well rajani i think these are the signs by which it is diagonised Recurrent intoxication, nausea, sweating, tachycardia
Amnesic episodes (blackouts)
Mood swings, depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue
Grand mal seizures, hallucinations, delirium tremens
Dyspepsia, diarrhea, bloating, hematemesis, jaundice
Tremor, unsteady gait, paraesthesia, memory loss, erectile dysfunction

Answered by sanjay , an ibibo Guru, at 1:30 PM on March 06, 2008

It's often difficult for doctors to decide which people to screen for an alcohol problem. For example, signs and symptoms such as memory loss or falling might be the result of aging rather than indications of alcohol abuse. Or people may complain to doctors about digestive problems or pain or weakness, but never reveal their abuse of alcohol.

A doctor who suspects an alcohol problem may ask a number of questions regarding drinking habits in order to get an indication of the amount of drinking. If answers to those questions indicate possible alcoholism or alcohol abuse, the doctor may do a short screening test using a standardized questionnaire.

Blood alcohol tests aren't useful in diagnosing alcoholism because the tests indicate consumption only at that particular time. They don't offer clues about long-term alcohol use. Other blood tests that measure the size of red blood cells, which increase with long-term alcohol use, and a factor known as carbohydrate-deficient transferrin may indicate heavy alcohol consumption. Sometimes other tests indicate health problems that may be alcohol related, such as tests showing liver damage or reduced testosterone levels in men.

Denial is a hallmark of alcoholism and people with alcohol dependence tend to minimize the extent of their drinking. The doctor may ask for permission to speak with family members or friends. Concerned family members may also contact the doctor on their own to discuss their concerns. However, confidentiality rules prevent the doctor from giving out any information without consent.

Answered by Meera , an ibibo Master, at 11:59 PM on March 05, 2008

when a preson has strong craving for alcohol and can not remain without alcohol or some withdrawl symptoms start appearing than the person is diagnosed as a case of alcoholism

Answered by rajesh goyl , an ibibo Advisor, at 9:21 PM on March 05, 2008

The diagnosis of alcoholism is generally made by reviewing the person's behavior except when the person has symptoms of withdrawal or damage to organs as a result of alcohol consumption. Several screening tests are routinely employed to identify people at risk for alcoholism. Such tests usually consist of 1 or more questionnaires. evaluation of blood for liver functions, anemia and electrolyte levels (blood chemistry levels). Alcoholics often have elevated liver function tests, which indicate liver damage. Gamma glutamyl transferase is the most sensitive liver function test. It can be elevated after only a few weeks of excess alcohol consumption. Alcoholics may also have anemia as well as electrolyte disturbances including low potassium, low magnesium and low calcium. Often the initial visit with a doctor is for medical or surgical complications of alcohol consumption. In those cases the doctor will perform and order additional tests depending on the symptoms (for example, abdominal pain, heart failure, alcohol withdrawal, or cirrhosis).

Answered by MRIDUL BORA , an ibibo Master, at 9:14 PM on March 05, 2008

Diagnosing alcoholism can be tricky, since the diagnosis depends on the drinker being willing to honestly answer a series of questions about his or her drinking patterns and attitudes.
This is a problem because a common symptom of alcoholism is denial. An old adage about alcoholism is it's "the only disease that denies it exists and resists treatment." If someone is not willing to be honest about their drinking habits, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately diagnose alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.


Family and Friends See the Problem
Long before drinking problems are diagnosed in a healthcare setting, they are usually recognized by the friends and family of the drinker. Those close to the drinker see someone continue to drink in spite of all the problems it causes in their lives, and they correctly diagnose that the person has a drinking problem.
The friends and family members may try to talk to the drinker about the problem and encourage him/her to get help, but again, denial comes into play. Denial is so common in people with alcohol abuse problems that denial itself is a warning sign of alcoholism. The drinker simply does not see, or refuses to admit, that alcohol use is the source of problems.

Moreover, alcohol problems are rarely diagnosed during routine visits to the doctor or even during hospitalizations. People with alcohol abuse disorders are diagnosed properly less than 30 percent of the time. Physicians routinely do not recognize the symptoms, and when they do, they may be relunctant to confront their patients about their drinking problems

Answered by deepa iyer , an ibibo Advisor, at 8:22 PM on March 05, 2008

The following questions are a effective way of finding out. Two "yes" responses indicate that the respondent should be investigated further. The questionnaire asks the following questions:

1. Have you ever felt you needed to Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt Guilty about drinking?
4. Have you ever felt you needed a drink first thing in the morning (Eye-opener) to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

Answered by Sudha , an ibibo Specialist, at 7:43 PM on March 05, 2008

Men who consume 15 or more drinks a week, women who consume 12 or more drinks a week, or anyone who consumes 5 or more drinks per occasion at least once a week are all at risk for developing alcoholism. (One drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1 1/2-ounce shot of liquor).

The following questions are used by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to screen for alcohol abuse or dependence:

* Have you felt that you should cut down on your drinking?
* Do you ever drive when you have been drinking?
* Is someone in your family concerned about your drinking?
* Have you ever had any blackouts after drinking?
* Have you ever been absent from work or lost a job because of drinking?
* Do you have to drink more than before to achieve intoxication or the desired effect?

Some of the symptoms associated with alcoholism include:

* Drinking alone
* Making excuses to drink
* Need for daily or frequent use of alcohol for adequate function
* Lack of control over drinking, with inability to discontinue or reduce alcohol intake
* Episodes of violence associated with drinking
* Secretive behavior to hide alcohol related behavior
* Hostility when confronted about drinking
* Neglect of food intake
* Neglect of physical appearance
* Nausea and vomiting
* Shaking in the morning
* Abdominal pain
* Numbness and tingling
* Confusion

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms vary from mild to severe and may include:

* Rapid heart rate and sweating
* Restlessness or agitation
* Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
* Confusion or hallucinations
* Tremors and seizures

Answered by Rekha , an ibibo Advisor, at 6:21 PM on March 05, 2008

Even when people with alcoholism experience withdrawal symptoms, they nearly always deny the problem, leaving it up to co-workers, friends, or relatives to recognize the symptoms and to take the first steps toward encouraging treatment. Denial, in fact, may be an important warning signal for alcoholism.Family members cannot always rely on a doctor to make an initial diagnosis. Although 15 - 30% of people who are hospitalized have alcoholism or alcohol dependence, doctors often fail to screen for the problem. In addition, doctors themselves often cannot recognize the symptoms. In one study, alcohol problems were detected by the doctor in less than half of patients who had them. Even when doctors identify an alcohol problem, however, they are frequently reluctant to confront the patient with a diagnosis that might lead to treatment for addiction.
***A number of short screening tests are available, which a person can even take on his or her own. Because people with alcoholism often deny their problem or otherwise attempt to hide it, the tests are designed to elicit answers related to problems associated with drinking rather than the amount of liquor consumed or other specific drinking habits.

CAGE Test. The CAGE test is an acronym for the following questions and is the quickest test:

* Attempts to CUT (C) down on drinking
* ANNOYANCE (A) with criticisms about drinking
* GUILT (G) about drinking
* Use of alcohol as an EYE-OPENER (E) in the morning
***This test and another called the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) appear to be most useful in detecting possible alcoholism in white, middle-aged males. They are not very accurate for identifying alcohol abuse in older people, white women, and African and Mexican Americans.

T-ACE Test. The T-ACE test is a four-question test that appears to be quite accurate in identifying alcoholism in both men and women. It asks the following questions:

* Does it TAKE (T) more than three drinks to make you feel high?
* Have you ever been ANNOYED (A) by people's criticism of your drinking?
* Are you trying to CUT DOWN (C) on drinking?
* Have you ever used alcohol as an EYE OPENER (E) in the morning?

A positive response to two of these four questions is considered to indicate possible alcohol abuse or dependence.
**AUDIT Test. A more effective and important test for most people may be the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which is the only test specifically designed to identify hazardous or harmful drinking. It asks three questions about amount and frequency of drinking, three questions about alcohol dependence, and four questions about problems related to alcohol consumption.

A Single-Question. One simple question may be as sensitive as the CAGE or AUDIT: "When was the last time you had more than five drinks (for men) or four drinks (for women) in one day?" An answer of "within three months" accurately identified about half of people who were problem drinkers. Problem drinking is defined as hazardous drinking within the last month or some alcohol-use disorder during the past year.

Answered by Khursheed , an ibibo Master, at 6:17 PM on March 05, 2008

A person trained in treating alcoholism can tell if you or someone you care about is an alcoholic. This person may ask a series of questions. This information is also used to select the best treatment, if needed

Answered by anitaraizada , an ibibo Specialist, at 5:55 PM on March 05, 2008

Multiple tools are available to those wishing to conduct screening for alcoholism. Identification of alcoholism may be difficult because there is no detectable physiologic difference between a person who drinks frequently and a person with the condition. Identification involves an objective assessment regarding the damage that imbibing alcohol does to the drinker's life compared to the subjective benefits the drinker perceives from consuming alcohol. While there are many cases where an alcoholic's life has been significantly and obviously damaged, there are always borderline cases that can be difficult to classify.

Addiction Medicine specialists have extensive training with respect to diagnosing and treating patients with alcoholism.

Answered by keshto , an ibibo Master, at 5:42 PM on March 05, 2008