When you know someone who struggles with alcohol or drug addiction, your first thought is often to look for a “why.” Did they fall into the wrong crowd? Did they turn to substances as a way to take the edge off underlying troubles? Do they come from a family where alcohol and drugs were prevalent? Researchers and clinicians alike have worked long and hard to uncover the roots of addiction,
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome — once referred to as wet brain syndrome — can be a devastating side effect of long-term alcohol abuse. WKS can be caused by a host of conditions that lead to malnutrition, such as cancer, AIDS, eating disorders, and certain types of surgery. However, it is estimated that around 90% of cases of Wernicke encephalopathy (the first stage of WKS) are caused by untreated alcohol use disorder[1]. What
Alcohol use disorder affects millions of people throughout the United States, across all races, sexual orientations, socioeconomic levels, and gender identities.
A high-functioning alcoholic is an individual who maintains their daily responsibilities and appears successful while struggling with alcohol addiction behind closed doors. They often manage to keep their alcoholism hidden underneath their seeming successes, making it challenging for friends, family, and even themselves to recognize the severity of their problem.1 Although it’s harder to recognize the signs of alcoholism in someone who is high-functioning, there are still some tell-tale things
Alcohol is among the most widely used drugs in the United States. An estimated 133.1 million people had a drink in the last month alone.¹ Thankfully, most people are responsible about their alcohol consumption. They have a drink while out on a date or at a gathering with friends and cut it after one or two. Unfortunately, some have a harder time managing their drinking. In the U.S., 21.5% of
Prolonged alcohol use can have a wide range of effects on the human body. Some of these can be noticed immediately, while others can take time to present themselves but become much more serious. One such issue that can take some time to develop is alcohol-induced heart murmurs and palpitations — otherwise known as alcohol-induced AFib. When dealing with matters of your heart and its continued function, you’ll want to
Heart problems are extremely dangerous, and most people who have felt any pain in their chest know how scary of a feeling it can be. Your heart is one of the most vital organs in the body, and heart palpitations are a sign that it isn’t as healthy as it could be. Whether you’re a heavy alcohol drinker or just consume one or two drinks per day, you might wonder
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and found yourself covered in a cold sweat that you couldn’t quite explain? While sweating performs a bodily function — keeps you cool in warm conditions — and is often a sign your body is fighting off an infection, sometimes night sweats can be a sign of a more serious condition. If you’re dealing with alcoholism, you may also
Choosing to quit alcohol can prove challenging for people looking to positively change their lives. Alcohol addiction can become so ingrained in a person that when they begin to move away from their old ways, symptoms of depression can develop. As you start getting sober, one can only wonder — how long will the depression last after quitting alcohol? Defining Depression Depression is a complex condition that presents itself differently
Shedding hair is a completely normal process for humans. In fact, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs from our head per day on average. Losing some strands every day is natural, but losing hair at an extreme rate or losing clumps of hair may be a sign of a bigger problem. There are many factors that could contribute to balding: aging, hormonal changes, medical conditions, and more. But there
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