Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Alcohol consumption is a normal part of our society today. In fact, for thousands of years drinking alcohol has been the norm. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 86.3% of United States adults reported drinking alcohol in 2018. However, not everyone can consume alcohol safely and of these U.S. adults about 14.4 million have an alcohol use disorder (AUD).
If you or someone you love has a problem with alcohol there is help and hope. Futures Recovery Healthcare has helped both men and women with AUD begin the road to recovery and find long lasting sobriety. We are here to help you or your loved one too.
When it comes to AUD, it’s vital to seek treatment, particularly for the critical withdrawal or alcohol detoxification phase. Alcohol detox is the first step in finding long term recovery from alcohol use issues.
Alcohol withdrawal occurs when an individual stops using alcohol. During this often difficult phase of recovery, the body begins to purge itself of alcohol and the associated toxins. The length and severity of the detox process depends on how long, how much, how often, and what else, if anything, was part of your alcohol abuse.
What causes alcohol withdrawal syndrome?
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a health condition caused by prolonged alcohol addiction and alcohol dependence. Heavy drinking can excite and irritate the nervous system, and cause your system to adapt to the effects of alcohol. The side effects caused by abruptly reducing or completely stopping your alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS).
An individual can experience symptoms of alcohol withdrawal when they completely stop using alcohol and also when they attempt to cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed. Each person’s experience is somewhat unique, however, when it comes to detox for alcohol one thing remains the same; it should never be attempted alone. In addition, there are some withdrawal symptoms to be expected. Which alcohol withdrawal symptoms are experienced, their severity, and the length of this phase will be unique to each individual. Here are some of the most commonly experienced symptoms when it comes to alcohol withdrawal:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Cravings
- Bone/muscle pain
- Shakiness
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
- High blood pressure
- Fever
- Racing heart
What Is Delirium Tremens (DTs)?
Individuals with alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction are at high risk of developing a condition known as delirium tremens. DTs is a severe, potentially fatal side effects of alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms of delirium tremens most commonly arise within 4 days of your last drink. Symptoms of delirium tremens may worsen if left untreated.
When you or someone you love wants to quit drinking it’s crucial to know that doing so suddenly, without medical supervision can be deadly. For this reason, attempting detox on one’s own is not suggested no matter how long, how much, or how often you have been drinking.
Can You Die From Alcohol Withdrawal?
Alcohol withdrawal and detox can have fatal consequences in certain circumstances, so it is vital for those who wish to detox from alcohol to do so in a medical addiction treatment facility. withdrawal from alcohol can be dehydrating to the body due to withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and profuse sweating. Alcohol alone is a dehydrating substance and combining that with the dehydrating side effects of alcohol withdrawal can induce seizures, heart palpitations, and heart arrhythmia and may even prove lethal in some cases. This condition can be even more severe for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
If you or someone you love wants to stop drinking alcohol, it’s essential to find an addiction treatment facility that offers medical care. Futures is well equipped, experienced, and purpose-built to help clients through this difficult, trying, yet necessary detoxification process.
During this phase of treatment for alcohol, which usually lasts three to seven days, Futures’ team works together to minimize discomfort while keeping safety, health and well-being of each client a priority. Through the use of certain medications, difficult alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be managed which increase the individual’s chance of staying in treatment and decrease relapse rates early on in recovery.
Futures offers comprehensive care for the complicated disease of addiction. From medical alcohol detox to alumni support years after completing clinical treatment, the team at Futures supports clients during each step of their unique recovery journey. Contact Futures today and begin healing tomorrow.
