What is the amount of alcohol allowed per week for safe consumption?
Both men and women should not exceed more than 14 units of alcohol per week. They must not drink all of this at one go and must have some alcohol-free days in a week.
What is 1 unit of alcohol?
1 unit of alcohol is:
- 25 ml of spirits like Whiskey, Brandy, Vodka
- ½ a pint (284 ml) of normal 4% beer
- 90 ml of wine.
What is a hangover?
Hangover are the symptoms of headache and sickness that occurs the next day following alcohol intake the previous night. It usually happens due to loss of water from the body (as alcohol is a diuretic) and also because of gastritis.
What is the treatment for hangover?
Firstly, avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Then try to drink water to combat the dehydration. Painkillers and antacids will also help. Take rest and be careful not to drive.
What happens when you stop drinking suddenly?
When you consume large amounts of alcohol over a period of time and suddenly reduce or stop it on your own, you may experience what is known as withdrawal symptoms.
Why do withdrawal symptoms occur?
Alcohol changes the chemicals in the brain and causes certain effect over a period of time. So sudden stoppage after prolonged and heavy drinking without proper medical supervision can cause the body to react adversely.
What are the symptoms of withdrawing from alcohol?
You may experience sickness / vomiting, tremors, sweating, nervousness, feel agitated, have headache, feelings of itchiness, may hear voices or sounds or see things that don’t exist.
Will I have a seizure if I stop drinking suddenly?
Sometimes in severe instances seizures (fits) may occur which needs medical attention.
Can people hear voices or see things that are not real during alcohol withdrawal?
Alcoholic hallucinosis can occur after stopping alcohol around 12 hours later. These hallucinations can be seeing or hearing things that are not present or feeling things when they are not present (known as tactile hallucination).
Doctors ask questions to accurately assess the problem and will treat accordingly. There are also questionnaires to assess alcohol withdrawal.
How do doctors treat alcohol withdrawal?
Acute alcohol withdrawal is treated with medications such as benzodiazepines and adequate fluids and rest.
Why do doctors give Thiamine for people withdrawing from alcohol?
It is a known fact that Thiamine (Vitamin B 12) is deficient in people with alcohol dependence. It is recommended that Vitamin B 1 (thiamine) should be given at a dose of 100 mg via the veins before giving glucose to prevent complications due to lack of thiamine.
What does lack of Thiamine cause?
Lack of Thiamine over long term causes a syndrome known as Wernicke’s Korsakoff syndrome. This causes damage to the brain, memory and other problems.
What other vitamins and minerals are required for people with chronic alcohol problem?
Other B vitamins, folic acid, minerals such as magnesium and zinc are also vital.
What is the best way to stop alcohol?
If you have been drinking above the recommended limits for several months or years it is best to consult a psychiatrist who will help you to come off alcohol. This is usually done in either in patient or community setting by prescribing certain medications to help you medically manage the withdrawal. Other medications may be prescribed and blood tests will be taken and any dehydration will be treated as well.
Can alcohol withdrawal be confused with any other condition?
Yes. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be confused with blood glucose alterations in people with diabetes, anxiety problems, epilepsy, thyroid problems or withdrawal from any other substance.
Is alcohol withdrawal the same as delirium tremens?
Delirium tremens is potentially a more dangerous complication of alcohol withdrawal but it is not the same. When one is coming off alcohol in a supervised manner, it is important to watch out for occurrence of delirium tremens.
What is delirium tremens?
In some rarer instances, especially in long term use of heavy alcohol, stoppage may lead to a more severe and potentially life-threatening form of withdrawal, a complication known as DELIRIUM TREMENS.
When does delirium tremens develop?
Delirium tremens develops when one stops alcohol after heavy and prolonged use. It commonly affects people who have been drinking for over a decade and drinking about ½ litre of spirits per day. It happens especially when one stops eating and drinking as well as stopping alcohol.
How common is delirium tremens?
It happens in 3 to 5% of people with alcohol withdrawal. This usually happens around the 3rd to 5th day after stopping alcohol.
What are the symptoms of delirium tremens?
DELIRIUM TREMENS may cause confusion, unaware of where they are (disorientation), fever, agitation, excessive sweating, seeing and hearing things that are not present (hallucinations) and believing in untrue facts (delusions). Medical attention is required to replace thiamine and to control dehydration, fits and other symptoms.
How is delirium tremens treated?
The main treatment for delirium tremens is in a hospital setting. Giving adequate fluids and benzodiazepines will help. Thiamine is usually given through the veins or as an injection.
Can people with delirium tremens die?
People with fever, dehydration, infections or trauma are at more risk of dying. The risk of death with delirium tremens is up to 15 %.
