What happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol

Now it is clear that Americans drink less. You see it in grocery stores and bars, where zero test cocktails and non -alcoholic beers are more available than ever. You also see it in data: a recent Gallup survey has revealed that the rate of alcohol consumption in the United States is the lowest in 90 years, with only around 54% of American adults reporting that they consume alcohol.

The change comes in the midst of growing research on the negative effects on alcohol health, as well as growing warnings of public health experts on long-term risks linked to night glasses of wine or excessive consumption of the regular weekend.

While drinking falls into disgrace, You could request which reduction – or stop entirely – to make your body. Here is what three doctors had to say.

Most immediately, Jumping alcohol is likely to improve your sleep. “With less alcohol, you will feel better rested and less slow cognitive in the morning,” said Schacht.

While alcohol can help you get away from you, staying asleep is another matter. “You often wake up either because you have to go to the toilet, to get water because you are dehydrated, or because the alcohol has disturbed your sleep cycle,” said Humphreys.

Research shows that Alcohol can delay, shorten and prevent rapid eye movements (REM) Sleep, the phase associated with an improvement in creativity, well-being and longevity.

Alcohol can make you feel relaxed and uninhibited in the short term, but as a depressant, it can ultimately worsen your mental health. In fact, many people experience anxiety or panic attacks the day after Schacht.

There are several reasons why this can happen. On the one hand, studies have shown that alcohol consumption can cause anomalies in the amygdal, the brain region that regulates negative emotions, and these changes can harm people’s reaction. In addition, alcohol can affect the production of brain chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and gaba, which all play roles in mood regulation.

“”Reducing the quantity you drink will help your brain better regulate these neurotransmitters and make you feel more to the touch“Said Schacht.

In addition, a bad sleep – another problem triggered by alcohol – is linked to various mental health problems. Because cutting alcohol can improve sleep, it can also reduce your risk of developing mental health.

“Among the factors we can control, reducing your alcohol consumption can considerably reduce your risk of developing cancer over time,” said Daveiga.

This is because, even in moderation, drinking alcohol can Increase your risk with many types of cancer, Including those of the head and neck, esophagus, liver, breast, colon and rectum, according to the National Institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Alcohol raises the risk of cancer because our body converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen, said Edward Daveiga, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

In addition, alcohol can damage DNA, alter the body’s ability to absorb significant nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, E and some in the vitamin B complex, and facilitate the mouth and throat to absorb harmful chemicals. Over time, all of these changes can contribute to cancer.

Alcohol has been linked to many heart problemsIncluding a stroke, heart attack and heart failure. According to Daveiga, it is because alcohol triggers inflammation that can tax your cardiovascular system.

Alcohol too contains calories and can contribute to weight gain. Joseph Schacht, PHD, an associate professor in psychiatry specializing in addiction to drug addiction at the medical campus of the University of Colorado Anschutz, said that excess weight can reduce metabolism, increase your appetite for high calorie food and interfere with hormones that regulate weight. This, in turn, can lead you to develop cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

On the other hand, many people lose weight when they stop drinking, which helps reduce these risk factors and reduce pressure on the heart. “Most people who drink regularly will lose at least a few books if they eliminate alcohol from their diet,” said Schacht.

When you drink less, You can also see that you live less harmful events. According to Humphreys, alcohol is linked not only to a higher risk of serious accidents, such as car accidents, but also more minor incidents, like stumbling, overthrowing your coffee on yourself or forgetting to have medication. A recent report revealed that around 4.5 million people worldwide died of injury in 2019, 7% of which are alcohol.

Alcohol is a neurotoxin and a depressant of the central nervous system. As such, He can harm balance, judgment, behavior and reaction timeshows research. “Alcohol reduces physical coordination and alters concentration and memory,” said Humphreys.

As of negative alcohol consumption, they are rare. Some people may fear that being the only non-depth of their social circle can feel alone or isolated. But with the rise of wines, alcohol beers and cocktails, staying social and sober is much easier than before, noted Humphreys.

In fact, people who leave or cut often find that their social life really improves because they feel less anxious, better rested and more confident with their body, according to Schacht.
“One of the best things you can do to improve your health,” he said, “is to reduce or stop drinking alcohol.”