Taking a Break from Alcohol Can be Good for Your Health National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

Sans Bar has become so popular that Marshall took the concept on the road this year. He organized pop-up bars in Washington, D.C., New York and Anchorage, Alaska. And he has opened new sober bars in Kansas City, Mo., and western Massachusetts.

• “The findings of these studies are actually very surprising,” White says.
• A popular way to do this is to participate in a sober month like Dry January or Sober October, which are health and wellness trends that emphasizes taking a break from alcohol for an entire month.
• He started drinking in high school, he says, and got his first DUI at 16.
• Data from 2013 published in the American Journal of Public Health estimated that about 3.5% of cancer deaths in the United States were alcohol-related.
• Pre-existing mental health conditions can sometimes lead people to turn to alcohol to cope with their symptoms.

Exercise boosts serotonin and dopamine in the brain, and a quick shot of both will make the happy chemicals release, and you won’t want to drink. If you’re trying to shed a few pounds, keeping that goal in mind can be great a list-topper for why you’re quitting booze. Not feeding the habit comes down in part to changing the ways you enable or encourage drinking. Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.

Reduce the risk of cancer

If you manage to limit alcohol consumption beyond a monthlong break, it could improve your heart health and reduce the risk of stroke and certain cancers. Experts say there are benefits to quitting alcohol for a short period, even if you’re a social or moderate drinker. While it has been suggested that one or two drinks per day may have health benefits, one meta-analysis found that even moderate intake has serious health risks. Women who had two or more drinks per day and men who had four or more drinks per day had significantly increased mortality. This does not mean that a mental health condition will necessarily go aware when you stop drinking but abstaining from alcohol use can improve your symptoms and lead to better treatment outcomes.

After a monthlong break, researchers measured levels of a liver enzyme called gamma-glutamyltransferase, or GGT. The proliferation of craft mocktails made with nonalcoholic distilled spirits is making it easier and more fun for people who abstain from alcohol to feel like they are still part of the party. Talking with friends about your decision to drink less can help you stay accountable to your goal. Set up a Dry January challenge with friends or join a social media group to get built-in support.

Unhealthy Amount of Alcohol

However, when you stop drinking, your risk of developing these diseases decreases. “Furthermore, consistent use of alcohol to induce sleep only increases the need to use alcohol in the future to get to sleep,” he explains. Some people who stop drinking may experience how to take a break from drinking delirium tremens (DT). This condition is serious and may lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures. At this point, your risk of developing all types of disease will be reduced and your bone density will start to increase.

This means their organs and brains are exposed to more alcohol and more of the harmful toxins that occur when the body breaks down the alcohol. Mindfulness practice has also been shown to help drinkers to change their drinking. It’s February and many people are starting to put into place their New Year’s resolution to drink less https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt-for-addiction-and-substance-abuse/ alcohol. There are plenty of cheaper (and sometimes free) ways you can spend a night with friends, and the change might be refreshing. Why not try organising a game of beach volleyball, or a sushi-making night, or a home movie marathon. Think outside the square and just watch the extra money pile up in your bank account.

Tips for Healthcare Workers Facing Burnout

Also, alcohol prevents the normal metabolism of vitamins and minerals that can help protect the body against toxic compounds and promote healthy cell repair. Alcohol also increases estrogen levels, which explains why it’s been linked to an increase in uterine and breast cancers. Occasionally, decisions need to be made about the use of alcohol. Maybe you just want a break, or university, parental, academic or legal pressures have come to light, or you believe you just need to cut back. Regardless of the reason and goal, 30 days of abstinence is the best way to start. Even if the goal is to cut down, abstinence can assist with lowering tolerance to ease moderation of use, and your body could use the break.

Alcohol also increases the risk of falls, fires, homicides, and suicides. Abstaining from alcohol means you’ll be dramatically lowering your risk of injuring yourself or others. One million U.S. drivers are arrested annually for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, and alcohol is involved in more than 10,000 traffic fatalities every year. By driving sober, you’ll avoid causing an alcohol-related car accident, and you’ll be more alert to dealing with other drivers who may be dangerous on the road. So what’s the healthiest amount of alcohol to consume to avoid the risk of these cancers?