Alcoholism
is also known as "alcohol dependence." It is a disease that
includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related
problems, such as losing a job or getting health problem. Alcoholism has
four symptoms :-
- ---A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
- ---The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
- ---Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol
use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
- ---The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
Alcoholism
is now accepted as a disease. It is a chronic and often progressive disease.
Like many diseases, it has symptoms that include a strong need to drink
despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems.
Like many diseases, it has a generally predictable course and is influenced
by both genetic (inherited) and environmental factors
There is a great danger of getting Alcohol poisoning among heavy drinkers. It's
not just having a hangover or drinking so much that you vomit. Alcohol
poisoning happens when the blood alcohol level (the percentage of alcohol
circulating in the bloodstream) rises to a danger point. At very high
blood alcohol levels, a person loses consciousness and goes into a coma.
In the worst cases the drinker dies.