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
My word Cliver,i will have to have the recipes for all that lot,my mouth is watering all ready,i love new and different foods,my mum is like that too but my husband and eldest are quite stuck in what they like, my youngest is like me,he will try anything,his favourites are squid, prawns, mussells, cheese, humous, taramasalata (wrong i know ),that shashlik sounds divine,i will try anything,i might try that on a barbecue soon,if nobody likes it,there is more for me,i wil certainly buy a liver pate gateau from you christmas,i love offal of any kind,my mum and nan do but with the rest no way,Scott most probably would,you will have to email me with those recipes and we will have a proper chat about food. Most Chefs i know of don't cook at home, the russian style pickles and meats sound gorgeous,i know it isn't the same but when we used to go to the Italian restaurant i always had the cold meats for starters if the pickled seafood salad wasn't available,can i rent you out for an evening to cook a meal when i have guests.I should have married you before i met my husband,no that's not fair really,he is a very good cook,he just throws it all in and it comes out lovely.Where do you teach,is it a course that anyone can take,do you see where this is going ,i might book one up, and no if anybody is wondering i am not stalking you YET! Eighty words here i come,i am stoping now as most people won't read this long opinion anyway
