Do you drink too much? Are you worried about the health risks of drinking too much alcohol? If so, don’t try to go cold turkey – detoxing at home is dangerous and can seriously jeopardize your health! Before you begin any type of detoxification program, be sure to consult with your physician to find out what’s right for you. Here are just a few reasons why it’s dangerous to detox at home
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1) What is Alcohol Detox?
We hear about alcohol detox all of the time, but what does it really mean? Alcohol detox, also known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome, occurs when someone stops drinking after developing a dependence on alcohol. When you’re drinking excessively on a regular basis your body builds up a tolerance to that amount of alcohol. The more you drink, and over time, the more your body builds up an affinity for it—eventually leading to physical dependency. It’s often recommended that individuals suffering from alcoholism seek professional help when attempting to recover. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), while 12-step programs are one option for treatment centres, not all rehab centres use them in their protocol.
2) Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
In short, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. While most symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are relatively mild, a small subset of people who attempt to quit drinking go through a more severe withdrawal period known as delirium tremens (DTs). People going through DTs may experience hallucinations and/or seizures that can be deadly if not treated immediately. That’s why it’s so important for those who drink heavily or those with serious addictions to seek help from detox centres and addiction specialists as they attempt to quit drinking. While there are ways to safely detox at home, attempting an at-home detox is very risky and should only be done under medical supervision.
3) How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your System?
How long alcohol stays in your system depends on a few factors. First, there’s the metabolism rate. If you have a slow metabolism rate, it will take more time for your body to process alcohol. Secondly, age plays a role because someone under 30 years old typically has an increased metabolism rate compared to an older person. Additionally, there are other environmental factors that can play into how long alcohol stays in your system. Certain medical conditions can cause detoxification rates to slow down as well as certain foods that contain antioxidants or other chemicals that reduce heavy metals or toxins from being eliminated by your body.
4) What is Alcohol Rehab?
Depending on how long you’ve been using alcohol, detoxing from it can be a long and difficult process. For many people struggling with an addiction to alcohol, entering into an inpatient or outpatient rehab program is one of the next toward sobriety. This will help you tackle the psychological dependence on alcohol, and help you further to break free from addiction.