Chronic alcoholism is a serious medical condition that can be lethal if left unchecked. It is spread over three stages. Alcoholics may recover safely and with minimal bodily harm in the first two stages. If still allowed to further worsen into end stage alcoholism, or the last and worst stage, the excessive amounts alcohol in the body can claim the life of the alcoholic in a painful death.
Alcoholism is primarily characterized by an increasing frequency and a gradual rise in the amount of alcohol consumption and dependence. In early stage alcoholism, alcoholic drinks provide an individual with a soothing sensation that lightens his mood, or an escape from an emotional crash. Middle stage alcoholism depicts the alcoholic as losing control of how much is his alcohol intake in order to feed his imagined need. Alcohol consumption has begun to pick up and there is an increase in regularity. The liver is now starting to be overwhelmed in breaking down the increased amount of alcohol. Alcohol has started to affect other organs as well.
End stage alcoholism is where the craving to drink alcoholic beverages has taken over the individual. To the alcoholic, consuming alcoholic drinks is equal to or more important than eating meals or drinking water. They exhibit extreme physical withdrawal symptoms. Work, finance, family, and social relations will have seriously deteriorated. The liver is unable to do its work of filtering harmful toxins. The alcoholic will have been suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. He is also now undernourished. Organs that digest food and transmit important nutrients are damaged, affecting the heart and the brain. These organs will be unable to recover if alcohol intake is continuous. Thus, this last stage is fatal.
Dementia caused by alcohol is one of the symptoms of this final stage. Memory loss, mental confusion, psychomotor difficulties, and mind and body coordination is affected. Liver, heart, and brain damage are irreversible. Still, alcoholics at end stage alcoholism can be treated, albeit permanent injuries will remain. End stage alcoholics who will recover cannot go back to a normal and full life.
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