The misuse of alcohol has always been a problem globally and ranks amongst the top ten causes of death and also disabilities. Many people who have tried to get rehab from alcohol substance use usually develop alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol is legal globally to people over the age of 21, unlike other illegal addictive substances. People take a glass or bottle of alcoholic substance(s) every day and do not develop any kind of issue.
Most 18-year olds have drunk alcohol already, and it is easy to develop a pattern of heavy drinking that usually leads to an alcohol problem eventually. This turns out to be a problem because recuperating from alcohol dependence is very hard and is often the first step to alcohol withdrawal. So what causes alcohol withdrawal symptoms in people? Doctors tell us it is a depressive effect that is found in our bodies.
This effect usually reduces our brain function and because our nervous system has gotten used to alcohol being available at all times. During withdrawal, the body works extra hard to make sure your nerves keep sending the needed messages. If alcohol is no longer available as usual, the brain remains in this state, and that's how the withdrawal syndrome is birthed.
How Do You Tell the Symptoms?
Symptoms vary and can either be very mild or quite severe; it all depends on your alcohol level. Mild symptoms could be fever, dehydration, sweating, vomiting, and insomnia. You could also experience anxiety and an abnormal heart rate as well as nausea. However, when it gets very serious, you might experience hallucinations and seizures, the sweating gets heavier, and you're in a constant state of confusion.
How Do You Treat AWS in 2020?
There are several ways you can treat this in 2020, and the best person to consult is your doctor. A doctor will prescribe the right environment to help you recover while consindering other health conditions you might have. The treatments also differ according to your symptoms, as mild conditions can be taken care of at home, but severe cases might need to be taken to the hospital. Below are some of the best treatments available.
Home Treatment
When it's a mild case, it can be taken care of at home. A close friend or family is around to supervise your actions, and if it gets worse, they can immediately call the doctor. They also make sure you don't miss out on any counseling or doctor appointments to keep up-to-date with your condition. Sometimes, this is not best, and the syndrome only gets worse. In this case, you can request to be moved to a program for alcohol addictions or be hospitalized.
Getting Hospitalized
If your case is a severe one, then the hospital is the best course. With this option, you get to be supervised at all times by medical personnel. In this case, you might require fluids to be passed into you through your veins to ensure you don't get dehydrated, and you're on the right medications that will help you get better.
Getting Medicated
Most alcohol withdrawal syndromes are usually treated with medications, and the popular is benzodiazepines sedatives. The common ones used are clonazepam or Xanax (alprazolam). There is also the use of valium, which is diazepam). There are also vitamin supplements that are also given to patients to help them recover vitamins lost due to excessive alcohol. Once the withdrawal is over, other medications may be prescribed to take care of complications.
Getting Nutritional Support
Because it is easy to spot nutrient deficiencies in AWS patients, nutritional support is almost always provided. This includes the provision of folic acid and thiamin. There is also the provision of magnesium supplements as magnesium levels are always depleted during withdrawals. When the level of magnesium begins to rise, it is mostly always a sign of recovery. However, magnesium supplements are not important to the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
