Stages Of Alcohol Addiction: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Diagnosis, Treatment

• 16 September 2024
• By dave
• Sober living
• 0

Stages Of Alcohol Addiction: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Diagnosis, Treatment

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) into mild, moderate, and severe categories based on symptoms and their intensity. While a casual glass of wine or beer might seem harmless, understanding alcohol’s effects on our health is crucial. Before you can decide whether the sober lifestyle is right for you, or whether you just need to be more cautious with your drinking, it’s important to learn what’s really going on in your body. It’s also worth reducing your exposure to other ingredients which cause intolerances, like gluten, histamine, corn, and yeast. Your genetic test will be able to advise you on which of these substances will worsen your side effects. If you have alcohol intolerance, you may need to simply restrict your alcohol consumption.

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• Although not a true allergy, in some cases, what seems to be alcohol intolerance might be your reaction to something in an alcoholic beverage — such as chemicals, grains or preservatives.
• If alcohol allergy has been ruled out and the symptoms are connected to alcohol use, alcohol intolerance is often diagnosed without further testing.
• Incentives for sobriety,” show that CM significantly improves treatment adherence.
• There are other potential causes, such as the onset of certain health conditions, especially some types of cancers, that can significantly impact the body’s ability to process alcohol.

At Ardu, we offer expert, compassionate care to address these challenges head-on. Our specialized alcohol detox program offers a safe, medically supervised environment to begin your recovery journey. You can develop alcohol intolerance unexpectedly, even if you’ve previously drunk without issue. It’s not a matter of willpower or tolerance built up over time, but rather a shift in how your body processes alcohol.

How Does Behavioral Therapy Help Treat Alcoholism?

In fact, a lot of alcoholic beverages, including wine, contain histamines too. However, a problem arises when there’s a deficiency or malfunction of ALDH, the enzyme involved in these conversion processes. When ALDH doesn’t function properly (or when its levels are lower than normal due to genetic factors), acetaldehyde doesn’t get converted into acetic acid efficiently. As a result, it accumulates in the bloodstream, leading to a range of unpleasant symptoms we identify as alcohol intolerance.

How Is Alcoholism Treated at Different Stages?

If alcohol intolerance is caused by something else, such as the use of a medication, then addressing the underlying cause may eliminate alcohol intolerance. One of my customers, let’s call him Jeff, had to be rushed to the hospital after going into anaphylactic shock from just a sip of beer. Unlike an alcohol allergy, which involves an immune system response, alcohol intolerance is primarily a digestive issue. It can be inherited or acquired, and its severity is different for each person. You’ll know you’re alcohol intolerant if you feel awful soon after drinking. The symptoms include a flushed face, upset stomach, heart palpitations, and a splitting headache, even from just a glass or two.

Once you know what’s triggering your symptoms, you can make more informed choices about what—and how much—you drink, so you can enjoy alcohol without the unpleasant surprises. If you have a genetic predisposition, especially if you’re of East Asian descent, you’re more likely to experience alcohol intolerance. If you notice these signs consistently, consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and advice. What most people experience is alcohol intolerance rather than a true allergy. An alcohol allergy involves an immune response, is dangerous, and can even lead to anaphylaxis (anaphylactic reaction), a life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention.

• Alcoholism is treated at different stages by tailoring interventions to the severity of the addiction.
• These therapeutic approaches are evidence-based and are customized to suit an individual’s specific needs, enhancing their overall recovery process.
• Some people are allergic or have alcohol sensitivity to specific ingredients found in some alcoholic beverages.
• There’s some exciting research happening around enzyme replacement therapies and personalised medicine, which could lead to better ways to help with alcohol metabolism in the future.
• As a result, people feel malaise (a general feeling of unwellness), fatigue, headache, and other physical symptoms.
• Enzymes, mainly in the liver, metabolize (break down) alcohol, releasing a poisonous byproduct called acetaldehyde.

Plus, it gives you a little more time to enjoy that social atmosphere without feeling overwhelmed! It’s alcohol intolerance important to understand that not everyone is affected by sulfites, but for those with sulfur or sulfite sensitivity, reactions can be more pronounced. The good news is there are plenty of alternatives for those looking to steer clear of sulfites. You’ll also find that some beers have lower sulfite levels, giving you even more choices. In other cases, people can be intolerant to the chemicals that give alcoholic drinks their flavour and colour, not the alcohol itself. Histamine (found in red wine) and salicylates (found in wine, beer, rum, and sherry), are common examples.

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The most common sign is the alcohol flush reaction, where your face becomes red and feels hot. Other symptoms include nasal congestion, headaches, nausea, and rapid heartbeat. If your doctor suspects alcohol intolerance, they may recommend avoiding it and observing if symptoms improve.