Risks and How to Stop Drinking Alcohol – Alcoholic beverages can affect the soul and body in ourselves. Basically alcohol can make people unconscious if there is so much alcohol content. The recommended amount of alcohol consumption for adults is 1-2 glasses for men and 1 drink for women a day. If you drink more than this limit, the dangers of alcoholic beverages can cause various health problems, especially liver damage.
A study shows that the habit of consuming alcoholic beverages is one of the highest causes of death. WHO states that at least 3 million people die every year due to alcoholic beverages, both due to the direct effects of alcohol and the diseases it causes.
The Dangers of Alcoholic Drinks and the Diseases It Causes
1. Fatty liver
Fatty liver is a buildup of fat in the liver caused by consuming large amounts of alcoholic beverages or too often. Generally, fatty liver causes no symptoms. However, this disease can progress to inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Fatty liver can be cured by stopping the consumption of alcoholic beverages, following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and maintaining an ideal body weight.
2. Hepatitis
Hepatitis is more serious than fatty liver. When the liver is filled with fat and alcohol consumption is not stopped, inflammation of the organ can occur. This condition is called hepatitis.
Mild hepatitis can be cured if you completely stop consuming alcoholic beverages. However, if it is severe, this condition can cause permanent liver damage.
3. Cirrhosis
The worst condition that you can experience due to continuous consumption of alcoholic beverages is cirrhosis. This disease occurs when the liver is badly damaged and hardened because it is filled with scar tissue. When the liver has cirrhosis, liver function will be disrupted.
Unlike fatty liver and hepatitis, cirrhosis cannot be cured. However, by stopping drinking alcohol, you can prevent further liver damage from occurring. People with cirrhosis usually need to undergo a liver transplant to survive.
Also Read ;Types of Alcohol Drinkers
How to Deal with Alcoholic Beverage Addiction
Changing lifestyle
Adopt a healthy lifestyle and look for activities that can divert your desire to consume alcoholic beverages, such as doing hobbies, exercising, participating in social activities, or hanging out with family.
Taking medicine from a doctor
Certain medications, such as disulfiram, can suppress your desire to drink alcohol. Doctors can also give you other drugs, such as naltrexone or acamprosate, which also work to reduce the desire to drink alcohol.
Undergoing psychotherapy and counseling
People who are already addicted to alcohol are at high risk for various mental disorders. If you have difficulty quitting alcohol and have psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia, your doctor may recommend psychotherapy and counseling.
If your alcohol addiction is severe, your doctor will advise you to undergo a rehabilitation program, especially if you also have other addiction problems, such as drug addiction.
The decision to stop drinking may not be an easy one. However, you need to also consider the various dangers of alcoholic beverages that you can experience if you continue to consume them.…
