What is characteristic of the third stage of alcoholism. Stage III of alcoholism How long do alcoholics with stage 3 live?
Instead of a preface... I didn’t really want to write about third stage of alcoholism, because it is fraught with death and is the last.
I don’t think that my readers “have” this phase of the disease, but among my relatives, friends and acquaintances there were cases when the third stage was, as they say, “in the face”, there was death, a lot of deaths that taught me nothing and .
But codependent people, who may have friends and relatives now in this situation, will certainly be interested and important to know everything about. You need to know the enemy by sight! So I will continue...
The death of a patient can occur from the so-called “” (alcoholic delirium), which characterizes the complete “inadequacy” of the patient’s behavior, so it is simply impossible to predict his actions and condition at such moments, death from failure, from a stroke or heart attack.
If you are “lucky” and death does not occur, then physical, mental, social degradation comes, when rudeness and cynicism, unbridled anger and aggression of the patient are common manifestations and features of the patient. third stage of alcoholism.
Particularly characteristic is a decrease in susceptibility to alcohol. More often, the patient begins to get drunk from ever smaller doses of alcohol. A sick person in this state loses his appetite and begins to lose weight. On third stage of alcoholism The patient's brain, liver, kidneys and heart are seriously damaged.
Almost forever, all priorities and vital interests disappear; intoxication does not give pleasant sensations as in the old days. What happens even faster is the moral degradation of the alcoholic and he comes to the finish line, to the sad end of his life...
As I already wrote, it very often leads to death. The mortality prognosis for such patients is completely unfavorable: progressive depletion of all internal organs and vital systems of the body, due to multiple diseases, injuries and severe injuries, will lead to death. Among such alcoholics, cases of suicide are not uncommon.
If you want to find out if your loved one or relative is currently prone to alcoholism, then a special short one will help you, the answers to the questions will help determine whether a person’s alcohol use is normal or whether it has already outgrown it.
However, in any case, only a narcologist in a specialized clinic can make a final diagnosis of the patient.
When we get sick, for example, we catch a cold or just have a fever, the first thing we do is take and set ourselves a thermometer. It happens that if handled carelessly, the thermometer slips out of your hands and breaks. That’s when you need to know for sure from a broken device, and round-the-clock environmental assistance can help with this.
Good sobriety to you!
Alcoholism is a deadly disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.5 million people die every year due to excessive drinking. Most often, drinkers die from liver cirrhosis and cancer. Alcohol addiction creeps up unnoticed.
However, its formation goes through certain phases. If at the first and second stages it is still possible to save the patient, then the last stage of alcoholism is very difficult to treat. Without medical care, life expectancy in this case will be very short - no more than three months.
You can fall into slavery to the “green serpent” very quickly and unnoticed by yourself. From a physiological point of view, the introduction to drinking can be explained briefly and simply. The body of every person produces a special hormone - dopamine. Thanks to this component, the individual experiences a feeling of bliss and joy. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, large amounts of dopamine are released.
The drinker gets great pleasure. The danger is that the more often you drink alcohol, the less the body will produce this hormone itself. It all ends with the fact that an alcoholic can only be satisfied after the next dose of alcohol. When sober, the addict feels depressed and falls into deep depression.
Here is a list of the main factors influencing the development of alcoholism:
- Types of alcoholic beverages that a person drinks. Dependence can be caused by any drink, however, the higher the degree, the brighter and faster this process will occur. For example, in Moldova, wine is consumed in every family, but, nevertheless, the percentage of alcoholism in the country is lower than in Russia;
- Financial stability. Most often, people from the lower strata of society drink, those who do not have regular income;
- Attitudes towards alcohol in the environment. If an individual communicates with people who are loyal to alcohol and often drink, then sooner or later he himself will adopt this model of behavior;
- Heredity. Addiction to strong drinks is transmitted at the genetic level.
Both men and women can become addicted. However, a woman gets used to alcohol faster. This is due to the physiological characteristics of girls. The fact is that the female body metabolizes alcohol worse and more slowly. Alcohol accumulates in the blood. Women get drunk faster and experience more pleasure from drinking than men, which is why their attachment is stronger.
Personal and social changes
Stage 3 of alcoholism is characterized by the fact that a person begins to get those around him drunk. Replenishing the ranks of drinkers becomes the main goal of his life. The alcoholic tries to bring coded acquaintances back to the bottle and offers a drink to everyone he meets.
Symptoms of physiological problems of the third stage of alcoholism
At the last stage of addiction, a severe deterioration in health occurs. All previously acquired diseases are now moving to a severe stage.
First of all, the blow is applied to the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic alcoholism leads to damage to the mucous membrane of all digestive organs. The process of fluid absorption is disrupted, which is why people who drink often experience dehydration.
The third degree of dependence is characterized by inflammation of the pancreas, but this is at best. The organ may fail completely. Pancreatic necrosis, as this phenomenon is called in medical language, is a hopeless diagnosis; you can live with it for very little time.
Another disease of the pancreas, pancreatitis, is no less dangerous. With this disease, the organ “eats” itself, causing damage to the kidneys, liver, brain and lungs. The last, third stage of alcoholism is often marked by the occurrence of cancer. Studies have shown that alcohol is a carcinogen that leads to cancer. Alcoholics usually die from cancer of the stomach, intestines and breast.
Liver problems become apparent in the last stages of the disease. This feature is explained by the fact that the liver is an organ that practically does not hurt and is destroyed imperceptibly. The most common alcohol-related disease is cirrhosis. Destruction of the liver makes it difficult for blood to flow to the heart. Stagnation occurs in the veins of the esophagus, large nodes form that can burst at any moment. Once bleeding begins, it is difficult to stop and can lead to the death of the patient.
Due to large amounts of alcohol, the heart becomes flabby and loses its ability to contract. This phenomenon is called alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Numerous studies have refuted the idea that moderate doses of alcohol improve heart function. It has been proven that any amount of methylated spirits harms this organ.
Alcohol coma
The third stage of alcohol dependence can be characterized by the patient falling into a coma. In this condition, a person is unable to breathe, swallow or move independently. All muscles are in a relaxed state.
The cause of coma is alcoholic brain damage. Alcohol first excites the entire body and then relaxes it. A drunk brain turns off the centers responsible for movement and breathing. During a coma, tissue swelling occurs and blood volume decreases. All this leads to convulsions and a decrease in pressure to a dangerous level.
Alcohol reduces the amount of sugar in the human body, and this can contribute to the occurrence of a coma. To start this process, there must be only 3 ppm of alcohol in the patient’s blood.
Treatment of advanced alcoholism
Many people believe that the third phase of alcoholism is incurable. This erroneous opinion is strengthened by the fact that doctors do not really like to deal with such seriously ill patients. This is often due to the age of addicts (over 40 years old) and the presence of chronic diseases.
In fact, stage three alcoholism can be cured, but the process will be long and difficult. Effectiveness largely depends on the mental state of a person. If the patient has not yet lost the ability to hear other people, makes contact and has retained the rudiments of intelligence, then the chances of recovery increase.
The longer a person drank, the longer and more difficult his treatment will be. First of all, the patient is taken out of the binge. In this situation, this can only be done in a hospital. The patient is being instilled.
The system includes:
- solcoseryl;
- magnesium sulfate;
- hydrocarbonate;
- glucose;
- gelatinol;
- disol.
The listed components cleanse the blood, restore the basic functions of the body and replenish the reserves of necessary substances. Treatment of an alcoholic begins only after the symptoms of alcohol intoxication have been eliminated.
The characteristics of the third phase of addiction include a strict ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages. While in the first two stages of the disease we are talking about reducing the dose.
Common methods of getting rid of the last stage of addiction include:
- coding;
- hypnosis.
Various tablets, drops and herbal preparations are ineffective in this situation. An experienced alcoholic can only be influenced psychologically. With the help of hypnosis, it will be possible to instill the fear of dying from even a small amount of drinking. Given poor health, the fear of alcohol comes quickly.
Coding will not only intimidate the patient, but will also free him from the obsessive desire to take even a drop of alcohol.
A huge layer of treatment for advanced alcoholism is psychotherapy. It is necessary to restore personal qualities and help the patient return to society.
The psychologist is able to:
- form adequate behavior patterns;
- free yourself from guilt;
- find the cause of drunkenness.
Much attention is paid to strengthening the body. Along with measures to free the patient from addiction, the affected organs are treated.
How long people suffering from the latter form of alcoholism live depends entirely on timely medical care.
Stages of addiction formation
There are three stages of alcoholism in total. A sure sign of the first stage is a constant and strong desire to drink:
- the patient can talk about alcohol for hours;
- begins to have a good understanding of all types of strong drinks;
- knows how they differ in taste, what they are made of and when they are used.
Other symptoms of the first stage of addiction are:
- Pathological search for a reason to drink alcohol. Nowadays not a single event is complete without strong drinks, and any event “must be celebrated”;
- Reducing your friends list. A person leaves in his circle only those who have a love for the bottle;
- The dose of alcohol increases. If previously an individual consumed 150 grams and felt good, now to achieve this state he needs to drink 500 grams;
- No hangover syndrome. After drinking, a person does not suffer from headaches, stomach and intestinal upsets, since there is no intoxication of the body.
The second stage of alcoholism is characterized by the occurrence of binge drinking, which is the name of the phenomenon when the patient continuously drinks alcohol for 3, 7, 14 or more days. Due to frequent drinking, a large amount of ethyl breakdown products accumulates in the body, causing poisoning - a hangover.
During withdrawal symptoms, a person experiences:
- severe nausea;
- vomiting;
- dizziness;
- chills;
- body pain;
- migraine;
- depressed state, anxiety;
- insomnia;
- trembling in the arms and legs;
- shortness of breath;
- heavy sweating.
A hangover syndrome can occur both with chronic alcoholism and with one-time consumption of large amounts of alcohol. The more you drink and the longer the binge lasts, the more severe the poisoning will be. This problem cannot be ignored; a hangover must be treated. Intoxication with alcohol breakdown products can lead to dehydration, rupture of the esophagus and heart attack.
In order to alleviate his condition, the patient drinks a new dose of alcohol and feels a noticeable improvement. However, after sobering up, he begins to feel ill again. A person gets hungover again - this is how a binge is formed; few people can get out of it on their own. This condition is dangerous due to the occurrence of alcoholic coma, which leads to death.
At the second stage of addiction, the person’s appearance changes:
- the face swells greatly, becomes puffy;
- the skin type changes, it becomes either very oily or painfully dry;
- the venous network around the nose is visible;
- bags appear under the eyes;
- The whites of the eyes turn yellow.
The more a person drinks alcohol, the more internal organs suffer. At the second stage of addiction, incurable cirrhosis of the liver can form. How long a patient with such a diagnosis will live depends only on him, since every hundred grams of alcohol steals several days of his life.
Disappointing prognosis for other organs. Alcohol affects:
- Kidneys. These organs cease to function normally and can completely fail and fail;
- Heart. 23% of all heart attacks are caused by alcoholism;
- Gallbladder. Alcohol interferes with the normal excretion of bile;
- Reproductive organs. Most of the eggs die, sperm lose their mobility;
- Brain. Neural connections are destroyed, gray matter dries out. Because of this, mental abilities deteriorate. Hallucinations begin, delusions and delirium tremens occur.
The main psychological symptom of the onset of the second stage of alcoholism is behavioral changes. A previously calm and courteous person becomes quarrelsome and aggressive. In a drunken state, the patient deliberately provokes scandals and fights. This also applies to women. A quiet and caring girl can become cheeky, irresponsible and scandalous.
An alcoholic loses interest in normal life and ceases to bear responsibility for himself and his loved ones. It is in the second phase of alcoholism that job loss occurs and families break up. The patient's principles and moral standards change. This is how lies, theft, robbery and aimlessness come into the life of a drinking person, shame and the desire to do something disappear. The addict can no longer imagine how he can live without alcohol.
The last stage of alcoholism
The final stage of addiction formation is 3rd degree alcoholism. It usually occurs closer to 40 years of age, when the patient has impressive experience of drinking alcohol.
A clear symptom that the third stage of alcoholism has arrived is a sharp reduction in the dose of booze. The point here is not at all about activated self-control. The person simply cannot drink anymore. The liver is worn out and does not produce enzymes that are responsible for breaking down alcohol. Alcohol accumulates in the blood. The patient gets drunk very quickly and can “pass out” even from one drink.
The strong craving for drinking persists, and the addict is almost never sober. A long series of binges begins. Continuous drinking is accompanied by a complete lack of appetite. The stomach stops digesting food, and meals usually end in vomiting. An alcoholic completely exhausts his body and loses a lot of weight. The skin becomes gray and the hair becomes dry and dull.
Another feature of this stage is memory loss. A drunk may not even remember what happened 5 minutes ago. Amnesia develops very quickly. As a result, a person forgets his name and does not recognize his loved ones. Memory problems may remain even after you have recovered from alcoholism, as they occur due to alcohol damage to the brain.
Video on topic
Stage III of alcoholism is characterized by depletion of the body’s compensatory capabilities and massive manifestations of the toxic effects of alcohol. All clinical manifestations of stage III undergo further development and appear in the form of the most severe variants.
The primary pathological attraction to alcohol is realized without a struggle of motives, and in some patients it becomes irresistible. The intensity of such attraction can only be compared with hunger and thirst. When the drive is actualized, it is realized according to a rather strict program: patients can neglect any professional and ethical obstacles.
Secondary forms of pathological craving for alcohol also become more severe. Loss of control over the amount of drinking is accompanied by a loss of situational control. The desire to obtain alcohol becomes irresistible; it can be accompanied by any, including illegal, actions, cruelty towards loved ones. The patient may consume alcohol substitutes, drink alone, in inappropriate places.
Intoxication, as a rule, occurs against the background of decreasing tolerance. Both single and daily doses are reduced. Intoxication occurs with a predominance of stupor or a melancholy-evil mood.
Disturbances in reproducing events in the memory of the period of intoxication take on the character of total amnesia. Patients find it difficult to recover most or the entire period of intoxication, and such disorders occur even after relatively small doses of alcohol.
At stage III, alcohol withdrawal syndrome manifests itself in an expanded form, sometimes with reversible psychoorganic disorders and convulsive seizures. The structure of the AAS has been showing disturbances in internal organs for a long time. A delayed hangover becomes impossible.
The form of alcohol abuse is partially transformed (pseudo-binges turn into real binges) and becomes even more severe. Constant drunkenness may appear against the background of low tolerance. In these cases, alcoholic drinks are consumed in small fractional doses throughout the day: patients are continuously in a state of intoxication, often shallow.
Personality changes at stage III are characterized by alcoholic degradation (moral, ethical and intellectual-mnestic decline). Several types of degradation are distinguished: with a euphoric attitude, with aspontaneity (a decrease in all interests and motives) and psychopathic.
The social consequences are no less severe. Patients are not able to fully fulfill family and work responsibilities, often do not work for a long time, and are dependent on others. Marriages are breaking up.
The somatic consequences at this stage of alcoholism are diverse and irreversible. Severe toxic damage to almost all major systems is detected.
Collapse
The third stage of alcoholism is a disease that is provoked by regular consumption of alcoholic beverages for 10-20 years. The speed of transition to this stage depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. At this stage, all symptoms and manifestations of the disease worsen and severe mental disorders develop. Sometimes it's even schizophrenia.
Concept
During the third stage of alcoholism, changes occur throughout the body. Since his compensatory capabilities are completely depleted. Therefore, all the symptoms of toxic poisoning are pronounced. Tolerance to alcohol decreases, so the dose for intoxication is much less.
The attraction to alcohol is already pathological and irresistible. That is, a person wants to drink alcohol and this feeling is similar to thirst or hunger. This desire leads to complete disregard for professional duties or moral principles. In order to get alcohol, an alcoholic is ready to do a lot. Even cruelty towards one’s family and illegal actions. If there is no money for quality alcohol, he will use surrogates.
Attention! The third stage of alcoholism is characterized by the fact that a person drinks alone in different places (park, transport, bus stop, etc.).
Symptoms and signs
The third stage of alcoholism is characterized by long binges, which alternate with short periods of sobriety. When a person does not drink alcohol, he or she exhibits symptoms of withdrawal syndrome:
- headache;
- Aches all over the body.
- Alcoholic dilirium is “delirium tremens”, that is, hallucinations.
- Appetite disorder, or rather its complete absence.
- Tachycardia.
- Nausea and vomiting. Vomiting does not occur as a defensive reaction, but as a signal of alcohol intolerance.
- Tremor.
- Cramps.
- Increased sweating.
- Insomnia. Sleep does not last long, but is accompanied by nightmares.
Alcoholic delirium is manifested by visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations. This condition can be used to identify an alcoholic, since a person begins to claim that he sees white flies (this is where the name “delirium tremens” comes from). Or an alcoholic sees some creatures, and he has a desire to protect himself from them, so he can be dangerous to others. Auditory hallucinations due to alcohol consumption are often annoying and the person may also act unpredictably. Alcoholics hear intrusive voices that tell them to do something.
Tactile hallucinations involve the sensation of insects or snakes on the body, hair in the mouth, etc. Relatives quickly recognize such strange behavior. This is already a reason for serious action.
The third stage of alcoholism: denial of the problem
At this stage, there will already be pronounced disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis occurs most often), liver (cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty hepatosis). The most critical for humans are disorders of the central nervous system. This happens due to massive damage to the cells of the brain and spinal cord.
After drinking a dose of alcohol, people with the third stage of the disease can be extremely aggressive or passive to everything that happens around them. It all depends on the character and temperament of the person.
Personality degradation also occurs due to the fact that the alcoholic loses normal social contacts and begins to communicate with the same people. Therefore, all aspirations are only to get alcohol.
At the third stage of the disease, alcoholic encephalopathy is activated. This condition is characterized by dystrophic type changes that occur in the cerebral cortex. Because of this damage, alcoholics suffer from epileptic seizures. In addition, severe dementia and amnesia develop.
The psyche of an alcoholic
Stage 3 of alcoholism is very dangerous due to the manifestation of acute psychoses, since their development is rapid and ends in a severe pre-comatose state.
Mental disorders caused by regular alcohol consumption:
- Panic attacks of fear, aggression, jealousy, anxiety.
- Distracted attention, a person cannot fully concentrate on anything at all.
- When working mentally, an alcoholic gets a headache and immediately loses his mood.
- Personality degradation, which is manifested by a decrease in a person’s intellectual abilities, and memory loss. When a person abuses alcohol, he becomes dull before his eyes, and his family notices this first of all.
An alcoholic at stage 3 of the disease has anosognosia. This is a condition in which a person completely denies his addiction; he does not understand that it is alcoholic drinks that are destroying his life. And at any mention of this, a person has an inadequate reaction, aggression.
There are several forms of alcohol degradation. This is a psychopathic form, degradation with euphoria and degradation with aspontaneity.
The psychotic form is characterized by such negative manifestations as cynicism and aggression. Therefore, it is not difficult for an alcoholic to make tactless remarks to others, to denigrate another person absolutely groundlessly. Also, with this form, a person exhibits attacks of frankness, which is sometimes intrusive.
Alcohol degradation with euphoria consists of the alcoholic being in a good mood; he completely lacks criticism of himself and everything around him. At the same time, an alcoholic can blithely discuss insignificant things as well as important moments in life. He can discuss intimate issues with strangers. In communication, a person often uses jokes.
Treatment
Therapeutic measures for alcoholism at stage 3 will be effective only if you completely abstain from alcohol. To do this, a person needs to be helped to understand that he is addicted and that this is a disease. In view of this, treatment should consist of several stages:
- Drug therapy (detoxification, symptomatic treatment).
- Psychological rehabilitation.
- Social adaptation.
Drug treatment
If a person has been on a drinking binge for a long time, then therapy should be intensive. In this case, narcologists prescribe a set of therapeutic measures. Detoxification is the first step. At the same time, toxins are removed from the body through medication. Therefore, the person is given IV drips for several days. Diuretics are required, as they quickly remove alcohol breakdown products.
In order to remove ethyl alcohol from the body, the following are prescribed:
- Ringer's solution. The chemical composition of this solution includes sodium chloride, potassium, calcium. These microelements effectively remove heavy toxins and restore normal water-salt balance in the body.
- A solution of glucose in combination with vitamins. Thanks to this remedy, the functioning of metabolic processes is normalized and tissue regeneration is stimulated. Liver function is also normalized. Therefore, such a solution is prescribed for injection into a vein slowly.
- Diazepam. This is a medicine that is administered intramuscularly. It is recommended to use it to continue treatment at home. Diazepam helps to prolong the period of remission.
- Adsorbents are also administered to a person through infusions. These are drugs Hemodez, Unithiol, Magnesia, etc.
- Naltrexone is a drug that, when used, reduces the desire to drink alcohol.
Sedatives are required; they will help the person sleep well and make this period easier. Sometimes even tranquilizers are required. They are selected individually and only according to prescription.
Additionally, a person needs to treat concomitant diseases that already exist at stage 3 of alcohol addiction. Most often these are pancreatitis, gastritis, steatohepatitis, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy and cancer of the liver, intestines and stomach.
Psychological help
The period of psychological rehabilitation is long, but only thanks to this method can a person learn to live without alcohol. According to the 12-step program, which is used all over the world to treat alcoholics, this period can last up to 6 months. At this time, psychologists work with a person, he develops new habits, finds the meaning of life, gains faith and confidence in his abilities thanks to correctly conducted self-analysis.
Attention! It is better that after the detoxification period the person is in a rehabilitation center. This is the only way he can escape from all temptations and begin to recover.
Social adaptation is necessary for the addict to learn to live without alcohol and to be able to recover at work and in the family. At the same time, an alcoholic also needs the help of a psychologist-narcologist, and a good method is to attend Alcoholics Anonymous groups.
Forecast
What the result of treatment will be depends on whether the person is aware of his disease. With the right approach and the help of family, a person can get rid of his addiction. But as statistics show, there are very few such people, since at the third stage of the disease there are already concomitant physical and mental illnesses.
←Previous article Next article →
Alcohol addiction can develop over different periods of time, and the speed of this process is influenced by a variety of factors.
Sometimes a drinking person simply does not notice how, from the stage of drunkenness, he receives a medical diagnosis.
It is important to remember that alcoholic drinks begin to have a detrimental effect on the human body literally after the first drink. This is due to the high sensitivity of tissues and organs to substances contained in alcohol.
- All information on the site is for informational purposes only and is NOT a guide to action!
- Can give you an ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS only DOCTOR!
- We kindly ask you NOT to self-medicate, but make an appointment with a specialist!
- Health to you and your loved ones!
Domestic drunkenness
This is the initial stage of alcoholism, which is characterized by a rather blurred boundary between the absence of the disease and a pronounced painful dependence on alcohol consumption.
The first stage of alcoholism can have several types:
Episodic |
|
Ritual |
|
Habitual |
|
Chronic stage of alcoholism
The transition from joyful drinking to addiction, which significantly changes the life of a person and those around him, usually happens unnoticed. This disease forces you to constantly make excuses, lie to get the next dose, and suffer from a lack of alcohol.
The second stage of alcoholism has 3 types:
Neurosthenic |
|
Drug addiction |
|
Encephalopathic |
|
Third degree
At this stage, the symptoms of the previous stages are present, but they become much stronger.
Signs
There are quite a few symptoms of third-degree alcoholism:
Excessive craving for alcohol |
|
Reducing the level of alcohol consumed |
|
Long-lasting memory lapses |
|
Behavior change |
|
Some patients experience a state of alcohol stupor. In this case, the person becomes lethargic and inhibited. With an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed, he can fall into oblivion for a long time. Sometimes such people completely lose consciousness.
This symptom is a consequence of the toxic effect of alcohol on the functioning of the nervous system. In this case, there is a need for immediate medical intervention to help cope with alcohol intoxication.
Flow
People with this diagnosis completely lose interest in current events if they are not related to the opportunity to drink. At this stage, the value of relationships with loved ones disappears; a person often sells valuable things.
There is also a certain systematicity in drinking alcohol - for example, binge drinking is replaced by alcohol-free periods. This is due to the oversaturation of the body with alcohol, which makes it impossible to consume new doses. However, this stage lasts a short time, after which a new binge occurs.
During this period, the alcoholic completely loses his appetite and his body becomes exhausted. Along with this, his personality degrades. Such people cannot work or perform certain duties, and they often break promises.
Also, at the third stage of alcoholism, signs of antisocial behavior increase. In this case, the person drinks alone or with casual acquaintances. He may also do this in inappropriate situations.
This stage is characterized by a vomiting reaction to alcohol. It is associated with intoxication of the body, which is constantly maintained by the alcoholic. In this case, a protective reaction against toxic substances occurs in the body. However, this does not make it possible to protect internal organs from further destruction.
At this stage, the hangover syndrome is seriously expressed, the functioning of the nervous system is often disrupted, which can even manifest itself in the form of epileptic seizures. At this stage, the patient’s psyche suffers significantly.
Changes in the body
At this stage, the functioning of organs and systems is seriously disrupted, which poses a real danger to human life. Even if he manages to cope with alcoholism, the consequences are usually irreversible.
In this case, almost all systems and organs suffer:
Nervous system |
|
Respiratory system |
|
The cardiovascular system |
|
Liver |
|
Kidneys |
|
Stomach |
|
Reproductive system |
|
Treatment
Alcoholism is a serious disease that requires treatment. It is advisable to contact a specialist as early as possible - this increases the likelihood of a full recovery with minimal consequences for the body.
Since the third stage of the disease is considered the most advanced, it is very difficult to cure. It rarely occurs without serious consequences and can even lead to death. However, this does not mean that there is no chance of recovery.
There is hope for a full recovery. In addition, it is often possible to eliminate certain disturbances in the functioning of internal organs.
For therapy to be as effective as possible, a person must completely abstain from alcohol. However, the last stage of alcoholism is often accompanied by a complete loss of will, and therefore it will not be possible to cope with the disease without medical help.
Modern methods of therapy include the following:
- stopping binge drinking and drug elimination of withdrawal symptoms is the first aid that will help cope with the manifestations of the disease;
- diagnosis of the disease - with the help of laboratory tests it is possible to determine which treatment is suitable for a particular patient;
- developing an aversion to alcohol - for this, the patient is allowed to drink a small amount of alcohol and inhale its vapors in combination with medications that cause vomiting;
- increasing the body's sensitivity to alcohol - carried out through the use of sensitizing agents;
- general health improvement – in this case, methods are selected individually;
- restoration of mental disorders is carried out through rehabilitation and psychotherapy.
A person who has the third stage of alcoholism cannot cope with this problem on his own without the help of others. Close people must provide assistance to the patient, because his life can be interrupted at any time.
Symptoms table
Symptoms | First stage | Second stage | Third stage |
Alcohol tolerance | At this stage, a person does not pay attention to the increase in tolerance to alcohol. Often he feels a strong desire to drink. | Alcohol tolerance increases. A person experiences a persistent desire to drink. | At this stage, there is a decrease in tolerance to alcohol, which leads to a decrease in the single dose. However, the daily amount remains the same. |
Addiction to alcohol intoxication | A person feels calm when intoxicated. This reduces the gag reflex. The patient cannot control the amount of alcohol. Forms of intoxication are changing. | The patient becomes accustomed to being intoxicated. At the same time, in a sober state, increased irritability occurs, he feels overwhelmed. However, such sensations disappear after a dose of alcohol. | A person is not able to remain sober without an expressed desire to drink. This forces him to make every effort to get a dose of alcohol. |
Withdrawal syndrome | At this stage, the person does not experience withdrawal symptoms. He may suffer from a hangover, which has similar symptoms. However, this condition passes rather quickly, which cannot be said about withdrawal syndrome. | At this stage, withdrawal syndrome forms. This condition goes through several stages:
|
There are quite a few mental and physical problems that are associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. |
Mental condition | The patient begins to think about alcohol all the time. Before the feast, he feels euphoria. If you fail to drink, dysthymia appears, which is a nervous disorder. Company or environment means nothing to a person. The reason for drinking is also not particularly important. | The patient experiences mental disorders that are associated with addiction to constant intoxication. This condition manifests itself in the form of increased aggression, insomnia, depression, anxiety when unable to drink. | Acute and chronic alcoholic psychoses occur. As a result, sober people simply cannot be around an alcoholic. |
Physical health | The body is saturated with toxic substances, which negatively affects the condition of internal organs. A hangover with associated symptoms may occur. | Physical dependence arises, which manifests itself in the form of headaches, a feeling of thirst, pain in the heart, tremors of the hands, as well as trembling of the entire torso. These symptoms lead to the person going into. At the same time, the doses of alcohol increase. | The functioning of all internal organs is disrupted - the liver, heart, etc. suffer. The content of toxic substances is very high, which prevents the restoration of organ function even after quitting alcohol. |
Social behavior | At this stage, the person is not considered an alcoholic because his social behavior remains almost normal. | A person’s personality changes significantly, which becomes noticeable to others. The patient begins to be considered an alcoholic. He experiences acute alcoholic psychoses. | The personality completely degrades as the person goes into real drinking bouts. He can get out of them only with severe exhaustion of the body. |
Alcoholism is a serious disease that can have irreversible consequences for the body. In its development, it goes through several stages, which are accompanied by characteristic manifestations.
In order for the treatment of this pathology to be as successful as possible, it is very important to diagnose it in a timely manner.