Can you die from stopping drinking alcohol

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Call Now at How Death Can Occur During Withdrawal Ask any recovering alcoholic and they may tell you that the detox process often made them feel as if they were dying. Why Alcohol Withdrawal Occurs As with any addiction, repeated long-term consumption of alcohol causes chemical changes in the brain over time.

Full Bio. Your Email. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Many people will begin to experience the physical benefits of quitting alcohol shortly after giving up the substance.

Others may slowly begin to experience the physical effects of quitting drinking. How long and how much a person was drinking prior to quitting will influence the level of physical benefits experienced. As the body heals from alcohol abuse, a person will experience more and more physical benefits of giving up the substance. Some physical effects may take longer than others to be felt.

However, overall, quitting drinking can provide a number of significant physical health benefits. Individuals will likely feel more mentally clearer and less foggy as well as more emotionally stable after quitting drinking. Additionally, quitting alcohol after struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction can be liberating. Individuals may feel more confident and sure of themselves and their decisions in life.

Many people also experience improvements in social and work settings. Some people may be able to quit alcohol on their own. Others, however, may need professional help to successfully give up drinking. Additionally, individuals who are physically dependent on alcohol should not attempt to stop drinking on their own, as they may experience serious and even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Vertava Health offers a number of treatment programs for individuals of every walk of life looking to overcome an addiction to alcohol. This page does not provide medical advice. Don't Wait. Get Help Now If you are unsure whether quitting drinking is something you should consider, ask yourself the following questions: Do I lie about or try to hide my alcohol consumption?

This can lead to the symptoms of withdrawal. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to severe. Overall, symptoms often improve after about a week. However, for some people, these symptoms may last longer. Initial symptoms can happen as early as several hours after your last drink. They can include things like:. In people with milder levels of alcohol dependence, these may be the only symptoms they experience. Typically, initial symptoms get worse after they first appear.

They usually reduce over the next day or two. These seizures are generalized in nature. Like hallucinations, they often appear within 24 hours after your last drink. Of those who develop seizures, about 3 percent may have a more serious type of seizure called status epilepticus.

This is medical emergency that can lead to disability or death. Delirium tremens is the most serious symptom of alcohol withdrawal and can lead to death. It often occurs two to three days after your last drink.

Symptoms can include:. With early treatment and prevention, the chance of death from delirium tremens is rare. Some people have a higher risk for developing delirium tremens. This includes older people and those who have:.

Instead, your doctor will use a detailed medical history and physical examination to help diagnose and determine the severity of withdrawal. Knowing all the facts helps them to both evaluate your condition and determine an appropriate treatment.

This only helps you in the long run. Heavy or prolonged alcohol use can have a negative effect on many parts of your body, including the heart, liver, and nervous system. Your doctor may also perform blood tests to check for any alcohol-related damage to these areas. There are several steps your doctor can take to diagnose alcohol use disorder. They can include:. For many years, the primary drugs used to treat alcohol withdrawal have been benzodiazepines.