Alcohol detox works by allowing the body to metabolize and eliminate alcohol while adjusting to its absence. The liver breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde and then into harmless substances, but prolonged heavy drinking impairs this process. Outpatient detox allows individuals with mild withdrawal to receive medical monitoring while staying at home. Social detox offers emotional and peer support without medical intervention, focusing on behavioral support.
Are There Any Alternatives to Medications for Treating High Blood Pressure Caused by Alcohol Withdrawal?
When it comes to alcohol bp alcohol abstinence, other pieces of evidence also confirm that treatment for alcoholism helps normalize blood pressure. One study aimed to assess the effect of one month of proven abstinence from alcohol on the 24-hour blood pressure profile in heavy alcohol drinkers. When an individual abruptly discontinues alcohol intake they will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms within 6-8 hours. Withdrawal symptoms are in response to the brain and central nervous system having made adjustments over time in response to the alcohol.
Deal with withdrawal symptoms
- The more alcohol you consume, the greater the strain on your cardiovascular system.
- When you stop consuming alcohol your body goes through a period of detoxification, which is when the withdrawal symptoms are at their most acute.
- Over time, what started out as a panacea for stress or emotional issues became its own serious problem.
- But making this a regular habit can impede your mental health, especially if you already have depression.
- The severity and duration depend on factors like alcohol dependence, overall health, and history of withdrawal.
Additionally, sometimes blood pressure can increase during detox, but it restores to normal with abstinence. Alcoholism is a serious problem with major potential to affect a person’s health and quality of life. It also has other negative effects, such as impaired relationships, work problems, just to name a few. The healthier you are, the more motivated you will be to live an alcohol-free life. All this translates to normalized blood pressure and improved overall health and wellbeing.
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Problematic Drinking
Because it’s often too difficult to tell if the alcohol dependence is induced by depression or vice versa, psychologists and addictions specialists tend to treat both simultaneously, Anand says. Treatment is often a two-pronged approach involving psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. The effects of drinking too much can also seep into your daily life and may impact areas like work, finances, relationships and aspects of your physical health like sleep, diet, and exercise, says Dr. Anand. That could lead some people, for example, to turn to drinking to cope with stress caused by these issues.
- While some people may experience milder changes, others may have genetic variations that make them more susceptible to the cardiovascular effects of alcohol withdrawal.
- It will also be easier to concentrate as your brain recovers from the effects of alcohol.
- If left unaddressed, high blood pressure (hypertension) escalates the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, and other serious conditions.
- Additionally, individuals should also engage in healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive caffeine consumption.
- During their thrice-weekly rounds, Dr. Roffman and Dr. Stern discuss the diagnosis and management of conditions confronted.
Aftercare efforts should include ongoing outpatient therapy, group therapy, and engagement in a recovery community. Individuals who consume alcohol regularly may develop alcohol-induced hypertension, meaning their blood pressure remains elevated even when they are not drinking. Upon quitting alcohol, some people may experience temporary spikes in blood pressure during withdrawal.
For example, high blood pressure can contribute to atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and thickening of the left heart ventricle. Hypertension can also damage your brain and contribute to stroke, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Before we start discussing what happens when you get alcoholism treatment, it’s important to explain alcoholism symptoms why you need to be proactive about high blood pressure. The severity of hypertension is largely underestimated, which explains why most people tend to disregard the importance of lifestyle measures that maintain normal blood pressure. When facing down the detox and withdrawal phase of recovery, it is best to view it as a necessary first step to a new, healthy, and productive life.
- When it comes to their impact on blood pressure, not all alcoholic beverages are created equal.
- Most people don’t feel anything at all, even if their blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels.
- These challenges may be emotionally overwhelming, possibly triggering a relapse.