Alcohol Detox Even If You Are Just A Social Drinker
Your body may be sending you signals that you need to take a break from alcohol. It may be time to detox alcohol from your body if you are feeling run down and tired, having digestive problems or experiencing achy muscles. If you drink and party regularly and have any of these symptoms, a simple alcohol detox may be for you.
With repeated or long term use, alcohol can cause liver and kidney problems, addiction and weight gain. While drinking and partying often seem harmless, ingesting alcohol on a regular basis can lead to the build up of toxins and sugars and eventually to alcoholism, or addiction to alcohol. Overuse and dependence on alcohol can have serious health risks as well.
However, most of us don’t have a serious problem, and use alcohol socially. Even so, what can we do to limit the long term effects of alcohol usage?
In its simplest form, an alcohol detoxification program simply involves abstaining from alcohol for a period of time and allowing the body to eliminate all traces of the substance from the tissues and blood stream. Most healthcare professionals recommend at least one to four weeks of no alcohol. However, if you are a heavy drinker or suspect that you may be an alcoholic, cutting back or switching from hard liquor to wine for the first few days or a week may be easier for you to handle. Many people who have developed a dependence on alcohol will experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms like sweating, trembling and an almost overwhelming craving for alcohol.
Allowing your body a “vacation” from drinking may eventually lead to healthier habits, as you experience increased energy and vitality after your body begins to recover. During this period, take the chance to also do a colon, liver and kidney cleanse. Many report an increase in energy, sexual drive and function and a decrease of appetite after the detox period.
Allow your body to recover and rest. Take a break from alcohol for a month and you may be surprised at how great you feel!
Sandra Kim Leong owns the resource-rich site on detoxification and cleansing. She strongly believes that detoxification should form part of one’s regular health regime. For free information and articles, please visit http://www.detox-cleansing.com
Tags: alcohol detox, Alcohol Detoxification, Detox, detoxificationAlcohol Detoxification
If you love someone who is an alcoholic, or you are struggling with your own alcohol problem, you may be interested in the process of alcohol detoxification. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from uncomfortable to life threatening, depending on the severity of the addiction, and detoxification can help with this process.
Alcohol detoxification is simply eliminating alcohol from the body and providing medical assistance for the symptoms of withdrawal that accompany this process. Medical professionals will generally prescribe a limited course of treatment with one of several drugs developed for this purpose. The most common is called Chlordiazepoxide. While I do not like the use of drugs in most cases, I do concede that in certain instances, such as this, they can be extremely helpful and effective in helping someone to recover from a harmful addiction.
The treatment will usually last about a week. The dosage is highest on the first day, with declining amounts on the following days. This allows the highest dosage to be used at the time when the effects of withdrawal are strongest. Close supervision by a medical professional is usually required, and the patient must agree to discontinue all alcohol use during the treatment time.
Without treatment, an alcoholic who suddenly discontinues the use of alcohol can experience mild symptoms like sweating, cravings for alcohol and trembling. More severe withdrawal symptoms can include delirium tremens, hallucinations and even convulsions in a small percentage of patients. The detoxification drugs help the body eliminate alcohol and limit these uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms.
With the use of drugs like Chlordiazepoxide, withdrawal is less dangerous and more comfortable than it would be without medicine. Most users still experience some trouble sleeping, nervousness and irritability, though.
Detoxification only addresses the physical issues of alcoholism, though, and many professional endorse a combined therapy that includes counseling or a 12 step program to follow the detoxification process. Most contend that the cravings for alcohol, both physical and psychological, will remain long after it is out of the system. Counseling and continued treatment is required to help the patient change their attitudes and resist returning to alcohol use.
In addition to counseling and support, there are several drugs that may be prescribed to help avoid a relapse and make recovery easier. Acamprosate helps reduce cravings and another drug, Disulfiram, will make the user sick if they ingest alcohol.
There is no shame in asking for assistance with an alcohol problem. Most family doctors and counselors can prescribe the detoxification treatment or make the appropriate referrals. Take advantage of the assistance available; recovering from alcoholism is an often difficult road.
Using the help available can be the difference between recovery and relapse, so ask your healthcare professional about detoxification programs today.
Sandra Kim Leong owns the resource-rich site on detoxification and cleansing. She strongly believes that detoxification should form part of one’e regular regime. For free information and articles, please visit http://www.detox-cleansing.com
Tags: alcohol detox, Alcohol Detoxification, Detox, detoxification