with menstruation and also a higher rate of suicide and homicide.

Treatments:

Counseling and drugs are the two most commonly used treatments for alcoholism and treatment can be dispensed in a detoxification program where psychological support and psychiatric treatment is available and emphasis is placed on abstinence and acceptance of the disease. Drug treatments include the use of a alcohol-sensitizing drug "disulfiram" (Antabuse). and other medications such as naltrexone, and acamprosate.

Preventions:

Education is the best prevention for alcoholism and it must start with the youth so that they are taught and encouraged to avoid situations that will put them at risk for alcoholism.

Treatment Options for the One Suffering From Alcoholism

It is not easy to overcome addiction to any drug and alcohol is a drug that to too many individuals becomes a habit that is not easy to stop because of the strong cravings for alcohol that they experience. It is a difficult task to become sober and to stay sober. A task that requires strong support from as many people as possible and one that requires professional assistance. There are many treatment options open to the person has agreed to undergo treatment for alcoholism. Treatment typically includes detoxification, recovery, support and treatment.

Typically there is an event that triggers the acceptance that treatment is required. The drinker must come to this realization and accept the need for treatment if he/she is to be successful. Being forced to accept treatment usually leads to failure and more problems. Interventions are often planned and executed in an attempt to force a drinker into realizing and accepting that alcoholism has claimed his/her life and that if treatment is not started they are headed for serious health, psychological and emotional consequences. Some of these events may include the boss giving an ultimatum that they get treatment for alcoholism or they are fired, a spouse giving the choice between treatment or divorce, being locked up for vehicular homicide after getting behind the wheel and driving drunk or filing bankruptcy or foreclosure on a home due to financial problems caused directly from drinking alcohol. One or more of the events listed may have occurred before the individual is brought to the realization that treatment is the only option besides going further and further into hell which may ultimately lead to the drinker’s own death from suicide or health issues such as a heart attack or liver failure.

When someone suffers from the disease alcoholism, medical treatment is required in order to find relief from withdrawal symptoms that can include cravings, elevated blood pressure, headaches, nausea, rapid heart rate, shakes, sweats, and vomiting. The detoxification process should be one that is medically monitored for an individual with alcoholism because detoxing without medical monitoring can be dangerous for the drinker. The process of detoxification can at times be done on an outpatient basis but is usually done on an inpatient basis or at an alcohol treatment facility that is set up for safely monitoring and supporting the process.

There are many support groups locally and online that is geared for alcoholics such as Alcoholics Anonymous. AA meetings are free and are run by fellow addicts who can have empathy and give support because they have been there themselves and totally understand the process of becoming sober and staying sober. AA has a 12-step program that those in the AA program follow to help them on the journey to recovering from alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

The drinker that has the support of fellow drinkers, family, friends and the community through support programs is more likely to be successful.

What Causes or Risk Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?

Those whose lives have been touched by alcoholism often wonder what causes or risk factors contributed to the problem of alcoholism? Was it something that could have been avoided, was it anyone’s fault? Are they at risk for alcoholism? It is important for individuals to be able to get answers to questions about a disease that is as serious as alcoholism is.

Alcoholism has both physical genetic and environmental causes and you can sum up the possible causes for anyone’s alcoholism in the following factors:

Certain genetic factors can make a person vulnerable to the possibility of succumbing to the effects of alcohol and individuals with a family history of alcoholism should be especially careful around alcohol.

A person’s emotional or psychological state can also make them vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. If a person is under high levels of stress, are overly anxious, or in long-term emotional pain they may turn to alcohol or other addictive drugs to ease the stress or pain of their situations. Scientist is exploring the possibility that certain stress hormones may be associated with the disease of alcoholism. Individuals with low self-esteem or those who have suffered from depression may also be at risk for alcoholism especially those who suffer from mental issues like bipolar or depression.

There are also social or cultural factors that may put individuals at risk for alcoholism including living in an environment in which alcohol is a staple, or is made to be a vital part of coping with life by those in close proximity of a young person growing up in such an environment and in which this person learns that alcohol is an accepted way of life. Alcohol is also portrayed in media and advertising to be glamorous and exciting and the accepted thing to do in social situations such as parties, and during downtime or during the holidays. Messages that it is ok to drink to excess can be interpreted as an acceptable way of life especially a life full of stress and pressure.

Individuals can be at risk for developing a dependence on alcohol if they are male and drink more than 15 alcoholic drinks a week or if they are female and drink more than 12 alcoholic drinks a week. The amount of alcohol consumed is just one risk factor for alcoholism other risk factors are age, genetics, sex, family history, and emotional and psychological influences. When one or more of these risk factors combine with consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short time so that dependence is established for alcohol the combination is strong for the development of alcoholism.

If you or someone you love exhibits any of the causes or risk factors for alcoholism and you suspect that they may have problems with being able to limit or stop drinking alcohol, it is important to encourage them to seek professional diagnosis and help.

What is Alcoholism Withdrawal?

There is a serious condition that is associated with the disease alcoholism that is called, alcoholism withdrawal. This condition occurs after a person with the disease alcoholism drinks excessively over a long period of time and then suddenly alcohol is not available or alcohol is denied. There are physical and psychological symptoms of alcoholism withdrawal that range from mild to severe and can even be life threatening. A person should not go through alcoholism withdrawal without medical monitoring as not monitoring the health condition of the individual going through alcoholism withdrawal could result in serious health situations that could end in death.

These withdrawal symptoms usually begin about twelve hours after the last drop of alcohol has been consumed. Alcoholism withdrawal symptoms will peak in two to three days and may last for as long as a week or more in duration. The individual may undergo sleep disturbances, fatigue, mood changes and others that may last for up to twelve months or even longer. Alcoholism withdrawal is serious business and must not be undergone alone or without medical assistance and monitoring. If you know someone who is experiencing withdrawal symptoms it is best to get them to an emergency room or alcohol treatment center where they can receive the medical assistance they need to go through the process safely.

Mild to moderate physical symptoms of alcoholism withdrawal may include:

• Headache
• Pulsating
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tremors

Mild to moderate psychological symptoms may include:

• Anxiety
• Bad Dreams
• Depression
• Difficulty thinking
• Fatigue
• Feeling Jumpy
• Feeling Shaky

Severe Symptoms:

The severe symptoms of alcoholism withdrawal include abnormal loss of skin color, blackouts, confusion, clammy skin, convulsions, and dilated pupils in the eye, hand tremors, involuntary eyelid movements, and also rapid heartbeat. These severe symptoms can occur anytime after 12-hours from the last alcoholic drink.

It is important to call 911 or contact emergency help if the person is having seizures, is hallucinating, has an irregular heartbeat or a rapid heartbeat, or is severely confused.

Medical treatment:

While in the hospital heavy sedation may be required to lessen the severity of the symptoms. It may take a week or longer for the person to be under sedation in order for the withdrawal symptoms to be over.

If the individuals suffered from hallucinations antipsychotic medications may be administered. If the person had seizures anticonvulsant medication may be given.

Long-term preventative treatment will start to begin a period of time known as detoxification where alcohol is to be avoided and this usually involves the individual being placed in an alcoholism rehabilitation facility or treatment center if not already in one.

Alcoholism withdrawal is a serious condition for a serious alcohol problem and must be treated with the care that is required in order to insure the safety of the individual going through the alcoholism withdrawal.

What is Involved in Alcohol Detoxification?

Detox is the first step that individuals take when being treated for alcoholism. They need to stop drinking alcohol, go through withdrawal symptoms and then begin a program of getting their body used to not having alcohol, which is the period known as detox. Detox is where the treatment and recovery from the disease, alcoholism starts after alcohol is out of the system. The process of withdrawal and detoxification can be dangerous for the individual to go through without medical monitoring and treatment. The person suffering from alcoholism should receive professional care from someone qualified in the treatment of alcohol problems.

Typically detox occurs in a medical hospital, or alcohol and drug detox and treatment center that is set up to handle the process. Detoxification can be done on an outpatient basis with typically fewer than 20% requiring admission. It is not unusual though for 50% of those undergoing outpatient detox to be admitted for inpatient treatment.

The process of withdrawaling from alcohol when a person is an alcoholic is a severe process and can be medically dangerous, even life threatening.

The withdrawal symptoms can be recognized by others because the individual will have the shakes, hand tremors, headaches, nausea and vomiting, sweating, will be anxious or restless, have a loss of appetite, be experiencing difficulty sleeping even suffering from insomnia, have delirium tremens (DTs), perhaps even have convulsions or be hyperactive.

Severe symptoms can include hallucinations, convulsions, seizures and rapid heartbeats and high blood pressure. This is why most who undergo withdrawal and detox need to do so as an inpatient.

Those who definitely should go through the process as an inpatient include those who have a history of severe withdrawal symptoms from past attempt to detox, those with a history of alcohol related withdrawal seizures or DTs, anyone who has had more than one past detoxifications or who has a medical history of chronic disease, medical problems or psychiatric illness. Individuals who have had recent high levels of drinking episodes or those who do not have a good dependable support system already in place and those women who are pregnant should have detox done as an inpatient for their safety.

During the withdrawal process and detoxification medications may be required such as anticonvulsants and antipsychotic drugs that can only be prescribed by a physician. Detox can be a long process that may take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks or more to complete. Some side effects from withdrawal and detox can last for as long as 12-months.

Just because an individual goes through the detoxification process is not a guarantee that they won’t start drinking alcohol again. Relapses are common for those suffering from alcoholism. Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive disease in which there is no cure and the individual will have the disease for a lifetime. Staying sober when an alcoholic is very difficult and requires support from those around him/her.

What Questions to Ask to Determine if You Or Someone You Love Has An Alcohol Problem?

There are screening questions that professions use to determine if an individual may have a problem with alcohol including alcohol abuse or alcoholism. These questions are geared to focus on alcohol habits, behavior and consequences of drinking alcohol. The answers to these questions are often used in order to make alcohol-related diagnoses (alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence also known as alcoholism).

Answering yes to one or more of the alcohol abuse screening questions may indicate to a medical professional that you do have a problem with alcohol if the occurrence happened within a 12-month period of time.

One question has to do with whether or not you have ever driven a motor vehicle after having more than two drinks if a male or more than one drink if a female.

Another question concerns whether or not you have been in situations that may be dangerous to be in if you are drunk such as swimming, using dangerous machinery, being in a dangerous area or going into areas of heavy traffic.

A question may be asked concerning whether or not you have ever been involved in a fight while drinking or directly after you have been drinking.

It will be determined if you have ever had a period of time in which your drinking has had a negative impact on your ability to function at work or school or if your drinking has caused any problems with family members or friends.

You will be asked about any arrest records you may have within the last 12 months that involve the use of alcohol or if you have had any other legal problems as a direct result of your drinking such as destroying property, accusations of violence or abuse while drunk.

An individual can graduate from abusing alcohol to being addicted to or dependent upon alcohol over time and in that case different questions may be helpful in determining if the individual is suffering from alcohol dependence (alcoholism) which is a chronic and progressive disease involving the craving for alcohol and the inability to stop drinking alcohol despite serious consequences to self, family, finances or health.

Questions that may help to determine if the person has a problem with alcohol and is dependent on it are:

Have you ever ended up drinking more alcohol than you intended to drink originally?

Have you ever tried to stop drinking but were unsuccessful?

Do you have to drink a larger quantity of alcohol to receive the same buzz as previous lower amounts of alcohol?

Have you ever taken a drug, medicine, or other beverage in order to avoid the bad after-effects from drinking or from experiencing a hangover?

Have you ever continued to drink despite the fact that it makes you anxious, depressed, experience "blackouts" or you have noticed that your drinking is resulting in a health problem but you continue to drink anyways?

Has your drinking habit forced you to give up favorite activities, being with family or friends or doing things that once brought you pleasure just so you could drink instead?

Answering yes to one or more of the above screening questions for alcohol dependence (alcoholism) during the last 12-month period may indicate that you have a problem with alcohol that could be diagnosed as alcoholism.

It is important that if you or someone you love can answer yes to any of the above questions within the last 12-month period that you seek medical advice immediately; your health may depend on it.

You Are Going To An Alcoholic Treatment Center for the First Time What Can You Expect?

You may have just gone through an intervention, or been court-ordered to attend, or just received the diagnosis of alcoholism. No matter how you arrived at this time in your life you are about to enter an alcoholic treatment center for the first time. Life is full of first times from the moment we take our first breath until we take our last. Not everyone has to face this particular first, but here you are facing entering a treatment center for alcoholics for the first time. You are nervous and just a little unsure about what to expect. You may have heard stories or read about celebrities in treatment centers but what is it really like for someone like you?

There are several important sections that you will be encountering once you enter the treatment center they include the checking-in process, the psychological assessment, the medical assessment, detoxification, individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, family counseling, aftercare and then there is the encouragement to join a local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group for continued support.

The checking-in process:

A staff member of the admissions department will meet you in the lobby of the facility and have you fill out paperwork. Your insurance information will be assessed.

You will be shown to your room in the treatment center. Be prepared to have someone go through your personal belonging. This will be done to be sure that you did not bring anything that you shouldn’t have in the treatment center. You should have been given instructions about the things you are allowed to bring and the things you should not bring when you registered for admission to the treatment center or when someone registered you on your behalf. Unless you were told to bring prescription medications it is never appropriate to bring any medications or herbal remedies into the facility. You are obviously never allowed to bring in any products that contain alcohol such as certain mouthwashes.

You will be given a tour of the treatment center so that you can begin to become familiar with the layout and where to locate certain areas that you will be using.

You will start to be introduced to other treatment staff members and others.

The rules of the treatment center will be explained to you and you will be given a copy of these rules.

The psychological assessment involves a counselor whom will take your complete history, and information specific to your alcohol other drug usage. This counselor will assess your mental and emotional states and you may be referred to a staff psychiatrist for additional treatment. It will be determined at this time what if any additional mental health or medical treatment that you require.

A medical assessment is when you are seen by a medical doctor at the treatment center who is responsible for getting a complete medical history from you, completing a physical, prescribing any necessary medications and caring for any physical health needs you may have that are related to your drinking alcohol or any other medical conditions that you have at the time.

Detoxification is when the staff of the treatment center will monitor your withdrawal symptoms you will go through as you go through the period of time when you are not able to consume alcohol in order to recover from your alcoholism symptoms. Your withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, nausea, shakiness and tremors, sweating and other symptoms.

There are several therapies available while you are in the alcohol treatment center including individual therapy, group therapy, educational sessions to complement the therapy and family therapy. All of these sessions are designed to support you as you learn how to manage alcoholism. You will be learning how to cope with new skills to avoid situations where alcohol is present so that you can manage your disease. The family counseling will be done with you and with the family alone and is geared not to embarrass you but to help your family understand alcoholism and what it will be like for you as you learn how to manage your disease.

What is aftercare?

After you are discharged from the alcohol treatment center you will be enrolled in an aftercare program that will most likely consist of weekly sessions. These sessions are designed to continue to support your efforts to control your disease. The staff of the aftercare program will also monitor your efforts. This program is very important to your ongoing success in being able to manage your disease.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA):

Your local chapter of AA may be offered as a complement to your treatment program you are about to arrive at and is there to also help you to have continued success handling and coping with all the events and situations you will encounter in your life after being diagnosed with alcoholism and life after the alcoholic treatment center.

You Suffer From Alcoholism and the Holidays are Upon You

One of the hardest survival tests for someone suffering from alcoholism is to survive the holidays and stick to a treatment plan for alcoholism.

There are many dangers and temptations that present themselves over the holidays when alcohol causes big trouble. If you are trying to avoid the issues surrounding alcohol and your cravings for it being invited to office parties, family gatherings and intimate get-togethers can be rough because you know alcohol will be invited too.

You can have fun and enjoy the holidays if you suffer from alcoholism with the following survival tips:

Tips to keep you sober when going to a holiday office party include ask if non-alcoholic beverages will be served before the date of the party. If you forget to ask or it is inconvenient to ask, bring your own non-alcoholic drink. Make a point to stay clear of the part of the room where alcohol is being served, eat before the party and while you are at the party so that you are not hungry and feel satisfied and full during the party. If you feel that craving for alcohol leave the party immediately. Have a plan for your departure arranged ahead of time between you and a friend so that if you become weak in your resolve a friend can lend a hand and give your the confidence to leave the party without drinking.

If the opportunity presents itself at the party when you are offered an alcoholic drink be prepared to just say no politely, there is no need to explain your response. Keep busy while at the party by dancing, talking with others, helping the host or hostess with food or entertainment but stay away from where the alcohol is being served.

No matter what the temptation, do not succumb to the urge to drink. The party and the holidays will soon be over and you will have great memories of fun and celebration that did not include giving into your cravings for alcohol.

It is always helpful to arrive fashionably late for the party and then just leave early so that you have less time to be tempted to drink.

Just assume that any holiday eggnog is spiked and stay clear.

In order to attend an office party where alcohol will be served over the holidays when you suffer from alcoholism you will need a strong desire to quit drinking and a plan beforehand that includes the above tips.

Surviving family gatherings where alcohol will be served:

In contrast to the holiday office party where the flow of conversation is usually small talk, crazy talk or loud; the family gathering can be full of psychological pressure from those who know your most intimate moments of failure with alcohol and at usually one family member who never fails to remind you about your alcoholic shortcomings. These holiday family gatherings can be stressful for the individual going through treatment for alcoholism. Not everyone at the family gathering is likely to understand that alcoholism is a disease and that you are in treatment for the disease but not cured. Alcoholism is a chronic condition, which means long-term. You will always have to be careful of situations that may trigger a relapse into the behavior that feeds your addiction for alcohol. There are many triggers that are often present at these family gatherings such as stress, anxiety-producing memories evoked by the family members present at these holiday functions.

When dealing with relatives who may give you a difficult time set ground rules between you and your spouse or who ever you bring with you to the dinner concerning what is safe to talk about and what to avoid mentioning or how to steer other family members away from alcohol-related topics. Choose how you are going to behave before arriving and don’t let anyone at the family gathering change your mind for the worse, acknowledge criticisms and other comments directed at you and anything that is hurtful or makes you feel uncomfortable choose to ignore it or just acknowledge that you heard them, but change the subject by bringing up the holiday and if they insist say something like, "this is not the time or place to discuss this, instead let’s be grateful for family and this holiday" or something like that.

Surviving the intimate holidays moments without drinking:

Studies show that alcohol is a significant ingredient when opposite-sex friends become intimate so how can you enjoy intimate holiday moments when you are in treatment for alcoholism? Alcohol can also prevent you from actually remembering to be present (physically or mentally) at a pre-arranged intimate date so the fact that you are in treatment may guarantee that you will actually show up and be conscience of what is happening enough to enjoy the intimate moments.

You can create the atmosphere of intimacy by using mood music, candles, intimate food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Alcohol Signs and Symptoms That Signal A Problem

Many people drink responsibly and the drinking they do does not lead to any health or other problems. These people are able to handle the drug alcohol in recommended quantities and to enjoy alcohol in the manner in which it was intended. There are however millions of individuals that experience the negative impacts associated with not being able to handle alcohol in a responsible manner and suffer the addictive after-effects of the drug in ways that have a negative impact on their health, on finances, their jobs, family and relationships. They can experience physical, mental, and emotional side effects that are negative and may lead to serious health problems, mental problems like dementia and even coma and death. Some of these individuals are not aware of the negative effects alcohol is having on them even if it is obvious to those around them. Innocent individuals can become harmed by the drinking habits of those who cannot handle the drug alcohol. The alcohol problem is extensive and touches millions of lives each day all over the world. There is a huge impact on society from alcohol abuse and the disease alcoholism. Society suffers from exacerbating violent crimes and cases of domestic violence directly related to alcohol problems. The problem is not just an individual one it belongs to society as a whole. This is why it is so important for everyone to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and alcoholism so that help can start before it is too late.

Some of the signs and symptoms of alcohol problems are easy to spot but others are hidden and not so easy to detect. Some of the signs and symptoms are physical in nature and others are psychological or emotional.

Many people drink and do not have any problems associated with their drinking habit because they drink responsibly. That is because they have learned to establish a responsible measure of control over their drinking that they can maintain every time they drink. They know how much they can safely drink and they know when to stop and are able to stop drinking when they need to. It is the lack of this kind of control that creates alcohol-related problems.

Alcohol abuse signs and symptoms involve health issues, financial issues, legal issues, the immergence of risky behavior, problems at work or school that are alcohol-related, problems with family or friends that are caused by alcohol, and a change in social life related to drinking. Someone who abuses alcohol drinks in excess of what is considered to be responsible drinking levels for their sex and body weight. Typically responsible drinking for males includes one or two drinks in a 24-hour period of time and responsible drinking for non-pregnant females include just one drink in a 24-hour period of time.

Alcoholism signs and symptoms include cravings for alcohol that cannot be denied, an inability to stop drinking, drinking greater amounts of alcohol than originally intending to consume, and not being able to stop drinking alcohol even if they say they want to. A person suffering from alcoholism will experience withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is unavailable or denied.

Alcoholism Common and Serious

Did you know that alcoholism is a serious and common disease? Physicians associate cancers with alcoholism they also see many examples of disease related to alcoholism including alcohol-related cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding and pancreatitis. What more, even those who didn’t actually put the alcohol to their lips suffer the consequences of alcoholism including innocents that suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, which is a leading cause of mental retardation. There are other serious consequences of alcoholism including the traffic accidents that drinking and driving cause, depression and dementia suffered by those with the disease, suicide, and homicide linked to alcoholism and the risk to children of alcoholic parents that they too might suffer someday the same illness.

Did you know that alcoholism has an affect on every organ in the body? High doses of alcohol can even cause coma and death. Individuals with long-term alcoholism are also prone to experiencing withdrawal syndrome and brain excitability as well as alcohol ingestion, which then leads to cell death and cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic hallucinosis, delirium tremors, and withdrawal seizures.

At risk are those with a family history of alcoholism, those in lower income brackets and those who do not have higher educational achievements. The World Health Organization found that at risk for mental disorders were those who had alcohol dependence.

Alcoholism according to statistics is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. with 85,000 deaths being linked to alcoholism each year in the United States. Another statistic shows that a large percentage of global disease is linked to alcoholism including 7% of breast cancer, 32% of all cirrhosis, 10% of hemorrhagic strokes, 19% of mouth and oropharyngeal cancers, and 25% of liver cancer.

Statistically according to the U.S. National Comorbidity Survey and the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey alcoholism in African Americans is higher than it is for those who are Americans and Caucasian as well as higher for those who are Hispanic Americans, Native American or Asian American. Alcoholism is also twice as likely to occur in males than females.

Despite the known danger of alcoholism and how common the disease is, medical doctors fail to make the correct diagnosis of alcoholism in almost 50% of the cases. Patients make diagnosing alcoholism by denying they have a problem when asked, fear of job loss if employer finds out about a diagnosis of alcoholism or too ashamed to admit they have a problem with alcohol.

Sometimes the diagnosis is missed because medical professionals may be unaware of the proper way to screen for and to diagnose alcoholism. It is difficult to have accurate testing to make a diagnosis of alcoholism because blood tests and liver function tests as well as mean corpuscular volume are not always effective. Even the gamma glutamyl transferrin levels test are only 50% accurate.

Alcoholism Facts That Are Beneficial For Everyone To Know

Alcoholism touches not only the one with the disease, but those they live with, and those they work with and others that have lives that are affected by the person suffering from alcoholism.

There is a dramatic impact felt by millions of people worldwide because of the serious illness known as alcoholism. There are those who consume alcohol (a drug) on a regular basis that crave the alcohol, are dependent on the drug and suffer consequences from the disease. The consequences are health-related, financial and can even have a devastating effect on spouses or other family members. Someone with alcoholism can also impact strangers when the disease causes them to make poor judgments like drinking and driving.

There are well-known facts about the disease alcoholism that contributes to the impact that the disease has on others including the fact that alcohol-connected deaths claim the lives of 100,000 individuals each year in the United States. The causes of these alcohol related deaths come from drinking and driving, diseases such as cancer of the liver, cirrhosis of the liver, and stroke. Falls are also included in causes of alcohol-related deaths. There are an estimated 109 million individual who drink alcohol in the United States aged 12 and up with 18 million of them fitting the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism or alcohol abuse.

Alcohol is a drug and is the one drug of choice that children and teens turn to making alcoholism a reality for individuals in any age group. Approximately 7,000 children in the U.S. will take their first drink of alcohol. Kids born to at least one parent suffering from alcoholism are more likely to start drinking at a young age. This makes them at a high risk for alcohol-related disorders including alcoholism.

Like most chronic diseases there are stages to alcoholism. There is an early, middle and late stage to the disease of alcoholism. In the early stage the individual comes to rely on alcohol to get through the day and catches him or herself thinking about when they can have that next drink. The tolerance level gradually increases until it becomes obvious to everyone that the person has a problem with alcohol.

Middle-stage alcoholism occurs when the alcohol consumption includes drinking early in the day and late into the night, effects relationships, ability to function properly at work, school or at home. Alcohol had had an impact on finances and the ability to positively maintain relationships with significant other or other family members.

End-stage alcoholism is when the individual becomes obsessed with alcohol to the point that not much else is more important, they experience blackouts where they do and say things while drinking that they cannot remember doing later have damaged body organs or impaired functionality including cognitive ability to reason or think clearly or by making poor judgments.

Alcoholism is a Disease

Like other diseases, alcoholism has signs, symptoms, causes and effects. The hallmarks of alcoholism are cravings for alcohol and withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is not available. When an individual has alcoholism they drink until there are negative consequences and typically they ignore the consequences in favor of another drink. Although there are those who criticize that alcoholism is a disease, medical doctors and scientists agree that alcoholism is a disease.

Alcoholism is a chronic, life-long disease and just like other chronic life-long diseases if the patient does not manage the disease, there are health consequences that can be severe. The individuals diagnosed with alcoholism have impaired and compulsive thoughts and behaviors towards alcohol that includes distorted thinking, a physical dependence upon alcohol, the inability to control the amount of alcohol consumed and an inability to cut back or to stop drinking alcohol. Alcoholism that is not managed properly can develop into cirrhosis of the liver, and heart disease.

Individuals with the highest risk for developing the disease, alcoholism are those with a family history of alcoholism and those with mental illnesses and those who are exposed to alcohol on a regular basis. Studies indicate that 40 to 50% of alcoholism is the result of environment factors and 50 to 60% is caused by genetics (family history) a very small percentage is due to personal choice.

Doctors typically diagnose alcoholism based on three or more symptoms occurring within the same 12-month period of time out of a seven possible signs or symptoms:

·    A need for increasingly higher amounts of alcohol to give the same intoxicated effect.

·    Withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is unavailable

·    Frequently the individual consumes more alcohol that originally intended at the time to drink

·    There are unsuccessful attempts to slow down or to stop drinking

·    Substantial time is spent on obtaining alcohol or in being able to get to where the alcohol is.

·    The individual is known to give up favorite activities in order to consume alcohol

·    Even after the negative consequences of drinking are pointed out to the individual, it is still important for that individual to continue his/her drinking

Alcoholism is a serious, life-long disease in which most alcoholics never achieve the ability to control the cravings for alcohol. Uncontrolled alcoholism leads to serious health problems such as cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease and high blood pressure. The American Medical Association declared alcoholism a disease in 1956. The American Bar Association declares that the principle of dependence on alcohol or other drugs is a disease. Although it is generally accepted by the scientific and medical communities that alcoholism is a disease, there is still some debate on the topic.

Alcoholism Recovery and Treatment

There are many factors to effective alcoholism recovery and treatment typically requiring intensive approaches to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the disease. Effective treatment commonly includes intervention to get the individual into treatment, treatment at a residential facility, and later on treatment as an outpatient, psychosocial therapy, and support in peer groups and medication.

Medication is used to complement the other treatment factors and to help achieve treatment objectives quicker. The role of medication is not to cure alcoholism but to ease symptoms including withdrawal symptoms of the disease. Three drugs in particular are commonly used during the course of treatment for alcoholism and include acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone. There is no medication that can be given that will help a person to stop drinking alcohol. The medication is only prescribed after the individual has been in a period of abstinence from alcohol and are currently in a treatment program that includes therapy.

Staying sober is paramount to the success of the medication to be effective in alleviating the symptoms experienced by the individual.

Acamproste helps to reduce the physical signs as well as the emotional discomfort that occur when the individual goes through the process of detoxification. Common physical distress and emotional discomfort includes anxiety, sweating, tremors and sleep disturbances.

Disulfiram is used as a deterrent for alcohol usage. If they drink while on the drug they will experience severe reactions including increase in blood pressure, facial flushing, increased heart rate, nausea, throbbing headache, and vomiting.

Naltrexone reduces the craving to drink alcohol by blocking neurotransmitters in the brain so that the person does not feel intoxicated or "high" while drinking alcohol.

Residential treatment programs include a detoxification in which the person will experience symptoms of withdrawal. This period usually lasts for 4 to 7 days. Medications may be used to prevent withdrawal seizures or delirium tremors. After the detoxification period comes the medical assessment and treatment phase. The individual suffering from alcoholism may have medical problems that are related to their alcohol consumption or non-alcohol related medical conditions. The most common medical problems are elevated blood sugar levels, heart and liver disease, and alcohol related high blood pressure.

Psychological support and psychiatric treatment is typically an essential part of the treatment program and continues through as part of the support for recovery. Many of the treatment programs in the larger communities also include therapy for couples and families because the support of the family is a critical part of successful recovery from alcoholism. When a spouse or other significant family member is involved in therapy and supports the individual in a positive manner it increases the chances for a successful recovery from alcoholism.

What is Binge Drinking and How Does It Relate to Alcoholism?

Binge drinking is when an individual takes several drinks of alcohol in close succession, typically five drinks for males and four drinks for females. Studies show that individuals who regularly participate in binge drinking may drink alcohol twice a week and may or may not be addicted to alcohol. The peak age to be involved in binge drinking according to statistics is in the range of age 18 to 22 typically the time when young people are in college. High school students have also been known to participate in binge drinking. Other statistics show that binge drinking may start as early as age 13.

There are many health and other dangers that can occur when an individual participates in binge drinking.

Health problems that can occur as a result of binge drinking include:

• Alcohol poisoning
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for those women who binge drink while pregnant
• High blood pressure, which may result in cardiovascular disease or stroke
• Injuries from falls, domestic abuse, intentional injuries and injuries sustained from use of firearms while drunk
• Liver disease
• Neurological damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption
• Sexually transmitted diseases as a result of risky behavior while intoxicated
• Unplanned pregnancies as a result of risky sexual behavior while drunk
• Perhaps the biggest danger individuals face when participating in binge drinking is that of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a serious health condition in which the blood alcohol concentration risks too high. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include severe vomiting, depressed respirations, and seizures. Alcohol poisoning can rapidly lead to coma and death and anyone suffering from alcohol poisoning must be taken to an emergency room immediately or call 911 for quick medical assistance. Binge drinking is the most common cause of alcohol poisoning.

Scary statistics about binge drinking:

When young people become involved in binge drinking they have a higher risk of alcohol dependency (alcoholism). Statistics show that 25% of young people who begin drinking before age 17 succumb to the disease alcoholism.

42% of all college students report some frequency of binge drinking

Two-thirds of all alcohol consumed on college campuses are consumed by those participating in binge drinking

Most of the problems that college police deal with such as injuries, and vandalism involve binge drinking, up to 60% of all problems involving security or police on college campuses are involving those who have been binge drinking.

Reality:

There is a lot of pressure to drink on college campuses as a way of dealing with the pressures of college and because for some this is a first taste of freedom away from parental control.

Preventing those you care about from participating in binge drinking:

1. Reduce the access to alcohol to high school and college students and those aged 13 – 20.
2. Educate youth while in Jr. High (Middle school), High school and college about the dangers of binge drinking.
3. Educate parents about the dangers of binge drinking
4. Make available physician screening and counseling for alcohol related problems including binge drinking.

Alcoholism The Disease

Do you are someone you know deny they have a drinking problem but all the signs say that alcohol is at the root of major problems in the life of the one doing the drinking? Cravings for alcohol and an inability to limit or stop the flow of alcohol are both earmarks that the individual is probably suffering from a disease called alcoholism, a disease that is chronic in nature and one that can have severe health, financial and relationship consequences.

There is typically denial on the part of the drinker that a true problem exists regarding alcohol and health issues, financial problems or relationship issues that stem from the drinking habits. Anyone with a disease that impairs thinking is going to make bad decisions, may try to cover up the problem out of embarrassment or for other reasons and is going to fight against getting help if doing so means doing without the thing they crave the most – alcohol. A person can actually want to stop or at least has a desire to limit the consumption but is unable to do so without help. If that person is a male, there is a higher probability that there will be a lag time between when he realizes he needs help and when he will accept the idea that he must actively accept the help. This is not unlike other scenarios when it comes to admitting that there may be a "disease" involved. Although it is more common in that males have a difficult time going for medical help, female drinkers can also have difficulty coming to terms with the fact that they may have a disease when it comes to alcohol consumption. Alcoholism involves a drug and the drug is alcohol. This is a very addictive drug and addictions can be very difficult to beat.

Individuals that associate with the drinker may find it far easier to blame the drinker for the problems that arise as a result of the drinking instead of being able to have compassion for a person suffering from a disease. If a person has physical symptoms like paralysis or an amputee it becomes easier to see why the individual is in need of medical intervention and healing. When the disease requires a little more investigative work in order to connect the health consequences or signs and symptoms of the disease then those who are in contact with the person suffering from alcoholism must look beyond the raised glass in order to see and understand the disease.

Alcoholism treatment begins with recognizing the signs and symptoms, getting past the denial stage, and realizing that the truth must be told in order to accept medical treatment and psychological counseling which are the usual combination that is involved when treating the individual with alcoholism.

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism:

• Strong Cravings for alcohol that cannot be denied
• A strong need to drink at specific times or after certain events (like after dinner)
• The experiences of needing to drink more alcohol than previously in order to achieve the same level of intoxication that brings with it a sense of "normalcy" or "good feeling". This is called tolerance.
• The ability to consume large quantities of alcohol rapidly without appearing to be intoxicated
• Having "blackouts" in which the individual is unable to remember conversations or commitments made while drinking
• A loss of interest in activities or hobbies that typically was important to the individual prior to the increase in alcohol consumption

Effects of Alcohol on your heart and body

Alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream quickly, but the absorption rate depends on the amount and type of food in your stomach. For example, high carbohydrate and high fat foods lessen the absorption rates and a carbonated alcoholic drink such as champagne, will be absorbed faster.

The effects of alcohol can manifest within 10 minutes and peak at approximately 40 to 60 minutes and it remains in your bloodstream until broken down by the liver. If you consume alcohol at a faster rate than it can be broken down by the liver, the blood alcohol concentration level rises.

Alcohol depresses your breathing rate, heart rate, and the control mechanisms in your brain. Effects of this include:

• Lessened ability to drive and perform complex tasks
• Reduced inhibitions, which may lead to embarrassing behavior
• Reduced attention span
• Impaired short-term memory
• Impaired motor coordination
• Prolonged reaction time
• Less rapid thought processes

During the initial six-week recovery period from a heart attack, it’s best to limit alcohol intake. However if you really miss it, small quantities such as 1 unit a day should do you no harm.

Always check with your doctor/pharmacist that it’s okay to take alcohol as it can react with certain medications. Alcohol is high in calories and increases triglyceride levels so it’s best to keep your intake moderate and use sugar free/diet mixers.

Recommended weekly intakes are not more than 14 units for a woman and 21 units for a man. One unit of alcohol is 1/ 2-pint beer/lager/cider, 1 single pub measure of spirits or 1 glass of wine.