We all know that excessive intake of alcohol is bad for our health. Alcohol abuse can lead to serious health problems. From liver diseases to heart illnesses, alcohol is responsible for numerous health ailments. In fact, alcoholism is one of the biggest causes of premature deaths. Unfortunately, alcohol is highly addictive, physically and mentally. Despite being well-aware of the harmful health effects of alcohol, people are unable to stop drinking. Severe withdrawal symptoms mean that people with alcohol addiction are not able to give up drinking for more than a few days at a time. When it comes to giving up alcohol addiction, it is highly important to address withdrawal symptoms in a safe environment. This is where alcohol detoxification comes in.
Before we explain the significance of alcohol detoxification, let’s take a look at some of the major alcohol withdrawal symptoms that make it so difficult for people to overcome alcohol addiction-
- An acute feeling of nervousness, paranoia or anxiety.
- Rapid mood swings and emotional volatility.
- Continuous, severe headaches.
- Increased heart rate, shakiness, tremors of the hands and excessive sweating.
- Uncontrolled movements of the eyelids.
- Hallucinations, day dreaming and agitated behavior.
- Loss of appetite and vomiting.
- Insomnia.
- Weight loss or weight gain.
As we can see, some of these symptoms are related to the body while others are related to mind. When an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking, his body and mind needs readjusting without the alcohol. In many patients, continuous and excessive intake of alcohol causes permanent changes in the mind and body. When the alcohol is stopped, they experience intense withdrawal symptoms. The motivation and support of family members may prove to be immensely helpful when it comes to overcoming alcohol addiction. However, it’s important to understand that excessive intake of alcohol over a prolonged period alters the way body’s nervous system functions. For this reason, medical intervention becomes necessary. This intervention often comes in the form of alcohol detox.
Alcohol detoxification (or detox) is the initial medically supervised period of alcohol withdrawal. Under alcohol detox (or detoxification) programs, certain medications are prescribed to the patients to control withdrawal symptoms. The beginning stage of alcohol detox is often the most difficult and scariest period. As the body experiences severe withdrawal symptoms, medical intervention in the form of medicines often becomes necessary. Alcohol detox programs prove to be immensely helpful in this regard. For more information on alcohol detox and the symptoms, click here.
