Physical Symptoms Of Alcoholism And Treatment Methods

Alcoholism refers to a mental condition. In this condition an individual tends to consume alcohol frequently. He ignores even its negative consequences such as bad health or social stigma. In medical terms it is a disease which results in the persistent consumption of alcohol. An alcoholic is compulsive towards or preoccupied with the consumption of alcohol. At the same time he fails to recognize the physical symptoms of alcoholism that comes with it.

An alcoholic looses control over himself. Over the time several health complications start coming up. It includes pancreatitis, cirrhosis, epilepsy, sexual dysfunction and mental dementia. The most obvious physical symptoms that come with regular alcohol consumption are increased tolerance, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. He may also show signs and symptoms like numbness in legs, liver swelling, puffy face and red eyes.

Treatment programs for alcohol addiction are many. It changes with change in the perspective of patient's condition. One opts for medical approach to treatment programs than those who take it as a social problem. But the ultimate aim of the alcohol addiction treatment is to discontinue the persistent consumption of alcohol. Alcoholism involves multiple causal factors. So its treatment requires addressing all the factors that encourage the consumption of alcohol.

The effectiveness of the alcoholism treatment is not always the same. It's success rate depends on the person who enters the treatment program. But it has much to do with the way he responds to the treatment. The rate of relapsing is very high among alcoholics. Only 40 percent of the patients show improvements.

Detoxification of alcohol is the first and essential step for the recovery of the patients. It is an abrupt stop of alcohol consumption coupled with some drug intake. The drug intake is aimed at preventing the withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification treats the physical symptoms of alcoholism. It does not actually treat alcohol addiction.

Psychotherapy and group therapy are applied to an alcoholic after the detox program is over. It is a type of group counseling which make an alcoholic sober and calm. Moderation and rationing programs are also effective in treating alcoholism. In this program an alcoholic does not give up his alcohol consumption habit but limit it to a moderate level. The approach believes that in the long run the alcohol addict will overcome his preoccupation with alcohol.

And last but not the least medicines such as Antabuse, Naltrexone, Vivitrol, Campral and topiramate are administered to the patients under the medication therapy. The visible effects of these medications are seen on the patients in terms of reduced alcoholism physical symptom. Complete cure of the alcohol addiction takes time and patience.

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