Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease in which a person continues to crave alcohol and drink despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. Alcoholism affects 10 to 20 percent of men and 3 to 10 percent of women. Nearly 14 million people in the United States—1 in every 13 adults—abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. This disease contributes to over 50 percent of car and industrial fatalities, drownings, and child or domestic abuse.

Signs and Symptoms

• Craving for alcohol
• Inability to control drinking habits
• Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking
• Tolerance (the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects)
• Psychological, social, occupational dysfunction
• Malnutrition, anorexia
• Cardiovascular symptoms (leading cause of death)
• Increased levels of cancer (second leading cause of death)
• Repeated infections—for example, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections
• Lung conditions—complicated by smoking; for example, respiratory failure, pneumonia
• Central nervous system disorders—unsteady gait or stance; cognitive impairment; psychiatric manifestations (for example, mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders); blackouts; coma; sleep disruptions
• Diarrhea, vomiting
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Men—increased sexual drive with decreased ability to maintain an erection
• Women—miscarriage, stopping of menstrual periods
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Hepatitis (a disease of the liver)
• Poor wound healing
• Buildup of fluid in the body
• Swollen, painful muscles, paralysis, lack of reflexes
• Increased bone fractures
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Hypothermia (reduction of body temperature)

What Causes It?

Who's Most At Risk?

• Genetically predisposed
• Preexisting psychiatric disorder
• Began consuming alcohol at an early age
• Stress

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Treatment Options

• Tranquilizers called benzodiazepines which are used during the first few days of treatment to help patients safely withdraw from alcohol
• Antipsychotic medications for people who do not respond to benzodiazepines
• Naltrexone, a recently approved medication to help people remain sober. When used in combination with counseling, this medication may lessen the craving for alcohol and help prevent a return to heavy drinking.
• Disulfiram, an older medication, which discourages drinking by causing nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant physical reactions when alcohol is used
• Medications for specific organ damage or for symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal

• Eliminate simple sugars.
• Increase complex carbohydrates.
• Consume adequate protein.
• Increase essential fatty acids.
• Decrease saturated fats and fried foods.
• Avoid caffeine.

• Vitamin A (25,000 IU a day)
• Vitamins B1 (50 to 100 mg a day), B2 (50 mg a day), B3 (25 mg a day), B5 (100 mg a day), B6 (50 to 100 mg a day), B12 (100 to 1,000 mcg a day)
• Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg two times a day)
• Vitamin E (400 IU a day) to protect the heart
• Magnesium (250 mg bid) to decrease withdrawal symptoms
• Selenium (200 mcg a day) to protect the liver
• Zinc (15 mg a day) to aid metabolism
• Amino acids: carnitine (500 mg two times a day) to protect the liver, glutamine (1 g a day) to decrease cravings, glutathione (300 mg a day) to protect liver and heart
• Chromium (250 to 500 mcg twice a day) helps reduce sugar cravings and reduces low blood sugar related to alcohol cravings.

Prognosis/Possible Complications

Following Up