Some people who drink frequently or in large quantities can become addicted to alcohol. Doctors use a number of techniques to diagnose patients with drink problems. They may ask you how much and how often you drink and whether you have "blackouts". You may be asked if you have tried to cut down, whether you feel guilty about your drinking, or whether you have a drink in the morning.
According to the Institute of Alcohol Studies, a person is considered to be dependent on alcohol when they have experienced three or more of the following symptoms during a year.
A strong urge to drink, difficulty controlling how much they drink, or difficulty stopping. Physical withdrawal symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, agitation and nausea when they try to reduce drinking. A growing tolerance to alcohol - needing larger quantities to get the same effect. Gradual neglect of other activities. Persistent drinking even though it is obviously causing harm. Alcohol abuse, or problem drinking, happens when a person is not dependent on alcohol, but is drinking enough to cause themselves actual physical or psychological harm.
Short-term effects A small amount of alcohol will relax you and make you feel less anxious. But alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system. In increasing amounts it suppresses the part of your brain that controls judgement, resulting in a loss of inhibitions. It also affects your physical co-ordination, causing blurred vision, slurred speech and loss of balance. Drinking a very large amount at one time (binge drinking) can lead to unconsciousness, coma, and even death. Vomiting while unconscious can lead to death by asphyxiation (suffocation).
Alcohol is involved in a large proportion of fatal road accidents, assaults and incidents of domestic violence.
Long-term effects Alcohol can be a dangerous drug. Drinking too much too often will cause physical damage, increase the risk of getting some diseases, and make other diseases worse. Excessive drinking over time is associated with:
hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) high blood pressure (which can lead to stroke) certain types of cancer, including mouth and throat damage to the brain heart failure neurological problems such as epilepsy certain types of vitamin deficiency Excessive drinking has also been linked to:
obesity sexual problems infertility muscle disease skin problems
Do you buy bottled water? Are you a person that thinks that the freshness and the natural water filtering way through the landscape gives you a better quality of water than even tap water? Do you pay a lot or so no and stick to tap water? Do you believe that those who pay for bottled water are paying for stuff that comes out of the tap and is just as good as tap water? Do you think that bottling water is just environmentally wasteful as it adds more plastic bottles, petrol to transport it all and you can get tap water which you probably pay for anyway? Have I got your attention? Well, tell me what you think about this subject?
