According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, disorders related to alcohol use affect approximately 7 percent of adults in the United States. Heavy alcohol use can cause not only medical problems but many social and psychological problems as well. Awareness of the warning signs of alcoholism leads to early diagnosis and treatment of the disorder and can allow the patient to avoid many of these problems.
Significance
Recognition of the warning signs of alcoholism can prevent the development of a myriad of problems due to alcohol abuse. Medical complications of alcohol abuse include liver disease, pancreatic disase, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal issues and cancer. Psychiatric and social issues related to alcohol abuse include depression, anxiety, job issues, legal problems and family problems. Some of these medical problems are irreversible and life-threatening but can be averted if the warning signs are detected and the patient is treated for alcoholism.
Physical Warning Signs for Alcoholism
There are several physical warning signs for alcoholism. Patients with alcoholism are dependent on alcohol and exhibit physical withdrawal when not drinking. Signs of this dependence include irritability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, tremulousness, sweating and increased heart rate when alcohol is not consumed. In extreme cases, a patient who suffers from alcoholism may have seizures or a potentially life-threatening complication known as delirium tremens when alcohol is not consumed. A patient who is physically dependent on alcohol may need an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed to feel the effects of the alcohol.
Social/Psychological Warning Signs for Alcoholism
Signs such as feeling the need to drink or being unable to limit the amount of alcohol consumed are also warning signs of alcoholism. Other common signs include drinking alone, not remembering conversations that occurred while intoxicated, losing interest in other activities, keeping alcohol in unusual places and drinking despite the fact that it is interfering with job or family obligations. As discussed by the AAFP, a questionnaire known as the "CAGE" questionnaire is commonly used by physicians in the primary care setting to help determine the risk of alcohol problems and is a good resource for a patient who is concerned about his alcohol use.
Intervention
A patient who is concerned about alcoholism should present to his primary care physician for evaluation of this problem. However, patients are often in denial about the problem and it is frequently a family member who recognizes the warning signs and brings it to the attention of a physician. Additionally, warning signs of alcoholism are sometimes noted when a patient is hospitalized for another reason and does not have access to alcohol during this time period. If warning signs are noted but the patient is in denial, an assessment of the issues related to alcohol abuse and discussion of these issues with the patient may motivate the patient to seek treatment.
Treatment
Once the warning signs of alcoholism are noted, there are many treatments available to a patient. These include a program for alcohol detoxification if the patient has signs of physical dependence. Other treatments include psychological support and outpatient therapy to help with alcohol cessation. Medications that make a patient vomit if he drinks may be helpful in assisting with avoidance of alcohol in the future. Once alcoholism is diagnosed, life-long follow-up and treatment is typically needed to prevent relapse and to avoid the complications of alcoholism.
