The Benefits of Giving Up Alcohol

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control drinking despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. This condition occurs due to excessive drinking habits over a prolonged period. While alcoholism comes with its own set of physical and psychological consequences to the user, it also causes great harm to those around them. According to a study published by the American Medical Association (AMA), one in eight American adults meets the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol use disorder is a chronic, progressive, and relapsing brain disease that has a significant potential for fatal consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 95,000 people die each year due to excessive drinking, and 2.8 million years of potential life is lost each year due to alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is responsible for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults and costs the American economy around $249 billion each year. But despite these staggering numbers, alcohol use disorder remains a growing concern in the US.

Risk of Developing Alcoholism

A person’s risk of developing alcoholism depends, in part, on how much, how often, and how quickly alcohol is consumed. However, there also remain other factors that influence and increase your risk of developing an addiction to alcohol, such as:

• Drinking at an early age
• Genetics and family history of alcoholism
• Mental health conditions and a history of trauma

The lasting changes caused in the brain by excessive alcohol use make individuals highly vulnerable to relapses. Regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem, there are many treatment facilities all across the US that provide evidence-based treatment programs with behavioral therapies, medically assisted treatment programs, and aftercare programs that help people with AUD achieve and maintain recovery and regain their life back. 

At Futures Recovery Healthcare, we provide multiple pathways to recovery. Our compassionate and dedicated staff understand just how important it is to help each and every one find a recovery plan that works best for them.

Advantages of Maintaining Sobriety

Similar to most chronic diseases, ongoing treatment is crucial to help manage the disease of alcoholism. While receiving treatment at an addiction treatment facility is generally the first step in overcoming alcohol addiction and dependence, maintaining sobriety can be a difficult journey. But the benefits that follow by making that decision to stop drinking can significantly improve many aspects of your life. 

Here are a few benefits of giving up alcohol:

• Improving your health and undoing some of the physical damages caused by alcohol.
• Addressing and improving your psychological health that generally goes undiagnosed.
• Improving your quality of sleep.
• Regaining a healthy weight.

While the benefits of giving up alcohol are many, let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages mentioned above.

Improving Your Physical Health

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of giving up alcohol is better health. Alcohol affects the brain and body in undesirable ways and increases your chances of developing various health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive consumption of alcohol increases your chances of developing certain forms of cancers such as breast cancer, liver cancer, and oral cancer. It also increases your risk for other health conditions such as:

• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
• Cirrhosis
• Digestive issues
• Fibrosis
• High blood pressure 
• Pancreatitis
• Sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV and herpes
• Stroke 
• Heart diseases, such as hemorrhagic stroke, heart failure, and myocardial infarction

You may also develop an “alcoholic face” due to heavy drinking. The is where the negative effects of alcohol abuse affect your skin and cause: 

• Broken capillaries on your face and nose
• Inflammation 
• Dehydration 
• Jaundice (This is most likely with chronic, long-term use)
• Loose, saggy skin due to reduced collagen levels

Giving up alcohol and establishing healthy habits will tremendously reduce your chances of having these conditions and improving your health for the better. The damages that are done to the liver, brain, and cardiovascular system will gradually improve right after you stop drinking and enter recovery. 

Even if you have been indulging in excessive alcohol consumption for years, quitting can still bring in various health benefits that cannot be overlooked. 

Improving Your Mental Health 

It is well-established that there remains a high comorbidity rate between addiction and mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), around 9.2 million Americans had both a substance use disorder and mental illness in 2018.

Scientists are yet to find the exact reasons for such comorbidity. But we do know that most people turn to alcohol or other illicit drugs to self-medicate the symptoms of mental illnesses. However, this vicious cycle of abuse only worsens both conditions.

It is also worth taking note, while mental illness can drive a person to alcoholism, alcohol abuse can also cause mental illnesses. As to what comes first, alcohol use disorder or mental illness, it is hard to say. But what is known is that both conditions must be addressed and treated concurrently to achieve prolonged recovery. 

Improved Sleep 

Alcohol abuse and poor sleep often go hand in hand. This is because alcohol triggers “alpha activity” in the brain along with “delta activity.” Delta activity is the type of deep sleep that promotes learning and memory restoration, whereas alpha activity is the type that occurs when you are awake. Since they are two entirely different activities, alcohol makes it difficult for you to enter deep sleep and rest well. 

This might come as a surprise as alcohol is known to make people sleepy. After all, it is a depressant, so it is bound to make you drowsy. However, even though alcohol can make you sleepy, your sleep quality will not be as good as that of a sober person. 

Good sleep promotes good health. So quitting alcohol will not just help you fall asleep faster; it will also improve the quality of your sleep and provide you with energy and alertness throughout your day. 

Keep in mind that your sleep cycle will not normalize right after you quit drinking. You might face a few sleep troubles at the beginning of your recovery stage due to alcohol withdrawal symptoms or alcohol cravings. But once you get over this stage, sleep will follow.

Healthier Weight 

Alcoholic drinks are very high in empty calories. Once you consume alcohol, your body metabolizes and stores it as sugar and later converts it into fat. So the more you grapple with alcohol, the more likely you are to gain extra weight. In fact, a person can gain around 600 or more calories overnight when they engage in binge drinking. 

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a drinking pattern that involves the consumption of large quantities of alcohol within a short span of time.  This usually occurs when a man consumes five or more drinks or when a woman consumes four or more drinks within two hours. 

Research indicates a close link between excessive alcohol consumption and obesity. However, since some people have a faster metabolism, and some alcoholic drinks are high in sugar than others, weight gain among people who drink may differ from one person to another. So your weight cannot always be used as a factor to determine how much you drink. 

If you’re looking to reduce weight, giving up alcohol is always a great way to start. Ceasing alcohol consumption, following a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can improve your health and give you a boost of confidence.

Best Way To Give Up Alcohol

Now that you understand the health risks of alcohol and the benefits of alcohol recovery, you may now wonder how best to give up alcohol. If you are suffering from alcohol use disorder, it is vital that you seek help and guidance from a healthcare professional or alcohol addiction specialist. Seeking the right treatment and help can greatly benefit you on your journey to recovery. While giving up alcohol and entering rehab may seem daunting, the benefits that are to follow from this decision can significantly improve your quality of life. So contemplate your relationship with alcohol and break free of the shackles of alcohol dependence.

Alcohol addiction treatment centers provide patients with a safe and secure environment to detox. After the successful completion of detox, patients will receive further treatment to address the psychological dependence on alcohol and provide them with the skills and tools required to maintain sobriety. 

There are many addiction professionals and treatment specialists who are experts in helping patients establish sobriety. So do not hesitate to seek help.  Having a good support system in the form of such professionals along with family and friends will turn out to be an effective tool in your battle against alcoholism.

Now that you are aware of the benefits that await you by giving up alcohol, take the first step and take control of your life. At Futures Recovery Healthcare, we provide a compassionate treatment program that caters to our patient’s individualized needs and requirements. So start your journey in the comfort and safety of Futures.