We at Suncoast Rehabilitation Center help many people suffering from alcohol addiction. While many people have heard of the more severe effects of alcoholism – like liver damage and delirium tremens (or “the DTs”), the most well known effect of alcohol use in general is the hangover.
Man has been drinking alcohol for time immemorial. In fact, it is widely believed that in the times of the ancient Greeks through colonial America, people considered alcohol safer to drink than water. This was due to the fact that alcohol kills harmful bacteria (as it is a poison) – while water needs filtration if it is contaminated with bacteria, because all life on planet earth needs water to survive.
So, with so much imbibing (consumption of alcohol) going on, why do we still suffer negative effects from alcohol? Here are some answers:
- Alcohol is a natural diuretic. This means that, instead of allowing the body to assimilate the water contained in alcoholic beverages, this substance sends it straight to your bladder. Because the human body is made up primarily of water, this actually dehydrates you, lessening your ability to function.
- All that urinating also removes the essential nutrients sodium, potassium, and magnesium from your body.
- By excessively drinking, you are exhausting your liver. Normally your liver filters out poisons, making them less harmful to the rest of your body. However, if you keep drinking alcohol consistently, eventually your liver will go into overload and it won’t be able to process the alcohol moving through your system – leaving it in its poisonous state.
Hangovers are the body’s natural way of telling you to slow down on the drinking front. Some people counteract hangovers by drinking more in the hopes that what doesn’t kill you – makes you stronger. This only prolongs the discomfort – and makes your dehydration and liver damage even worse.
The best cures for a hangover are:
- Rehydrate
- Give it time
- Eat foods which contain salt, potassium and magnesium
- Consider drinking less or taking a break from drinking all together
If you or someone you know is unable to give their body time to heal between bouts of drinking, or they have to drink in order to start their day or function, they may be suffering from alcoholism. We have an article which many more signs of an alcoholic, but – in short – they include:
- They get “black out drunk.”
- They cannot function without drinking.
- They hide their drinking habit and keep stashes of alcohol in unlikely places in case they are discovered or run out.
- They are suffering from legal, familial or work problems because of their drinking habit.
- They suffer from withdrawals like nausea, anxiety, tremors and more when they don’t drink.
These are just a few of the more obvious signs of alcoholism. If you see someone suffering from such signs – or coming into work every day with a hangover – contact us today at (877) 850-7355. We have a time-tested drug and alcohol rehabilitation program which will help restore them to health and allow them to live an alcohol-free life.
Refs:
History.org, Sci Show, USGS.gov, Webmd.com
