Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Consumption of alcohol is a common and socially accepted phenomenon. Many people drink alcohol for the purpose of socializing or enjoyment. But when drinking alcohol leads to trouble in job, health or relationships, it is diagnosed as alcohol abuse. Detection of alcohol abuse is possible if one observes the following signs and symptoms:

Physical Signs-
Red-eyes and slurred speech: A person who is abusing alcohol will have bloodshot eyes even during work hours or early morning and his speech will be slurred heavily.
Lack of hygiene: The person suffering with alcohol abuse will be presenting poor hygiene habits and mostly looks unkempt.
Sudden weight gain/loss: Drastic gain or loss in weight in a short period is a major sign of alcohol abuse.
Lowered immunity levels: Alcohol abusers tend to fall sick more often than non-abusers of alcohol.
Change in sleeping pattern: A person suffering from alcohol abuse may be following an irregular sleeping pattern which may vary from sleeping for too many hours to sleeping too little leading to insomnia.

Behavioral Signs:

Mood Swings: A person suffering from alcohol abuse may be undergoing variations in mood ranging from throwing temper tantrums to display of verbal as well as physical aggression under the influence of alcohol.
Lack of interest in enjoyable activities: An alcohol abuser is likely to suffer from depression and may exhibit a lack of interest in pleasurable activities enjoyed previously.
Negligence of duties at home and work area: A person who is drinking and displaying laxity in performing tasks at home or office is decidedly suffering from alcohol abuse. For example- Neglecting ones children, not able to meet deadlines at work due to hang-over, performing poorly in exams and dropping out of college are a few symptoms of alcohol abuse.
Irresponsible social behavior: Drinking and driving rashly on the road endangering other people’s lives, picking up physical fights in an inebriated condition and combining drugs with alcohol tantamount to alcohol abuse problem.
Persistent drinking: Alcohol abusers continue to drink even when their drinking problem adversely affects their relationships at home especially with their spouse and children. Most of the times persistent drinking problems lead to domestic violence and end with divorce.
Irritability: A person shows irritable behavior in the form of aggressive arguments; temper tantrums and restlessness when he/she is not drinking. This is undoubtedly a sign of abuse.
Hiding the drinking habit: An alcohol abuser tends to disguise his/her drinking habit from his/her family members and colleagues. The person may even go to the extent of buying liquor from different sellers in order to camouflage ones addiction to alcohol.
Lack of self-control: A person abusing alcohol generally starts drinking for relaxation or for social obligations but he/she is unable to stop drinking once started. It generally results in the drunken person passing out and his/her inability to remember events later on.

What is a Gastric Band

Gastric Band

Obesity is a major concern, with more and more becoming obese and yet no alarm is raised about this situation. Obesity has no cure till date. People opt many ways to control or lose their weight. One of the effective ways available today is the gastric surgery but that only helps to control the amount of food intake. The other more powerful alternative available is the gastric band as it restricts food intake.
The gastric band can be inserted with the help of laparoscopic surgery and readily available in the market throughout US and Europe. The gastric band helps to reduce weight and sustain the continued weight loss. The gastric band was introduced in the market way back in the year 1983. Since then it gained immense popularity worldwide and many people were benefited par expectation.

 After the placement of the gastric band it makes the band holder feel full stomached after taking a small meal thus helping to reduce the body weight quickly. Along with the use of the gastric band it is advisable to follow the guidelines for proper nutrition and regular exercise routines for getting better results. The gastric band is like other bands, it is put across the stomach with the help of surgery thus dividing the stomach into two parts. When we eat the food it goes to the upper portion of the stomach and as it gets filled up, we get the sensation of having a full stomach. One of the great benefits available with the use of gastric band is that, it is adjustable and can be adjusted according to the needs. It is better to avoid intake of liquid along solid food as it accelerates the food absorption process. After the installation of the gastric band it is necessary to visit your surgeon regularly for necessary adjustments if any to be done for the gastric band.   

It is better to get counseling from a nutrition specialist before getting your gastric band to ensure you take required nutrients like proteins and vitamins. You can control the process of the weight loss through proper adjustment of the gastric band.  This band is made of silicone materials and therefore our body readily accepts it. This band has a structure like cycle tubing at the inner part of it and to adjust it saline water is administered by the surgeon and after the desired level of size is attained it is left for future adjustments. The major disadvantage with the use of this process is that, this band is not adjustable on your own and every adjustment should be done only by a qualified surgeon. But as far as the end results are concerned, it is unmatched and can easily outclass any available contemporary procedure.          

dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Dangers of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is a malaise that is prevalent across all sections of the society. It is different from alcohol dependence as the person suffering from alcohol abuse is not totally relying on alcohol. This does not undermine the dangers of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse can lead to a series of complications in the life of a person. It is a deceptive condition in which a person remains under the impression that he/she is not alcohol dependent and can counter the harmful effects of alcohol abuse effectively if the need arises. Nevertheless, this is not true. A person suffering from this affliction is seldom able to escape the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Some of the dangers of alcohol abuse are as follows-

Alcoholism: A person suffering from alcohol abuse runs a major risk of developing the problem of alcohol dependence or alcoholism. There is a thin line that separates the two conditions. Alcoholism is a higher degree of alcohol abuse, which can easily happen because a person suffering from alcohol abuse is likely to have work-related and family problems due to his/her drinking habit.  This is one of the major dangers of alcohol abuse.

Adverse effect on work and relationships: Since the person suffering from alcohol abuse is not able to devote his/her time and attention to work and family,  he/she is likely to be neglecting the work and personal relationship including his/her children. Other adverse effects include reporting late for work, inability to meet deadlines, etc. Inability to sustain family and work relationships may lead to unemployment and divorce, which may further become reasons for the patient to continue his/her habit or dependence on alcohol. 

Adverse effect on the Liver: A person suffering from alcohol abuse is susceptible to liver damage and is likely to suffer from liver cirrhosis and hepatitis, which may prove to be fatal. 

Cardio problem: Long term abuse of alcohol leads to increase in heart rate and high blood pressure problem which in turn may cause cardiac arrest and heart failure.

Respiratory problem: Long term abuse of alcohol may lead to Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an affliction of the lungs which makes breathing difficult and may even lead to lung failure.

Neurological complications: Unchecked alcohol abuse can lead to serious neurological problems. Dangers of alcohol abuse include loss of vision, short term amnesia and blackouts after bouts of drinking.


Other Physiological problems: Constant alcohol abuse leads to inflammation of the lining of the stomach and damage to pancreas and cause diabetes related problems.  The person abusing alcohol may gain a lot of excessive weight due to too much drinking.

Effect on Unborn child: Alcohol abuse during pregnancy may cause serious birth defects in the unborn child including the child’s mental growth.

Cancer: Alcohol abuse carried on over for long term can be the reason for developing cancer of the mouth, throat, liver and breast.

UK Alcohol Abuse Clinics Challenges

Alcohol Abuse Centers/Clinics in UK

In UK it is a challenging task to provide treatment for people suffering from alcohol abuse as a large percentage of them are jobless, have no homes, poor and live in areas where alcohol abuse may be reinforced. So making them undergo rehabilitation programs and sustaining their progress on the road to recovery proves to be a crucial and challenging process.

There are a plethora of Alcohol Abuse Rehab Clinics in UK in the public as well as private sectors. These Alcohol Abuse Rehab Clinics run Residential Treatment Programs. These programs are meant for people with alcohol abuse problems who want to overcome their addiction for the purpose of living a better, healthy and productive lifestyle.

People opting for residential treatment programs are required to be clean from alcohol when checking in for these programs. These programs generally range from a period of 3 to 6 months but some 12 step programs generally stretch up to one year.

In the Rehab Clinics, residential treatment programs may be categorized in four categories broadly-

Therapeutic communities: In this program the person with alcohol abuse problem is made to undergo intense and rigorous therapy sessions in a hierarchical manner.
Minnesota Model: In this program the problem of alcohol abuse is considered a disease and treated accordingly with stress on spiritual guidance. It aims at providing a long term cure from alcohol abuse.
Christian Alcohol Treatment Centers: These centers are basically run by Christian staff and admit only those who are Christians.
General House Programs: These programs are based on individual therapy as well as group therapy.

However it is interesting to note that Christian Alcohol Treatment Centers in UK are available all over the globe under various names like- Life Matters, Essence Treatment Centre etc.  It basically works on the premise that rehabilitation from alcohol abuse is a comprehensive program. The treatment varies from individual counseling and therapy, group therapy, 12 step programs etc. depending on the recommendations of the medical expert.

However these programs aim at empowering the person from within so that he grows spiritually which forms the essence of his recovery. The teachings of Christ and the importance of a Christ Centered life are emphasized in these programs. They seek to find a long term solution to the problem of alcohol abuse. 

In these programs a lot of emphasis is given on providing the support of family members and friends to the person undergoing the treatment. Their families are consulted and counseled before and during the course of treatment. This is done to aid the patient during recovery as well as provide a better environment at home when they check out of the program. Besides, after the program they are involved in helping other people undergoing similar treatment to motivate and help them, thereby providing a positive reinforcement.