Chronic alcoholism: Drinkers should be careful

Chronic alcoholism: Drinkers should be careful

Alcoholism is a condition caused by drinking large amounts of alcohol and not being able to control the amount you drink each day. If you drink for a long period of time, the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream will increase.

What causes chronic alcoholism? 

  • A family member suffers from chronic alcoholism. 
  • Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
  • Feeling low self-esteem
  • Living in an environment or society where most people regularly drink alcohol

Symptoms of chronic alcoholism? 

  • Having a desire or craving to drink alcohol all the time. 
  • Unable to control the amount of drinking 
  • Have unstable behavior and moods
  • Feeling guilty after drinking a large amount of alcohol 
  • Every morning, the alcohol must be re-drinked to reduce the intoxication,  also known as withdrawal. 

What symptoms of chronic alcoholism. After stopping drinking? 

Withdrawal symptoms

This symptom occurs in people who stop drinking alcohol abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms occur every 12-72 hours, and the symptoms are as follows: 

  • Mood swings
  • Heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat
  • Headache, hand tremors, sweating of the face and hands
  • Insomnia, fatigue and anxiety

Alcoholic delirium 

This symptom occurs in people who have abstained from drinking alcohol. Symptoms appear 2-3 hours after withdrawal and become more severe after 48-72 hours of withdrawal. This symptom can result in death if not treated. 

Diagnosis of chronic alcoholism 

If you find that someone close to you or you yourself has symptoms of chronic alcoholism, you should see a doctor for diagnosis. The doctor will use the following methods to diagnose:

  • The doctor will ask about the patient’s or people’s behavior, may also ask about medical history and perform a preliminary physical examination of the patient. 
  • Laboratory tests to find abnormalities in the patient’s body using radiological examinations.
  • Psychological testing using tests such as asking about thoughts, behaviors, symptoms and abnormal feelings to assess the patient’s mental health.

Complications of chronic alcoholism 

  • Liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis and fatty liver
  • Cardiovascular disease, such as risk of heart failure, high  blood pressure  , or stroke. 
  • Neurological disorders such as dementia, numbness in hands and feet 
  • Immune system deficiency: People with this disease are more susceptible to infections than others. 
  • Digestive system malfunctions, such as stomach ulcers and gastritis 

Treatment of chronic alcoholism 

Doctors will advise patients to reduce or stop drinking alcohol, along with giving medication to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In cases where the patient has chronic alcoholism, doctors will closely monitor symptoms 24 hours a day and will have the patient receive treatment at the hospital as well. When symptoms improve, the doctor will allow the patient to return home, but the patient should continue receiving treatment until symptoms improve.

Prevention of chronic alcoholism 

Limit your drinking. The Ministry of Public Health recommends that men should drink no more than 4 standard drinks per day and women should drink no more than 2 standard drinks per day. 

1 standard drink of alcohol will be equal to 

  • Beer 360 ml 
  • 45 ml of liquor 
  • Wine 150 ml