Addiction is a disease that is powerful enough to ruin lives. It affects not only the person in question but also their family, friends, and anyone close to them.
If you’ve ever had a first-hand experience with someone battling addiction, you know how scary it can be. Helplessness and frustration become a reality when they refuse to stop the abuse. Giving up on them is not an option either. What may work here is to seek professional help. Make them aware of how their addiction affects the lives of those they love. Forcing them to see the dangers of their actions may be effective here.
Here’s a look at some of the more severe ramifications of addiction.
1. Cardiovascular Diseases
Even if you only smoke one or two cigars a day, you are still at risk for coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease. Whether you smoke filtered cigars or not, how rarely you smoke cigars or if you have never had a stroke or heart attack is irrelevant. Smoking, chewing tobacco, cigars, pipes, and cigarillos all contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can be fatal.
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the leaves of tobacco. The compound is a primary culprit behind heart diseases and has been proven to become addictive with time (which explains why it is so hard to quit smoking).
If you wish to turn your life for the better and save yourself from serious (fatal) diseases, you must seek a way out of substance abuse. Get professional help if you cannot do it alone. Platforms like Delphi Health Group offer personalized treatment plans and recommend therapies that make quitting easier.
2. Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, are common in people with addiction. The body rejects the addictive substance, resulting in these symptoms. It is your body’s way of protecting itself from the chemical causing you to feel high. Therefore, if you experience gastrointestinal symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention.
Addiction treatment can help alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms as well as other withdrawal symptoms. Take matters into your own hands if any of these occur. Seek help as soon as possible from a healthcare professional. Treatment may involve a detoxification program, medications to help control withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse, and counseling or behavioral therapy to help you learn how to live without alcohol.
3. Respiratory Deficits
Respiratory difficulties often accompany drug addiction and alcoholism. A person with a history of asthma attacks or chronic lung disorders is more likely to suffer from these deficits. The factors that contribute to respiratory illnesses include smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illicit drugs. Substance abusers with respiratory difficulties usually have problems caused by smoking tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, which cause damage to the lungs. Long-term alcohol abuse can also lead to scarring and reduced lung capacity.
Smokers often develop emphysema, a chronic lung disease that causes difficulty breathing and is often fatal if left untreated. Those who smoke marijuana heavily may develop bronchitis, an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air into the lungs. Many tobacco users suffer from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a generic term for lung problems including emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.
4. Mental Health Effects
It is important to note that addiction can cause various psychological effects. They result when an individual stops drinking or using drugs and experiences withdrawal symptoms. However, one may also experience psychological and behavioral symptoms after repeated use of addictive substances.
Many people neglect or overlook addiction’s effects on mental health, even though they can lead to serious health consequences. Some addiction-related mental health effects may be apparent to others; for example, family members and friends may observe changes in personality or mood. Other effects can be harder to detect, but they can still significantly impact addicts’ lives. For example, someone getting used to addiction may neglect their work or school obligations to spend time with other addicts. This may cause them to spend more time thinking about drugs and planning how to get them instead of focusing on activities that matter to them.
People who seek addiction treatment benefit from it because it addresses both physical dependence and the behavioral patterns that contribute to addiction.
5. Kidney Damage
Using alcohol and drugs excessively can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Its treatment varies, depending on the severity of the condition. In some cases, the number of drugs in a person’s system can be so high that they need to be taken to the hospital immediately. However, if someone has been abusing alcohol or drugs for a long time, the doctor may recommend therapy before prescribing medications for kidney repair. Once an individual stops taking the substances that are causing them harm, kidney damage from substance abuse is often reversible. For those who want to be free from substances, it is important to seek professional help when necessary.
Conclusion
To sum it up, addiction can give you a wide array of health issues. It depletes your energy and brainpower, hinders blood circulation, malfunctions the immune system, and destroys your organs and body. Don’t be apathetic toward your addiction; it’s taking its toll. Get help soon and stay alert to your addictive tendencies to lead a healthy lifestyle. Health is paramount.
