Alcoholism

__Definition__:
Physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.HGD Chapter 15 p447

Alcohol is the most frequently abused substance in the United States. Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking(w[|ww.mayoclinic.com])

Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, social, family, and job responsibilities. Alcohol may control your life and relationships. Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction. Alcoholism is sometimes related to depression. Alcoholism is a big problem. However, if managed properly, damage to the brain can be stopped and to some extent reversed.[1home] In addition to problem drinking, the disease is characterized by symptoms including an impaired control over alcohol, compulsive thoughts about alcohol, and distorted thinking. Symptoms~ Be unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink Feel a strong need or compulsion to drink Develop tolerance to alcohol so that you need more to feel its effects Drink alone or hide your drinking Experience physical withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink Keep alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work or in your car

‍‍‍‍‍‍‍__Examples__:media type="custom" key="23541356" ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
One example of alcoholism is giving up other activities just to drink.



__Treatments__:
There are no known cures for alcoholism, except for, just not drinking at all. However alcoholism is a real disease and should not be taken lightly as a disease. The only way to help yourself stay away from alcohol, is to go to meetings, and complete rehabilitation programs, with the ten steps to recovery.

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can increase your risk of many health problems, including:

Bleeding in the digestive tract Brain cell damage Brain disorder Cancer of the esophagus, liver, colon, and other area Changes in the menstrual cycle (period) Delirium tremens (DT's) Memory loss Sleeping problems Depression Erectile dysfunction Heart damage High blood pressure Inflammation of the pancreas Liver disease, including Nerve damage Poor nutritioN

__Analogies__:
Alcoholism is to excessive drinking as cancer is to death.

__Mnemonics__:

 * ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍C** Have you ever felt you ought to **C**ut down on your drinking?**A** Have people **A**nnoyed you by criticizing your drinking?**G** Have you ever felt bad or **G**uilty about your drinking?**E** Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover (**E**ye-opener)? ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍

__In the News__:
[] [] Is alcoholism hereditary? [|Alcoholism and alcohol abuse facts] [|EMedicineHealth] [|Web4Health] [|WebMD] [|Alcoholism Treatment] [|Alcohol Poisoning] [|Alcohol Withdrawal] [|Alcohol, Calories, and Weight] [|Alcohol use, abuse, and depression] [|Alcohol and Breastfeeding] media type="youtube" key="DFdBd0oaRhE" height="315" width="560" media type="youtube" key="xH97OBRwC-A" height="315" width="420" [] []