The six benefits of quitting alcohol, making health becomes a new idea of life!

Do you think that you may be drinking too much alcohol? How to tell if you’re drinking too much. You can also expect to reap the rewards of cutting back.

Quick Facts

• Since the coronavirus outbreak, global alcohol consumption has risen
• You can find out if you have a drinking problem by asking five simple questions (see below).
• Reduced risk of dementia, stroke, cancer, heart disease and diabetes are all reasons to reduce or stop smoking.

The latest statistics suggest that you are not alone if you have been drinking more alcohol since the outbreak of the coronavirus. In recent months, alcohol consumption has increased worldwide. Around 1 in 5 UK residents have increased their drinking since March. In France, Spain, Germany, and Italy, drinking has increased by 10%.

Do you drink too much alcohol? Five questions to ask yourself.

The UK’s current guidelines advise that men and women should not drink more than 14 units per week, divided over three days. This is a ‘low-risk’ level of drinking.

How can you tell whether you have an alcohol problem? Lina Anderhell is a psychologist at KRY/Livi. She says that most people know instinctively when something’s wrong. She suggests you ask yourself:

1. Do you drink more often and in greater quantities?
2. When you feel stressed, anxious or worried, bored, restless, or bored, do you drink more?
3. Does drinking affect other aspects of your life such as your work or relationships?
4. After drinking too much, do you behave more impulsively? Do you say or do things that you regret later on?
5. Do you have friends and family who are concerned about your drinking habits?

Anderhell says that if you answer “yes” to one of these questions, it may be time to reconsider your drinking habits. If you drink alcohol to avoid negative emotions, it is a sign of unhelpful drinking habits. Anderhell says that other signs of excessive drinking include mood swings and a lack of focus on your duties. You may also feel defensive or hide your drinking. You may also suffer from physical symptoms like frequent hangovers and fatigue.

Why you should drink less

Moderation in drinking can relax you. It can be a way to escape boredom or stress. Over time, drinking too much alcohol can have a wide range of effects on your physical and mental health. In contrast, cutting down or quitting alcohol has clear health benefits. What to expect.

1. Sleep It may help you relax but won’t improve your sleep. Alcohol can cause you to have less restorative rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This means that you will wake up feeling more tired and more susceptible to daytime sleepiness. It only takes a week for your REM cycle to return to normal.
2. Moody — While alcohol can temporarily improve your mood, it is a depressant that, over time, makes you more susceptible to depression and anxiety. It can take several months before you feel the full benefits of stopping drinking.
3. Liver A healthy liver contains little to no fat. Alcohol fatty liver can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol fatty liver is reversible, and it can be improved by quitting alcohol. After only one month without alcohol, your liver begins to regenerate, and the liver fat level will drop by an average of 15%. Alcohol damages the liver and causes it to be unable to properly metabolize alcohol. This leads them build up fat, increasing your risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can cause alcoholic cirrhosis or liver cirrhosis. This is a potentially life-threatening condition.
4. Hormones– Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause premenstrual symptoms to worsen. This increases the levels of ghrelin (the hunger hormone), which can lead to an increase in overeating. It also disrupts insulin and blood sugar levels.
5. Alcohol– Drinking too much alcohol can cause brain damage, and may increase the risk of dementia. Alcohol decreases the volume (which transmits signals) of the white matter in the brain. Alcohol can also damage the frontal lobe of the brain (impulse control and memory, motor functions, social and sexual behavior, etc.). Alcohol-related dementia is most likely to affect this area of cognitive functioning.
6. General Health — Quitting alcohol or reducing its intake, along with a healthy life style, can reduce the risk of serious diseases. Drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week over a period of 10-20 years can increase your risk for serious diseases, such as cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease.

How to reduce your alcohol consumption or stop drinking altogether?

Anderhell offers some tips to help you reduce or eliminate your consumption:

1. Admit that you have a difficulty.
2. Speak to your doctor, who can assess the effects of alcohol on your health. They may also suggest other support services, like local alcohol services.
3. Decide if you want to completely stop drinking or just drink less. What is an amount of alcohol you can drink in a month or a week that is acceptable to you?
4. What would motivate you? What would motivate your actions? What would motivate you?
5. Recognize the situations in which you are tempted to consume alcohol. You may be tempted to drink when you are alone, stressed, depressed, or have money on hand.
6. Find ways to control your risk. If you know that sitting alone and feeling anxious can be a trigger for you, plan what you could do instead. You could pick up the phone to talk to a friend or go for a walk.

Get treatment or therapy

Your GP can recommend additional support if you are having difficulty reducing or quitting alcohol. Local alcohol counselling and dependency services are available through the NHS. These services provide support, guidance and medication, if needed. Search for local services using the NHS Directory

Alcoholics Anonymous and other charities offer alcohol addiction programmes, as well as support communities and groups with whom you can discuss and share your problems.

Admitting that you have an alcohol problem is not a sign weakness. It’s actually a sign strength. Reduce your alcohol consumption in any way you like. It will have a positive impact on your health, and your relationships.