When an individual who has an alcohol addiction decides to stop drinking, the first phase that the body goes through is known as alcohol detox. Based on how regularly they drink and how extensivley they’ve been drinking, they can go through withdrawal symptoms that range from moderate and unpleasant to dangerously life-threatening. A number of people do not know how severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are compared to people going through withdrawals from a drug detoxification. harsh alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include delirium tremens, seizures, strokes, and cardiac arrest.
Delirium Tremens (DT)
Delirium tremens serves as a a more intense form of disorientation. A person experiencing DT will notice trouble breathing, an increased heartbeat and a high fever. People who are more likely to have DT usually also struggle with co-occurring mental disabilities, or have a history of health problems like seizures and liver dysfunction. The Journal of Emergency Medicine claims that DT typically occurs within a week following the last drink.
Seizures
Over the span of an alcohol addiction, the body becomes dependent on the substance and builds up toxins in the nervous system. When a regular drinker discontinues the use of alcohol, the nervous system reacts by entering a state of hyper-activity, which may induce a seizure. There are different levels of seizures but all forms can be dangerous to the well-being of the individual experiencing it. Seizures can cause numerous physical problems along with neurological and cardiovascular damage. Specialists say that seizures generally develop between six and 48 hours after the last drink. However, because seizures are likely to be a co-occuring affliction, it’s possible for people to experience seizures later on during recovery.
Strokes
Strokes may be a result of DT or a seizure. An abnormally elevated heart rate combined with the lack of oxygen getting to the brain can cause cells within the brain to malfunction; thus causing a stroke. When someone experiences a stroke, the decline of brain cell function may have different levels of seriousness. Strokes can cause severe damage to the nervous system and blood clots that contribute to death.
The Importance Of Medically Monitored Alcohol Detoxification
Because of the dangerous dynamics of alcohol detox, people who would like to quit using alcohol are encouraged to do this within the supervision of professional medical care. Medically monitored detoxification guarantees that individuals will get an analysis of their addiction, an appropriate diagnosis, and an efficient care plan. Alcohol detox services that have 24-hour care will also offer patients with the convenience of medical interventions in which they can be given non-addictive drugs to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
Professionals say that between alcohol detox and commonly treated drug detox, alcohol detox is the most harmful. That is because the chemical which is accumulated in your system over the span of an addiction is one of the sole chemicals that can cause death during withdrawal. Due to the potentially deadly outcomes that may happen in alcohol detox, it is important that people seeking recovery from their illness consult a professional about entering a detoxification treatment that provides 24-hour clinical supervision.
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