Alcohol Detox Can Be Dangerous For The Elderly

Alcohol addiction is a disease, not simply a weakness of personal strength. Not unlike heart disease or diabetes, an addiction to alcohol damages every organ and tissue in the body. With every drink, an alcoholic’s health is compromised, and for elderly people, the toll can be much more serious.
　
It is a fact that alcohol detox should be the first step in any treatment program, however, for the elderly who often cope with other medical conditions, the alcohol detox process can be dangerous if not completed in a center staffed with experienced physicians and nurses. Many elderly people have diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, all of which are chronic health problems that need daily medication and management. Many of these elderly deal with multiple medical conditions which will need to be addressed in the alcohol detox setting.
　
Alcohol detox is a process that can take days or even weeks. Alcoholics are under medical supervision while the toxins from the alcohol are safely cleansed from their body. With round-the-clock medical care, this fragile time can be monitored and any painful or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms or side effects can be dealt with as they arise. This fact is especially important for seniors who are seeking to stop their dependence on alcohol.
　
Many seniors who struggle with alcohol have lived with the disease for years. The desire to be successful in an alcohol treatment program is a huge accomplishment. It means that elderly alcoholics can be one step closer to achieving renewed physical health, and that once the alcohol detox process is finished, the true hard work of recovery can begin.