Liver Disease

Alcoholism is the most common cause of liver disease. To see why this is a problem, we must first look at the liver and why this organ is important. Being the second largest organ in your body, the liver preforms many tasks that effect an individual's entire being. Mainly, it processes what a person eats and drinks and turns this into energy and nutrients to fuel the rest of the body. It also filters harmful substances from the blood. When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol travels through their bloodstream and is filtered by the liver. If a person drinks more alcohol than the liver can process, it can become seriously injured or damage. It is common knowledge that the liver can repair itself, but alcohol can severely damage or destroy these liver cells – sometimes beyond repair. When this happens, it is called liver disease. There are three main types of alcohol-induced liver disease. They include fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcohol cirrhosis.

Fatty liver disease is the earliest stage of any alcohol-related liver disease. It is caused by the build up of extra fat in the liver cells. It is hard to tell when this happens because the symptoms are usually very mild and not recognized in a lot of patients. They may include weakness, fatigue, and weightloss. It can safely be assumed that almost all heavy drinkers have fatty liver disease. Luckily, because the liver is such a powerful organ, if these drinkers stop drinking, this stage of the disease will stop progressing, and the liver will repair itself to its normal state.

Alcohol hepatitis is caused in up to thirty-five percent of heavy drinkers. This disease causes damage to the liver, and it begins to swell. Alcohol hepatitis can be mild or severe. If it is mild, the damage done to the liver can still be reversed. If it is severe, it can happen suddenly and lead to immediate complications like liver failure. It can even lead to sudden, unexpected death. Symptoms of alcohol hepatitis may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice.

Ten to twenty percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis. This is the scarring of the liver which is caused by hard scar tissue replacing the soft, healthy tissue. Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most damaging type of alcohol-induced liver disease, and it exhibits symptoms similar to those of alcohol hepatitis. The damage done from alcoholic cirrhosis cannot be reversed and can end in liver failure. However, not drinking alcohol can prevent further damage to the liver.

People who already have a chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis C, are at a higher risk for developing and quickly progressing through alcoholic cirrhosis. Complications from alcohol-related liver diseases can be serious. They may include a build up of fluid in the abdomen, bleeding from the veins in the esophagus or stomach, an enlarged spleen, high blood pressure, brain disorders, coma, kidney failure, and liver cancer. Much of these complications from liver disease can be avoided or treated. Because alcoholism is a dangerous disease as well, alcohol rehab provides treatment for liver damage. The specific ways that liver damage is treated is through a healthy diet, abstinence from alcohol, and possible medications to help manage any complications that may have arisen. If you have a liver disease or are worried that you may be developing one, get help and get treatment. Chances are, you can save your liver and become completely healthy in the process!

Signs of Addiction

Millions of Americans struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol every day. Addiction is a disease of the mind, and it is characterized by many different signs and patterns of behavior. Despite negative consequences and failed efforts to stop or reduce use, drug addicts will continue to use. If you are wondering whether or not you have an addiction, or if you are worried about someone close to you that may be struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, there are a wide range of signs to look for.

Drug Addiction & Alcohol Addiction Signs

Addiction can destroy lives and in many cases lead to death or imprisonment due to drug and alcohol abuse. What may start out as recreational and occasional use can easily lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence. One of the primary characteristics of addiction to look for is the failure to resist the impulse to use. Temptation plays a huge part in addiction, and addicts find it difficult and sometimes even impossible to resist their urges to drink or take drugs. This compulsive behavior is developed over time as the condition worsens, and addicts can soon find themselves being under the influence most of if not all the time due to their lack of impulse control.

When addicts begin to realize that they have a problem, they try to stop or reduce their use, often with failed efforts. Despite suffering from health issues, problems with work or school, or alienating themselves from friends and family because of their addiction, addicts will continue to use. They may have periods of abstinence, sometimes for months or even years, but the addiction can come back at any time. When they do start to use again, the addiction is usually stronger and they use more. With continued use of drugs and alcohol, people begin to build up a tolerance. It takes increasingly more to get the initial effect each time. This can led to spending large amounts of money on drugs and alcohol and eventually having serious financial problems.

Addicts have a preoccupation with using drugs or drinking alcohol. It consumes their thoughts, and if they do not have access to substances, they may begin to suffer from withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they can even be fatal in some cases. These involve anxiety, depression, tremors, headaches, nausea, vomiting and even seizures. If you experience any of these symptoms when you are not under the influence or coming down from drugs or alcohol, you most likely have an addiction.

Physical & Behavioral Signs of Addiction

When people take drugs and alcohol for extended periods of time, they may begin to exhibit physical and outward signs of their addiction. These involve an overall decline in physical appearance, such as weight gain or loss, looking disheveled, poor hygiene, always looking tired, paleness, and even losing teeth with some types of drug use. Behavioral signs include being secretive or sneaky, being inaccessible for long periods of time, sleeping more or less than usual, and hanging out with people that also drink or use. Many of these behaviors result in no longer participating in normal activities and dropping them to drink or use instead.

Rehab

For most addicts, they cannot stop without professional help. There are thousands of drug rehab and alcohol rehab centers across the country. If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, there is help available. Many health care plans are also starting to cover the costs of drug and alcohol treatment as well. Since addiction has been recognized as a disease, health care organizations and medical professionals are treating it like one. Before your life or the life of someone close to you spirals out of control, looking into the options for rehab may be the best answer.

Oxycontin

Oxycontin is the opioid pain reliever oxycodone in a time released capsule. It is used for short term pain relief by blocking pain messages and causing drowsiness. However, long term use can quickly lead to a chemical dependence and an Oxycontin addiction. A single, very large dose can cause severe respiratory depression followed by death. It is very useful for those with a medical need for this medication, but like many prescription medications, Oxycontin abuse is very common. Using this drug without specific medical guidelines and medical need can lead to some seriously negative consequences. These consequences can turn into drug use that is just as dangerous and illegal as street drugs, like heroin. As of 2006, prescription medication is the number one most prevalent drug problem in America.

Often referred to on the street as Killer, OC, OXY, and Oxycotton, Oxycontin is supposed to be taken every 12 hours because of the time-release function of each tablet. This sets it apart from most medications because pain medications are usually taken every three to six hours. When drug abuse takes place, Oxycontin abusers remove the time-release coating on the pill and receive a rush or relaxing, euphoric high similar to that of heroin. Many of the side effects include constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, weakness, and most seriously, respiratory depression.

After taking Oxycontin for an extended period of time, a user can begin to develop a tolerance to the drug. They feel that they must take higher doses of the drug to achieve the desired effect. If they do this, then they will find themselves face-to-face with an addiction to Oxycontin. Fortunately, there are many Oxycontin drug rehab centers located across the nation. Because the abuse of Oxycontin and other prescription medication is so widespread, there have been extensive efforts to work toward freeing people of their physical and psychological dependence on these substances. Many times in Oxycontin rehab, the patient will receive a similar synthetic opioid medication such as Suboxone or Subutex which reduces and diminishes the overall symptoms of their drug addiction. If the individual chooses to attend a holistic drug rehab center, they will find themselves attending many group and individual therapy sessions, as well as taking part in exercise and educational programs. The most effective treatment program has been shown to be a collaboration of both types of rehab to create a dual-acting program that encompasses all of one's needs.

If you or a loved on feel that you are suffering from a drug abuse problem, do not hesitate to get help. There are millions of people out there who are going through exactly what you are going through. You are not alone in your addiction, and through a treatment center like Ambrosia Treatment Center, you will not be alone in your recovery either. It is essential to your health and to your life that you get help with your addiction to Oxycontin. Your life is a life worth saving.

Death By Abusing Laxatives: Georgia Willson-Pemberton

Laxative abuse happens when a person tries to rid their bodies of unwanted calories or lose weight through the repeated misuse of laxatives. Many abusers are mistaken in thinking that after binge eating (consuming a lot of food at one time) the laxatives will clear the food and calories through their system before they are absorbed into the body. However, this is a not the case. By the time laxatives act on the large intestine, almost all of the calories and food have been absorbed by the small intestine. All of the supposed weight loss, or what feels like weight loss is actually only water weight, minerals, electrolytes, and indigestible fibers and wastes from the colon. As soon as the abuser drinks any fluids the weight be be gained right back. Usually, the abuser will sense this weight gain and proceed to stop rehydrating, which eventually causes the organs to shut down (dehydration). No matter how the abuser goes about using, if they are using laxatives incorrectly, they will most likely suffer serious and dangerous health complications and life-threatening risks as a consequence.

In recent news, the death of Georgia Willson-Pemberton was ruled death by laxatives as of April 3^rd, 2013. At 26 years old, Willson-Pemberton was described as intelligent, beautiful, and the life of the party. She graduated from a European business school in 2008. After graduation, things went downhill. She then started her four year battle with anorexia. It was reported that Willson-Pemberton from West London bought thousands of laxative supplement pills over the internet and spent the four years of struggling with her eating disorder in and out of residential clinics both in America and England. On December 7^th of last year, Georgia Willson-Pemberton died due to laxative abuse.

This woman was 5'10”, addicted to Dulcolax, and weighed 104 pounds at her time of death. She was also very intelligent and would keep to herself about her private life, even from her therapists. She went to see a few different therapists, none of whom could identify any triggers of her addiction. She would hide her laxative abuse by taking sodium supplements when she went in for blood tests, the therapists speculated. Two days before her death, Willson-Pemberton overdosed on over 80 laxative pills, which caused irreparable internal damage. Her death was ruled a “multiple organ dysfunction caused by laxative abuse,” as a result from her anorexia nervosa.

Georgia Willson-Pemberton had a loving childhood which is reflected through her achievements. If she could have opened up and gotten help, she would probably still be alive today. Many people do not realize that underlying causes, such as anorexia, can cause very dangerous drug addictions and drug abuse. If you or a loved one are suffering from the abuse of laxatives or any other substance, do not hesitate to get help through rehab and drug addiction treatment. It is important that you treat yourself and your body with respect. Through rehab treatment, you will meet with medical professionals and a therapist who will help you through this time of need. Attending drug rehab will help you to know exactly what you're dealing with and exactly how to deal with it.

Why Are Women Less Likely to Seek Treatment?

When it comes to substance abuse issues, there are certain differences between men and women. In recent decades, more research has been done on the subject, and new information has come to light concerning gender-specific alcohol addiction and drug addiction matters. Studies have shown that men are more likely to develop drug and alcohol problems than women, due to a variety of reasons. Another aspect of gender-related substance abuse differences is that women are less likely than men to seek drug treatment or alcohol treatment for their addictions.

Women and the Social Stigma of Substance Abuse

One of the main reasons why women are less apt to seek rehab treatment for substance abuse than men is because there exists a social stigma for women that have drug or alcohol problems. It is more socially acceptable for men to take drugs or drink alcohol in excess than women. Because of the differences between body mass and other physical traits, women typically drink less than men when they do drink, and overall they drink less frequently.

Aside from the fact that overall, women drink less than men, there are certain mental, emotional and interpersonal issues that men may not face. Family responsibilities and economic issues have a lot to do with why women are less likely to go to rehab treatment. Being a mother, earning less money overall than men, and the shame or embarrassment they may feel from being in drug rehab or alcohol rehab all factor into the equation.

Overall, women are judged more harshly when they develop drug or alcohol problems. Going to drug treatment or alcohol treatment admits to the rest of the world that they do indeed have a substance abuse problem, and many women are afraid of facing the criticism associated with them going to rehab. What is interesting however, is that even though women are less likely to have substance abuse problems, once they begin to drink or take drugs their problems progress more quickly than men.

The Benefits of Rehab

Although many women may fear the harsh judgment they might face from going to rehab treatment, what is most important is that drug rehab is a positive thing. Even if people will criticize a woman for going to rehab more than a man, this should be the least of one's worries if they have a drug addiction or alcohol addiction. Rehab treatment saves lives, but unfortunately many people do not receive the treatment they need. It is estimated that nearly 25 million Americans have problems with substance abuse, yet only 3 to 4 million ever go to drug rehab or alcohol rehab.

As more research is being conducted, and because of the fact that drug addiction and alcohol addiction are now considered to be diseases, going to drug rehab or alcohol rehab is becoming much more common. Having to drop everything and be committed to a facility for months at a time can be difficult, but there are also many other options that do not involve inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment that allows patients to return home after they participate in rehab programs and support groups such as AA and NA have proven to be extremely successful and effective alternatives to residential drug treatment.