"Here’s How Alcohol Withdrawal Can Lead to Heart Failure" - Julia Naftulin
True Blood star, Nelson Ellis, struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for years before his untimely death. After many stints of rehab, Ellis attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own. During his withdrawal from alcohol, he had a blood infection, his kidneys shut down, his liver was swollen, his blood pressure plummeted, and his heart raced out of control. There's no question that withdrawal from alcohol or drugs can wreak havoc on the body's organs, especially the liver and heart. That's why it's so dangerous for alcoholics to quit cold turkey, says Edwin Salsitz, MD, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome—which can include seizures, bouts of disorientation, and severe anxiety —has a five to ten percent mortality rate. Experts recommend that people with substance abuse problems enter a treatment program, either in a hospital or community-based setting, where they can taper their use of alcohol or drugs under medical supervision.
- Edwin Salsitz, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai