Chinese alcoholics, take heed:  if you want to kick the drinking habit, it would be best to consult a doctor or a psychiatrist first.

According to Chi Yong, head of Beijing Anding Hospital's alcoholism treatment unit, quitting alcohol without proper supervisions has severe health repercussions and can even lead to death, China Daily reported.

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Chi explained that alcohol is highly addictive, and abruptly quitting it can result in potentially deadly consequences, especially during withdrawal.

A fluttering in the chest and trembling are among the most common withdrawal  symptoms, which if left unaddressed, could lead to convulsions and eventual death.  

Chi said that alcohol abuse is a psychological condition wherein a person continues to drink despite knowing its negative effects.

Chinese alcoholics may no longer be able to overcome the urge to drink,  which could be anytime within the day.

"Public awareness has to be raised, given the worsening drinking problem in China," Chi stressed .

Citing international studies, he revealed that around 20 percent of patients who quit on their own and eventually developed serious alcohol withdrawal syndrome have passed away.

Chi's unit, which is referred as the Psychosomatic Ward, was reopened after a six-year hiatus and now has 60 beds.

It is capable of handling diagnosed alcoholics, including Chinese patients and foreigners, to help them overcome the difficulties of withdrawal.

Chi said that the yearly number of patients treated for alcoholism at the facility has increased by a factor of five over the past decade.

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, nearly 7 percent of Chinese men and around 0.2 percent of women aged 15 and older suffered from alcohol abuse in 2011.

Alcoholism kills 3.3 million people each year across the globe.

Alcohol addiction also significantly raises the risk of developing more than 200 diseases, including some cancers and mental disorders such as anxiety or depression.

Chinese alcoholics can attest to this, such as a man surnamed Ma, who shared that it's easy to fall into relapse, saying, "Lifelong interventions are needed to keep sober."

Tagschina, Chinese Alcoholics