What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

 

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a recognized disease connected with an intense, uncontrollable desire to consume alcohol even though it results in harm. It starts from moderate to severe levels and sometimes the condition results in physical or mental illnesses.

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) 

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is an illness that is diagnosed by the inability of any person to refrain from taking alcohol regardless of the harm it inflicts on health, relationships, and functioning. AUD alcohol can be mild, moderate, or severe, and the most severe form is considered to be parallel to alcoholism. It is estimated that millions of people are struggling with the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which means that they have to suffer physical, emotional, and social implications. The knowledge about AUD is essential to acknowledge its effects and to find professional assistance.

What Is Alcoholism? 

Alcohol dependence is the worst type of AUD, where the consumer becomes physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol. Over or recreational drinking can be distinguished from alcoholism, where the individual is unable to refrain from drinking despite negative consequences in his daily activities. This dependence enhances the tolerance level of alcohol; that is, to have the same impact, a higher volume of alcohol has to be consumed; the withdrawal symptoms are observed when consumption is brought down.

Signs of Alcoholism Include:

• Drinking more alcohol or for longer periods than planned.
• Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or quit drinking.
• Spending a lot of time getting alcohol, drinking, or recovering from its effects.
• Neglecting responsibilities at work, home, or school.
• Continuing to drink even when it causes or worsens health problems.

What does alcohol do to your body?

Alcohol, depending on how it is consumed, has a broad impact on almost all the body organs leading to both acute and chronic effects. As the very famous saying goes, ‘access to everything is bad’; moderate drinking of alcohol may have certain health benefits, but consuming alcohol in large quantities is rather dangerous and can lead to specific health issues.

Effects of Alcohol on the Body:

• Brain: Alcohol disrupts pathways through which mood, behaviour, and cognition are controlled, leading to the possibility of long-term neurotoxicity.
• Heart: consumption of excessive drinking raises the chances of stroke, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, hypertension, and a myriad of chronic heart conditions.
• Liver: The liver absorbs most of the harm but can be life-threatening and lead to cirrhosis, hepatitis, fibrosis, or fatty liver.
• Pancreas: Alcohol causes toxic substances in the Pancreatic juices that cause Pancreatitis- a dangerous inflammation that messes up digestion and increases the risk of diabetes.
• Immune System: Alcohol affects the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight against diseases and infections.

What happens when you drink alcohol every day and then stop?

In the case of everyday alcohol drinking, there are alcohol withdrawal symptoms that the body will realise. Some are anxiety, agitation, trembling, increased sweating, vomiting, and, in the worst-case scenario, seizures or DTs.Alcohol Withdrawal happens because the body gets used to having alcohol in the system, and it becomes difficult for it to do without it. It depends on the volume of alcohol consumed and the time it took in the process. So, it is advisable to consult a doctor when one wants to detoxify their system or stop the consumption of alcohol completely.

Common Withdrawal Symptoms

Mild Symptoms

Some are expressed by sweating, insomnia, anxiety, shaky hands, nausea, etc. Some of these symptoms develop within a few hours soon after the last time of drinking.

Moderate Symptoms

Tachycardia, pyrexia, and altered mental state. These are more severe forms of dependence, signifying you need to be more watchful.

Severe Symptoms

Severe symptoms include hallucinations, severe agitation, and seizures, and the condition may be fatal. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. If one has decided to avoid drinking, then he or she should consult a doctor before they quit. This is because the body becomes dependent on this substance, and quitting it harms the body.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

Thus, the problem of AUD is not only associated with the deterioration of the population’s health but also affects the indicators of death internationally. They die of accidents from liver diseases, heart complications, and alcohol-related cancers that are a result of overindulgence. According to WHO, alcohol is a contributing factor in 3 million deaths per year; that is, alcohol is among the leading risk factors for death.

Major Causes of Alcohol-Related Deaths:

• Liver Cirrhosis: It is also worth mentioning about harmful effects of alcohol on the human body; in this case, chronic alcohol intake results in liver disorders, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
• Cardiovascular Disease: Alcohol has been associated with high blood pressure and elevated risks of heart disease and stroke.
• Accidents and Injuries: Thus, reckless behaviour involving attributes such as alcohol leads to fatal incidents like car crashes since the judgement is impaired.
• Cancers: Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, liver, and breast.

What Happens When You Quit Drinking?

Alcohol cessation is one of the ways through which one improves their health, but it comes with some difficulty. As soon as you quit, your organs start to cleanse and repair from the damages that alcohol has committed, and you get several short-term and long-term advantages.

Immediate Effects of Stopping Alcohol:

• Improved Sleep: Alcohol inhibits sleep, so when one stops drinking, they will likely have sound sleep at night.
• Better Hydration: Alcohol reduces hydration; when you stop taking it, skin and energy levels improve.
• Stabilised Mood: Alcohol affects the emotions of an individual, expanding them to anxiety and depression, besides mood swings. When he makes that decision, the outcome is an improved state of emotions most of the time.

Long-Term Benefits of Quitting Alcohol:

• Liver Recovery: The liver begins to regenerate, decreasing the chances of developing cirrhosis and other illnesses associated with the liver.
• Weight Loss: Excessive drinking contains calories; avoiding it can help you reduce your size.
• Lower Cancer Risk: Refusal to take alcohol eliminates chances of getting alcohol-related cancers.

What to Expect When Quitting Alcohol

Chewing it out can be very tough, and withdrawal manifestations depend on how much and for how long one has been consuming the alcohol.Here's a general overview of what to expect.

Stages of Alcohol Withdrawal:

Stage 1 (6-12 hours): Some of them include; anxiety, nausea, vomiting, headache, and difficulty in sleeping.
Stage 2 (12-48 hours): Symptoms worsen and predispose the patient to high arterial pressure, fever, and tachycardia.
Stage 3 (48-72 hours): In other words, it is dangerous and life-threatening to consume any amount of alcohol, especially when one is already having severe withdrawal signs like confusion, seizure, or DTs(Delirium tremens).

Craving increases the ‘emotional misery’ of withdrawal considerably and makes it a challenge for most people who wish to stop. To address them, individuals need help, professional assistance, and in some cases – medical assistance.

Healthy Alternatives to Drinking

For one to be able to quit drinking and hence defeat AUD, a person needs to consider avoidance as an essential factor. The person will be required to select other healthy functions to engage in instead of consuming alcohol, thus resulting in a healthier daily life.

Alternatives :

• Exercise: Endorphins are released when one is engaged in physical activities. This removes stress and evokes a good feeling, which helps control alcohol-seeking behaviour.
• Mindfulness and Meditation: Such practices can counter anxiety and assist in attaining a better mental state that does away with psychological desires.
• Social Activities: Having hobbies, participating in clubs, or volunteering, one gets social contact but not in bars and establishes a healthy society.
• Creative Outlets: Regarding fascinating activities, painting, writing, or listening to music can be beneficial and turn emotions into something productive.
• Professional Help: There is help if treatment, counselling, or joining groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous is what the one trying to stop the use of alcohol requires.

Conclusion

It is crucial to know AUD as a way of identifying how the problem influences one’s life and the lives of other people. Much as it is defined and how it affects the body, the dangers of alcohol-related deaths, as well as withdrawal signs, are evident that AUD is a critical problem that needs awareness, backup, and measures. In case anyone around you or yourself suffers from this disease, it is high time to look for new ways of avoiding alcohol and address a specialist. Consulting an Alcohol Rehab Center can provide the structured environment and specialised care needed for recovery. These centres offer not only medical detox and therapy but also long-term support to help individuals regain control of their lives and prevent relapse. Addressing AUD with the help of an alcohol rehab centre can be a transformative step towards a healthier, more fulfilling future.