The culture of drinking alcohol in many countries leads to the fact that every year the number of people with addiction to ethanol increases. Therapist is involved in the treatment of this disease. Most people do not consider alcohol addiction a real disease. It would seem that it could be easier: if you want, you drink, no, you don’t do it. Everything is much more complicated: when a person embarks on the dangerous path of dependence, his thinking changes. A peculiar "demon" settles in his subconscious, which makes the patient drink to the detriment of his health. Nausea and vomiting, changes in liver cells, mental abnormalities, tremors, tremors, fever - this is just a short list of the consequences of alcohol abuse. In this article we will explain why shaking with a hangover. Home treatment, preventative measures and first aid are also described below.
Stages of alcoholism
Narcology distinguishes three stages in the development of alcoholism. To answer the question of why shaking with a hangover and what to do, you should understand the processes of the development of the disease. At each stage, the causes and methods of treatment are different.
- The first stage is characterized by normal tolerance to ethyl alcohol. The body still perceives this substance as the poison that it is. The patient can shake with a large tremor - both the whole body, and only the limbs. This occurs due to intoxication and is typical for the abuse of spirits.
- The second stage is characterized by memory lapses, an increase in tolerance. Ethanol is built into the metabolism and becomes part of the body. Intoxication does not so seriously affect the body, but damage to the nervous system gives its “fruits”: cerebral circulation is disturbed. Why is it shaking with a hangover in the second stage of alcoholism? The most common cause is brain hypoxia, panic attacks, and anxiety. The patient often has a state of predelirium, which precedes the development of acute alcoholic psychosis.
- The third stage is characterized by complete social and physical degradation of a person as a person. "Pulling" it is almost impossible, and if possible, there will forever remain incurable diseases of the internal organs. Persistent brain damage develops, strokes and encephalopathy are possible. Why is it shaking with a hangover in the third stage of alcoholism? This is often caused by microepileptic seizures, the development of which is inevitable in any alcoholic.
Why is shaking with a hangover
The most common causes are:
- damage to nerve cells;
- hypoxia of the brain;
- epileptic seizure;
- extensive intoxication of the body;
- encephalopathy;
- damage to the vestibular apparatus.
It should be understood that ethanol contained in any alcoholic beverage is poison. It causes paralysis of the nervous system. Therefore, intoxication occurs, inappropriate behavior begins, loss of coordination, an imaginary feeling of fun. Why is it shaking with a hangover after drinking? Because the body suffers from severe intoxication, and brain cells from hypoxia.
The development of an epileptic seizure
In narcology, alcoholic epilepsy is characterized as a result of a severe form of dependence. The development of convulsive seizures is unpredictable and can overtake a patient on the street, at home, in a dream, during breakfast. A person first loses consciousness. The face noticeably turns pale, turning into cyanotic tones. During seizures, foam is released from the mouth. Hands, legs, head shake with a small tremor. Cramps can get stronger or subside. Uncontrolled vomiting may open. In a seizure, the patient can bite his tongue if he is not helped.
He regains consciousness after the end of convulsions. Attacks so exhaust the body that after them a person is completely "turned off" and sleeps for up to several hours.
An epileptic seizure is a common reason why shaking with a hangover. At the same time, it is not necessary to finish the squirrel: a microepileptic seizure may overtake the patient already at the second stage of alcoholism.
Limb tremor after abuse
An ordinary neurological tremor can accompany even minor abuse. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, tremor can develop already at the first stage of alcoholism.
The condition is characterized by vague anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and insomnia. In this case, the body or fingers may tremble finely. The patient may experience chills and a condition similar to the common cold. In fact, he is not ill with anything: this is a direct consequence of the abuse of alcoholic beverages.
Pathology of the nervous system after abuse
There is an opinion that alcohol is harmful to internal organs. And indeed it is. But do not forget that ethanol has an equally destructive effect on the psyche and nervous system.
An alcoholic becomes anxious, suspicious, his personality is deformed. There are many scientific works written by psychiatrists and narcologists about the personality of an alcoholic, drug addict or any other dependent person. These people can belong to different social strata, have different skills and professions, but in the end, alcohol makes them all alike: with the same mentality and thinking. This is the answer to the question of why it is shaking from a hangover: the irreversible death of tens of thousands of neurons disrupts the central and autonomic nervous system.
Mental abnormalities after abuse
Relatives of people with alcohol addiction know that over time the character of the patient deteriorates. He becomes aggressive and irritable. Constant ill health and unmotivated anger turn his life into hell.
At the second stage, memory laps begin, and the next morning the patient tries to remember why he was shaking with a hangover and what he was doing unconscious.
Disorders in the central nervous system and multiple death of brain cells entail psychiatric disorders. This is early dementia, alcoholic psychoses, delirium. These conditions are characterized by inappropriate behavior, shaking with a hangover. Why are there no such consequences in the early stages? This is due to the fact that the body is still trying and can resist poisoning with ethyl alcohol.
The development of alcoholic delirium
Often, alcoholics themselves, as well as their relatives, are interested in the reasons why it is shaking with a hangover. What to do in such a situation, they do not know. In order to help the patient, it is impossible to do anything, there is no magic pill for alcoholism. There is only one solution - do not drink at all and prevent the development of a hangover. In the second stage, it is possible after one hundred grams of vodka, since the sick person’s tolerance to ethyl alcohol is impaired.
The most dangerous consequence of a hangover is the development of alcohol delirium. This is an acute psychotic state in which a sick person shakes, he becomes completely inadequate. Hallucinations, both auditory and visual, can chase him. In order to prevent the development of an epileptic seizure in a state of alcoholic delirium, you should call an ambulance team, doctors will provide the necessary assistance. Why shakes with a hangover, if delirium is not, described above.
First aid for the patient
The algorithm for helping a person with a severe hangover:
- Put it on its side, do not allow the supine position. If the vomit begins to withdraw, he will suffocate and die (mechanical asphyxiation).
- If an epileptic seizure begins, put a spoon in your mouth so that the patient does not bite his own tongue.
- In order not to prevent severe tremor and shaking of the body, you should take a contrast shower (prohibited for heart problems).
- Try to prevent insomnia - in a hangover you need to try to fall asleep by any means.
What drugs to take at home
The most common reasons why shaking with a hangover have been described above. Home treatment can be done with the following drugs:
- "Atarax" will help calm the excitement, anxiety, tremor of the limbs and sleep;
- muscle relaxants help relax muscle tissue and prevent shaking and trembling;
- normotimics reduce the intensity of convulsive seizures and normalize blood circulation;
- Nootropics will help restore cognitive abilities and partially restore brain cells;
- "Regidron" and similar drugs will help restore the water-salt balance during a hangover;
- Adaptol and other tranquilizers will help to fall asleep and prevent the development of alcoholic delirium.
Any drug with a psychotropic effect can be taken only by prescription. It is impossible to independently carry out therapy, since not all drugs are compatible with ethanol residues in the blood that “walk” in the body after intoxication.
When is hospitalization required?
In some cases, a hangover should be the reason for immediate hospitalization. An ambulance should be called if the patient:
- shows inadequate reactions and aggressiveness;
- sees hallucinations;
- choking on vomiting;
- complains of a sharp pain in the hypochondrium;
- there are traces of blood in the vomit and feces.
A very dangerous condition is when blood and bile are released from the mouth, while the patient is trembling with a large tremor, this indicates internal bleeding, which often leads to death. In order to save a person, you should deliver him to the operating room on time. To do this, just call an ambulance.
In a state of hangover, a person can be inadequate and dangerous. If he does not sleep and hallucinations have begun, he is trembling with a big tremor, he should immediately call an ambulance, since in a state of delirium, the patient can cause fatal harm to himself and others.