Summary

Alcoholism

 

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Drinking is most often done by many to enhance their social activities and to relax one self. Using alcohol in this way is not harmful for most adults.

However some people tend to drink over their limits which at times lead to negative effects on the different aspects of their lives, including health, relationships, work or school and money, and are considered to have an alcohol Problem. These problems can range from mild to severe

 

What is Alcoholism?

It is also known as Alcohol Dependence syndrome which is characterized by Craving, Loss of Control, Physical Dependence and the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to get high. Basically it is the “Uncontrollable need of a person for Alcohol”.

 

Prevalence and Incidence of Alcoholism in Malaysia

Prevalence is a frequently used epidemiological measure of how commonly a disease or condition occurs in a population. The incidence of a disease is another epidemiological measure. Incidence measures the rate of occurrence of new cases of a disease or condition.

 

How do you Diagnose Alcoholism?

This is done using a few different methods such as the CAGE questions, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) and also the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test. The CAGE questions are the basic and most common tool for Doctors to realize that a patient has a high likelihood of having Alcoholism. Cage questions are not a diagnostic Tool for Alcoholism.

 

How is Alcohol Metabolized?

Alcohol is readily absorbed in the gastro intestinal tract, however it cannot be stored and therefore the body must oxidize it first. Oxidation of Alcohol occurs in the Liver. This is because the enzymes needed to catalyze the oxidation of alcohol are only present in the liver.

CH₃CH₂OH + NAD⁺ ---> CH₃CH=O + NADH + H⁺

A number of metabolic effects from alcohol are directly linked to the production of an excess of both NADH and acetaldehyde.

 

Nutritional Effects of Alcohol Consumption?

Proper Nutrition is needed for providing energy and to maintain body structure and function. Alcohol interferes with the normal metabolism such as absorptions and storage of essential Nutrients. It does this by either reducing the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas, damaging the cells lining the stomach and by disabling transport of nutrients into blood. This combined with the fact that alcohol contains calories which do not provide any vital nutrients but does lead to a decrease in demand for other nutritional foods can lead to malnutrition.

 

Toxic Effects of Alcohol

Complications with the Liver, Pancreas, Heart, Brain and related blood vessels can arise due to the toxic effects of Alcohol. This is mainly due to the excess NADH and acetaldehyde. Other known diseases due to the toxicity of alcohol are Fatty Liver, Hypoglycemia, Neuro degeneration, Hyperlipidermia, damage to the Heart, Hepatitis C. Sometimes Alcoholics have sudden black outs also known as Amnesic Episodes.

 

What are Hangovers?

Unpleasant physical and mental symptoms like fatigue, headache, dizziness, muscle aches, and thirst after heavy alcohol drinking. The symptoms experienced and their intensity varies according to the person, occasion, type of alcoholic beverage consumed and the amount a person drinks.

How Does Alcohol Contribute to Hangovers?

The impact of alcohol can be seen in 4 different areas which are;

1.       Dehydration and fluid Imbalance,

2.       Gastrointestinal Disturbances,

3.       Low Blood Sugar levels and

4.       Disruption of sleep and other biological rhythms.

 

Management & Treatments Available for Alcoholism.

Since most people drink alcoholic beverages as a social activity reduction of alcohol consumption can be done moderately by having drinks with less alcohol, alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks, consider cutting down social activities that involve drinking.

Some people who have been drinking a lot of alcohol suddenly stops drinking, they may have symptoms that are commonly known as withdrawal symptoms. These range from mild to sever physical and psychological aspects and sometimes some alcoholics experience Delirium tremens which is a more severe withdrawal symptom. Alcohol Rehab process mainly focuses on the physical and psychological dependency.

 

What are the primary elements of Alcohol Rehab?

 Alcohol Detoxification - This is the initial part of the recovery process. Detox involves stopping the consumption of alcohol and giving the body the time it needs to cleanse itself of the harmful toxins associated with wine, liquor or beer.
Counseling - The core of any alcohol rehabilitation programs is counseling. During sessions with a counselor or therapist, the individual learns relapse prevention skills, receives education about alcoholism, and discovers the triggers that cause their unwanted behavior. Counseling in alcohol rehab takes two forms: individual and group sessions.
Aftercare - When an individual "graduates" from alcohol rehab, they must then return to the outside world. This is not always as easy as it sounds, as individuals face a number of challenges when they return home after treatment, including Temptation, Stress and distraction, a lack of understanding.