DiseaseIllness

Alcoholism stages can be categorized into three stages of alcoholism - early stage
middle stage and end stage alcoholism or late stage alcoholism. Alcoholism stages generally take years to develop. Alcoholism is a disease where alcoholic beverage consumption is at a level that interferes with physical or mental health
and negatively impacts social
family or occupational responsibilities.

Consuming no more than one or two drinks per day for healthy men and a drink a day for healthy non-pregnant women are generally considered acceptable alcohol consumption without health risks. However
as the amount or frequency of drinking increases
the earliest of the alcoholism stages can develop as a result.

Early Stages of Alcoholism

In the early alcoholism stages
a person begins to depend on alcohol to affect their mood. They drink for relief from problems
and they begin thinking more and more about alcohol. The person and others around them may not recognize that they are in the earliest of the stages of alcoholism. A gradual increase in tolerance happens
meaning
it takes increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the desired mood-altering effects. Often
the person can consume large amounts of alcohol without appearing impaired.

At the early alcoholism stages
the body has adapted to increasing amounts of alcohol. In fact
how a person functions will likely be improved with drinking as blood alcohol levels rise. For example
they can think and talk normally or walk a straight line with no problem. However
with continued alcohol consumption over time
the body begins to lose its ability to deal with high alcohol levels. As this occurs
when the alcoholic stops drinking and their blood alcohol level decreases
their thinking
talking or walking functions deteriorate
and they are moving into the next of the stages of alcoholism.

Middle Alcoholism Stages

The need and desire to drink gradually becomes more intense. Drinking larger amounts and more often happens as well as drinking earlier in the day. The alcoholic is losing control over drinking
and the body is losing its ability to process alcohol like it did in the early stages of alcoholism. Their tolerance decreases as they become intoxicated more easily. Withdrawal symptoms begin to become more severe if alcohol is reduced.

The person may now secretly recognize there is a drinking problem
and others may begin to notice as well. Unfortunately
the alcoholic no longer can judge how much alcohol their body can handle. Typically
the drinker denies to themselves and others that alcohol is a problem so they won't have to deal with their inner turmoil. Hangovers
blackouts and stomach problems can now be physical symptoms that occur on a regular basis.

End Stage Alcoholism

As alcoholism progresses
the alcoholic has become obsessed with drinking to the exclusion of nearly everything else. Everyone can tell there's a major problem. During the late alcoholism stages
the mental and physical health of the alcoholic are seriously deteriorating. Many of the body's organs have been damaged which lowers resistance to disease. Relationships at home or socially may have been severely damaged
and there can be mounting financial and legal problems due to the alcoholic's powerlessness over alcohol.

Every alcoholic will suffer from malnutrition. Alcohol in large amounts interferes with the digestion process and the passage of nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream. Liver function has been damaged
further limiting the conversion of nutrients into a usable form that the body can assimilate. The damaged cells are not receiving the needed nutrients
they cannot repair themselves and the damage continues. Nutritional deficiencies cause a host of related problems to become worse. For example
a vitamin B-1 deficiency common in alcoholics can result in loss of mental alertness and appetite
fatigue
confusion and emotional instability.

And if the alcoholic continues drinking
alcohol will cause the death of the alcoholic in one way or another. From suicide
accidents and related injuries to direct damage to the body's organs and systems
death will likely be the final outcome of end stage alcoholism.

Are there warning signs of alcoholism? Yes! Understand the signs and symptoms that indicate that alcohol consumption is becoming or is already a problem. There are resources available in a variety of ways to help deal with alcoholism stages and the serious consequences of this disease.

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