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For men, heavy alcohol intake is defined as having more than four drinks in a single day or more than 14 drinks a week. For women, it is defined as having more than three drinks in a single day or more than seven drinks a week. While socializing while sober can feel uncomfortable at first, it can ultimately lead to a more meaningful social life. Without the presence of alcohol you’re able to make authentic connections and form strong memories. Many people in long-term sobriety report that their relationships have significantly improved.
If you drink every day, even if you only drink a moderate amount, quitting drinking can trigger alcohol withdrawal. Quitting alcohol is not always dangerous and does not always lead to withdrawal, but when it does, it can be deadly. Recognizing the signs of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol may prompt you to want to reduce the amount you drink or stop drinking https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dealing-with-peer-pressure/ altogether. Learning the many health benefits may help you commit to a healthy, sober lifestyle. This is because blood pressure normalizes, heart functioning improves, and weight loss may occur. You may feel sleepy after a glass of wine and assume that alcohol helps you sleep better, but in reality, alcohol interferes with your ability to get a good night’s rest.
Benefits of Quitting Drinking
Because alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous – and even kill you – make sure you have medical advice from your doctor or a rehab facility when you decide to stop drinking. When someone wants to stop drinking alcohol, the first step is to understand what risks they are likely to encounter, given their specific what happens when you stop drinking alcohol situation. These experts can give advice on what risks specific individuals should expect and what measures can be taken to reduce these risks. Alcohol detox refers to the process in which alcohol is eliminated by the body. During detox, the body and brain also adjust to the absence of alcohol.
While the main ingredient in alcohol – ethanol – tends to initially calm you, it also leads to hangovers, mood swings, exhaustion, and depression. Alcohol consumption can also raise cortisol levels in the brain and contribute to more stress. So, the negative emotions you were trying to suppress in the first place, become heightened as drinking continues.
The Health Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
Initial symptoms may include disorientation and restlessness, trouble concentrating, and hypersensitivity to light, but may progress to symptoms such as shakes and tremors, agitation, nightmares, and hallucinations. It’s important to remember that DTs are a medical emergency and you should seek medical attention right away if you notice symptoms. Within 3-7 days, withdrawal symptoms will stop for most dependent drinkers. In rare cases, symptoms can develop into delirium tremens (DTs), which is a medical emergency.
It is not uncommon for people to say that they drink before bed to help them nod off at night, but the truth is that alcohol actually has a negative effect on sleep. Research4 shows that while alcohol does help people to fall asleep more quickly, it leads to sleep disruption during the second half of the night. People who consume alcohol also spend less time in REM sleep during the night.
Benefits of Quitting Alcohol: What To Expect, Timeline, Recovery
Plus, replacing alcohol with healthier coping mechanisms will make it easier to overcome challenges and relieve stress. Alcohol has a significant effect on the cardiovascular system, affecting the functioning of your heart and blood vessels. When a person drinks alcohol, it gets broken down or metabolized in the liver by an enzyme called dehydrogenase. Consuming unhealthy amounts of alcohol saturates this enzyme and creates a chain reaction that results in a type of bad cholesterol called LDL (low-density lipoprotein). The LDL cholesterol then sticks to the insides of arteries, causing blockage.
- Though you can’t tell by looking in a mirror, your risk of cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease have all dropped dramatically.
- Getting better sleep because you’re sober certainly doesn’t hurt either.
- Dasgupta said the best people to avoid alcohol always are those under 21 years old, and not just for legal reasons.
- Not drinking can resolve these unsightly skin conditions, such as eczema, hives, psoriasis, or simply itchy skin.
- When you quit drinking, you reduce your risk of these various types of cancer.
Alcohol causes inflammation in the lining of your stomach and intestines. By your second week of recovery, your gastrointestinal system will be well on its way to healing this inflammation. You will likely notice that you feel less bloated and have less gas and heartburn. You may also notice that your constipation or diarrhea has improved.