Alcohol Detox Facts

Alcohol is termed as a disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is said to affect a person's physical health, mental condition and spiritual well-being. There are millions of people who drink alcohol in moderation, but there are some who tend to abuse alcohol. For those who abuse alcohol, it is better to get acquainted with some detox facts and be aware about what to expect when trying to quit.

The chemicals in alcohol affect the functioning of the brain, alcohol is a depressant and has various effects on the neurotransmitters in the brain. A human brain does not work well when there are fluctuations in the body's chemicals so it tries to counter the influx of depressants by making adjustments to certain neurotransmitters. When you stop alcohol intake the brain needs time and support to alter its current position and return to normalcy. This process is generally aided with medication or homemade remedies and is known as alcohol detoxification.

One of the facts is that people experience mild to severe withdrawals of alcohol. The intensity of the withdrawals generally depends on the person's physical condition, duration of alcohol abuse and the intensity of alcohol use. An alcohol detox can be done under clinic outpatient setting or as in patient in a hospital and some even prefer to do it at home. Although alcohol withdrawals are not life-threatening it is advisable to consult a physician for a detox program.

Some of the mild withdrawals that an alcoholic can expect are

• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Irritability

Some of the severe withdrawals one can expect

• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Blackouts
• High Fever

Frequent mood swings and loss of appetite are also some of the common alcohol detox symptoms. A person undergoing an alcohol detox program may also suffer from temporary depression as the brains neurotransmitters are used to the chemicals in alcohol for stimulation. Some people who have other prevailing medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, etc will experience associative symptoms and preferable should undergo an alcohol addiction detox program under medical supervision.

An important alcohol detox fact is that it will reduce the intensity of the withdrawals experienced by an alcoholic trying to quit. Some people opt for a detox program under the care of a physician while others do it at home.

When attempting alcohol detox at home make sure you watch the symptoms closely and seek medical help immediately if things look like getting out of hand. The first thing to do is increase water intake, this will hydrate the body and improve cell functioning. Water intake will also help your kidneys clear the toxins in the body by increasing urine production.

Alcohol abuse weakens the immune system and leaves you susceptible to many diseases and conditions. When you stop drinking it is advisable to take vitamin supplements that propagate general well-being and replenish the body with essential nutrients. Taking vitamin B and vitamin C supplements which are readily available over the counter is a good idea.

Include vegetable and fruit juices in your diet, the diuretic qualities in them will help you rid the toxins from your body while detoxing from alcohol. Beetroot, cranberries, carrot and apple juices will boost the immune system of your body and are effective in fighting alcohol withdrawals.

When undergoing alcohol detox treatment under the care of a physician you will most likely be given benzodiazepines which enhance the functioning of neurotransmitters and act as sedatives. Some of the common alcoholism treatment medications are Librium, Valium and Ativan. Physician will also use Phenobarbitals like Tuinal and Seconal which are used as anticonvulsants.

One of the very important facts is that it's just the first step in treating alcoholism, after going through a detox program it is highly recommended to connect with support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). These support groups are run by recovering alcoholics to help other alcoholics live life on life's terms and deal with alcoholism one day at a time.