Dry January: 6 Ways Your Body Changes When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
Alcoholism is characterized by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages that causes distress or impairment. It is one of the most common and problematic addictions in Western society. Alcohol can be your enemy if you allow it to be, and it is not uncommon for a person with alcoholism to drink more than anyone else. The main problem with heavy drinking is that it affects every organ in your body, causing many health problems.
6 Ways Your Body Changes When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
1. Your Heart Health Improves
The cardiovascular system is the system of blood vessels that transports blood throughout your entire body. With alcohol, it can become impaired, causing high levels of triglycerides and lack of electrolytes. This is especially problematic when you are trying to lose weight because obese people often have low levels of triglycerides and high cholesterol. Alcohol increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
2. Your Brain Health Improves
Alcohol affects the areas of your brain responsible for memory and learning, negatively impacting those areas. The risk for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, depression, and anxiety also increases with the regular use of alcohol. The impact on your health can be severe if you have untreated alcoholism, which may manifest in different ways throughout the years, including memory loss, dementia, or even personality changes.
3. Healthy Weight and Overall Fitness
Alcohol is a toxin. Alcoholic liver disease is a dangerous and fatal condition that can occur at varying stages of the disease's progression. Alcohol affects nearly every organ in the body, inhibiting its function and causing health problems in your bones, skin, brain, and blood vessels. Your liver is essential to your health because it can help you fight off infections and metabolize vitamins from food. Alcohol abuse can cause damage to the liver, causing severe problems to your health. Weight gain is a common symptom of alcohol use whether struggling with addition or not. Empty calories are the quickest way to gain weight and many people find that the first symptom they experience after quitting is weight loss and a regulation of appetite, sleep, and overall well-being.
4. Your Immune System Gets Healthier
Alcohol doesn't just affect your brain. It has many other harmful effects on your body, such as increasing your risk for infection and anemia because it increases iron absorption while decreasing the production of red blood cells, making you susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Alcohol causes a decrease in the strength of the immune system, even leading to cancer. It also affects the bones negatively because it decreases bone density and makes them more prone to fractures. Alcohol also harms the skin's collagen breakdown, causing premature aging and wrinkles. When quitting, you might notice an improvement in your immune system through things like stronger nails, healthier hair, and less frequent illness.
5. Your Digestive System Gets Healthier
Alcohol can cause many problems in the digestive system, affecting your distended stomach, diarrhea, and constipation. This is usually because it causes damage to the liver and affects blood flow to the intestines. When you drink alcohol, it reduces blood flow to your digestive system and slows down digestion, making you feel full quicker. This makes it more likely for you to overeat food, causing weight gain. Alcohol also causes hormone problems, making your stomach fragile and more susceptible to bacteria entering the digestive system. When you stop drinking, you might notice an increased or regulated appetite, a craving for healthier foods, and an overall healthier relationship with food and how you nourish your body.
6. Improved Skin and Appearance
Alcohol is terrible for your skin because of its effects on blood flow. It makes you more likely to bruise or have skin conditions (e.g., eczema) and in other areas, such as behind the knees (papular erythema). Alcohol also causes more severe and chronic sunburns, making you feel hot and dry in the summer heat. Alcohol causes dehydration which has significant effects on your skin. When you quite drinking, you might notice clearer, more hydrated, and brighter skin.
7. Your Sex Life Might Improve
Alcohol is a depressant and impairs Lobito. Alcohol can cause impotence in men because it reduces blood flow to the penis and slows down response time. It also can cause premature ejaculation in men, making it a very unpleasant experience for both parties involved. Alcohol also causes problems in women by decreasing their desire for sex and impairing their sexual responsiveness. Alcohol also affects hormone regulation, and because of this, when you quit using it, you may notice a return in your sex drive, or simply more regular and enjoyable sexual experiences.
8. Better Sleep
Alcohol is a depressant, and when you use alcohol to try to sleep, it disrupts sleeping patterns. It may help you fall asleep, but you will likely wake up in the middle of the night. This is because alcohol disrupts the REM cycle, making it harder for you to get quality rest. This can lead to fatigue and other health problems caused by lack of rest, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. If you want to lose weight, getting enough high-quality sleep can help reduce your stress levels and cravings caused by your unhealthy lifestyle choices.
There are a variety of benefits to reducing your alcohol consumption or quitting all together and the greatest part about this is that it doesn’t take long to reap the benefits. Dry January is a great option for casual or social drinkers to try a sober lifestyle and experience these benefits. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse, we are here to help you. Contact us today to start your healing journey.
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