Up to 2 million people each year in the United States experience the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcoholism is a significant problem: the rate of American men who qualify as alcoholics at some time in their lives is as high as 20 percent. For women, this number is up to 10 percent. Recognizing the physical signs of alcohol withdrawal is crucial to knowing when treatment is needed.
Types
Sudden withdrawal from alcohol can cause nausea---with or without vomiting---insomnia, tremors and, in extreme cases, seizures and hallucinations.
Effects
Heavy alcohol consumption inhibits brain neuroreceptors. When consumption is stopped, these receptors are then uninhibited, which causes hyperexcitability.
Detoxification
Night sweats are common when going through alcohol withdrawal because the body is ridding itself of built-up toxins.
Sleep
Alcohol withdrawal has marked effects on sleep, manifesting as temporary insomnia or hypersomnia, nightmares and night sickness.
Warning
Pay attention to your body's signals when you quit drinking alcohol. Blood pressure can skyrocket, and the body's electrolyte balance may become severely skewed, requiring medical treatment.
Tags: alcohol withdrawal