Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Wine Consumption
When consumed in moderation, wine can actually provide health benefits, especially red varieties. It is crucial though, to monitor intake and behaviors to be sure that casual, moderate drinking does not turn into a red wine addiction.Moderation means having no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day, for men. Women generally metabolize alcohol more slowly, which is why they are unable to drink as much. Health benefits of moderate wine consumption include:
- Lowering the risk of certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer in men
- Rejuvenates skin cells
- Promoting weight loss or weight maintenance
- Strengthening gums and reducing the risk of gum inflammation
Wine alcoholism symptoms should be taken very seriously. While there are well-known benefits of moderate consumption, drinking too much can have severe negative consequences. It is important to be aware of the signs of problem drinking and to take steps to make positive changes before there are serious complications.
What Is Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse can refer to any kind of problem drinking. Anyone who drinks enough to cause harm to themselves or to others can be said to be abusing alcohol. In more severe cases, alcohol abuse can become a pattern that is hard to break. This is commonly referred to as alcoholism, alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol use disorder affects more than 14 million American adults, or 5.8 percent of the U.S. population over 18 years of age. It is therefore a widespread problem.
How do I know if Im addicted to alcohol?
If you are experiencing negative impacts from drinking and are struggling to cut back, you may have alcohol use disorder. Its always best to see a doctor for an evaluation, but for a quick idea, read through these 11 criteria from the DSM-5. Answering yes to two or more of these questions is enough for a diagnosis.
If youre concerned that youre drinking too much, you can also take our alcohol survey.
What are the consequences of alcohol use disorder?
Alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. It often goes untreated, but it can be the root of numerous health issues, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Alcohol use disorder can also affect your emotional health, increasing stress, anxiety, and depression.
Headache Cycles During Alcohol Recovery
Another quirk with PAWS that keeps you on your toes, is how the symptoms can come back in recurrent cycles. Everything about recovering from alcohol abuse comes down to cycles because that is how your body works, in cycles. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see alcohol withdrawal headaches, anxiety and other symptoms come back in weekly or monthly cycles of intensity.
These cycles make many in recovery concerned, especially when they have just seen the alcohol withdrawal headaches get better finally, only to return with a new cycle of symptoms. The worst thing you can do is worry and increase your anxiety by thinking that there is something severely wrong with you. Cycles of headaches and symptoms is normal for anywhere up to a year or more depending on how long you were previously abusing alcohol.
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What Are Some Treatments For Alcohol Abuse
Dr. Paul Linde, Ria Psychiatrist, discusses the different options people have to reduce or stop drinking alcohol.
There are many options for treating alcohol misuse, dependence, or addiction. Some involve methods of cutting back or quitting on your own. Some, on the other end of the spectrum, involve medically supervised withdrawal, or residential rehabilitation programs . Then there are middle-ground options, including medication for alcoholism, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART recovery, and recovery coaching .
Finding a system that works for you is crucial, and fortunately many of these programs or methods can be combined, mixed and matched for your personal needs.
But its also true that some methods work better than others.
Tips To Stop Drinking Alcohol On Your Own
Even if you plan to stop drinking on your own, most alcoholics cant simply cut themselves off. People with real drinking problems usually wont be able to resist the cravings or painful withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal can also be dangerous and should not be done unsupervised.
However, there are steps you can start taking today to cut back on your alcohol consumption. Following these self-help tips;over time can help you cut your drinking down little by little and, ultimately, break your addiction.
Note: An alcohol rehab clinic is the best route for many people. Rehab clinics have professional alcohol detox programs overseen by trained medical staff who have experience working with substance abusers.
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Heres What Happens To Your Body When You Cut Out Alcohol For 30 Days
- Cutting out alcohol if you drink in excess can bring about health benefits for your liver, heart, and body composition.
- The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that alcohol should be consumed in moderation up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
- Alcohol consumption has been linked to cancers of the head, neck, esophagus, liver, breast, colon, and rectum.
Many people turn to Dry January as a motivator to start off the new year alcohol-free.
But while abstaining from alcohol for a month might seem like a trendy, short-term New Years resolution, there are several health benefits that come with it.
The benefits can vary from person to person depending on how much of a change from their baseline behavior this is, Dr. Rekha B. Kumar, medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, told Healthline.
Kumar explained that someone who drinks minimally, but chooses to do Dry January, might feel a sense of control over their health or feel a sense of accomplishment from achieving a set goal. Meanwhile, others who drink heavily might notice more pronounced physiologic effects, such as more mental clarity, better sleep, weight loss, and feeling the detox sensation, in addition to achieving a set goal.
Amitava Dasgupta, PhD, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, and author of the book The Science of Drinking, agrees.
Stop ‘wining’; It’s My Life
I’m all for people living their lives how they choose. And I love wine; but, as we all know, more is most definitely not better, not in the long- or even short-term. It’s easy to kid ourselves we’re not drinking too much wine, to pretend it’s harmless. But millions of people have let an innocent nightly tipple turn into a mortally threatening compulsion. Free will is important and that stretches two ways. Sure, people should choose what they do, but compulsion steals the very freedom of choice we all value so much.
So how much wine is too much?
According to most guidelines, one ‘drink’ is equivalent to:
- 5 ounces of wine.
- 12 ounces of beer.
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits, such as vodka.
These same guidelines recommend one drink each day for women and two for men. Many people are surprised by this. One woman I know never seems to drink less than two bottles of wine a night. But even just a few glasses a night add up to a significant health risk.
What exactly are the dangers of excessive wine consumption?
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Decrease Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease
Alcohol is metabolized by the liver and an enzyme called dehydrogenases. However, when you drink in excess, the enzyme gets saturated and is metabolized by a different enzyme.
When its metabolized by this different pathway, it produces lots of free radicals which is known to oxidize bad cholesterol , and when the LDL is oxidized it deposits on the carotid arteries forming , said Dasgupta.
On the other hand, if you drink in moderation, alcohol doesnt have any effect on LDL, and instead increases good cholesterol .
Drinking one or two glasses of wine once or twice a week has some health benefits, especially for men over 40; it reduces risk of cardiovascular disease for women you can get those benefits anytime, its not age-dependent, Dasgupta said.
However, he notes that people of Chinese and Indian descent do not get the benefit of drinking alcohol due to a genetic reason that isnt clearly known.
is, protect the heart with low amount of alcohol, but increase the risk of cardiovascular disease with high amount of alcohol, Dasgupta said.
To better your heart further when cutting out alcohol, he suggests adding in exercise, which also increases good cholesterol.
Alcohol Detox At Vertava Health
Tapering yourself off alcohol is not always an easy decision, but it can be worth considering for many people. Alcohol abuse and addiction affects millions of adults in the United States each year, and can have serious consequences on physical and mental health.
If you need help figuring out how to taper off alcohol, or want to find alcohol detox services near you, our treatment specialists at Vertava Health can help.
Vertava Health offers several treatment programs and resources for people struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, including:
- medical detox services
- inpatient and residential rehab programs
- long-term rehab
- outpatient treatment services
Contact us today for free and confidential support in finding alcohol detox services that suit you or your loved ones needs.
This page does not provide medical advice.
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How To Stop Drinking On Your Own
One option, if you feel you have a milder drinking habit, is to quit drinking by yourself. While this can be difficult, it can be a workable solution for some people. That said, you need to make sure you are safe, and that you have a plan you can stick to.
Staying Safe
It may be possible for you to moderate or quit on your own, but it is dangerous to undergo withdrawal without supervision. Its best to speak to a doctor first, especially if you have a heavier drinking habit and you expect cold turkey symptoms. You may be able to cut back on your drinking ahead of time, which will lessen the effects of withdrawal. This however, may also be easier if you have medical advice.
Finally, having the support of family and friends can make a big difference. Even if you dont want to quit through an existing program, you should still tell others what youre doing. If other people can check in on you, or if you have an ally to talk to, youll be in a much safer situation.
Tips for Quitting on Your Own
If youre going to quit by yourself, start by having a plan. Know what your drinking triggers are, and avoid them for a period of time. Spend time coming up with some coping strategies that will help you ride out your cravings, or manage the days when you feel depressed or uneasy. Write down some reminders and work some rituals into your day that let you touch base with yourself.
How To Recover From Alcoholism
Once youve passed the initial stage of withdrawal, the process of recovering from alcoholism can still take some time. Changing daily habits, avoiding drinking triggers, managing anxiety or insomnia as your internal chemistry rebalances, and rebuilding your social life are among the challenges you may face.
Start by being patient with yourself. Its normal for the readjustment period to take time, and for people to encounter speed bumps along the way. Assume that for several months to a year you will need to focus on this process, and continue to problem solve as you go along. Its important to remember that it takes time to develop alcoholism, and it takes time to recover from it.
Persistence is key, but so is self-care. Good strategies include a mindfulness practice, a focus on new activities that dont involve alcohol, and having a support system to help you when you experience difficult emotions or a strong urge to drink. Its also a good idea to check with a doctor to assess any strain or damage that drinking has done to your body, and take steps to restore your overall health.
Overall, recovering from alcoholism is about giving yourself time, caring for yourself, finding a healthy support system, and remaining persistent.
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Where Can I Find Support And More Information
Having alcohol dependence or withdrawal is a life-changing condition for you and your family. Accepting that you have alcohol dependence or withdrawal may be hard. Talk to your caregiver, family, or friends about your feelings. Your caregiver can help you and your family better understand how to support you. You and your family may also want to join a support group. This is a group of people who may also have alcohol dependence or withdrawal. Contact the following for more information:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- National Clearinghouse on Drug and Alcohol InformationPhone: 1- 800 – 7296686Web Address: www.health.org
How To Stop Drinking With Ria Health
If youre ready to quit drinking alcohol, but unsure where to find help, Ria Health may have a solution that works for you. Our program offers access to expert medical advice, prescription medications, recovery coaches, online support groups, and digital tracking tools, all through your smartphone.
Our mission is to use new technology to make treatment more accessible, and reduce the stigma around problem drinking. We offer both abstinence and moderation as options, and use only evidence-based methods.
If youd like to learn more about what it means to quit using our program specifically, continue reading here.
You can also with a member of our team for more information.
Regardless of how you choose to approach the problem, we wish you luck, and applaud you for seeking solutions. Quitting drinking can be hard, but many have succeeded before you. With enough confidence and the right support system, we believe you can do it, and we are here any time you need us!
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How To Safely Detox From Alcohol At Home
Normally, we would recommend getting professional support before you try to cut down your drinking.
Our free and confidential services are open as usual and can help you detox safely.
If attending a service isn’t possible, perhaps because you are isolating, you can use this advice on safely detoxing from alcohol at home.
Make sure you read and follow the advice carefully, and always be prepared to call an ambulance in an emergency.
If youre dependent on alcohol, it can be dangerous to stop drinking suddenly.
Instead, you should try to reduce the amount you drink slowly, over a few weeks.
This takes a bit of preparation, but its much safer than stopping suddenly.
And after cutting down slowly, youll find it much easier to stop drinking when youre ready.
Heres a process we recommend:
Finding A Middle Ground
For some people, the issue of problem drinking may not be a full-blown dependence on alcohol, but a sense that things are getting slightly over the line. You may be noticing that youre drinking a bit more than youd likeon social occasions or on your own. You may also just be generally interested in the impact of alcohol on your health, your social life, and how you manage difficult feelings or anxiety.
You may have also noticed, in the course of trying to quit, that abstinence is not a good goal for you. All of these and more are good reasons to consider moderating, or cutting back on your drinking. And it turns out that, contrary to popular belief, this is possible for many people.
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Best Non Chocolate Advent Calendars For 2021
Firstly, were more conscious of what were putting in our bodies. It started with gluten and meat, and now weve moved to alcohol. The second is that were becoming more open and aware of mental health and were starting to question the impact alcohol could be having on things like stress and anxiety. People are just adopting healthier mindsets.
She also agrees that people arent turning their backs on alcohol because its ruined their lives but a lot of other people just dont want to feel its effects any longer.
Thats becoming a real turning point, she told Goodto. Were recognising that theres a whole host of grey area drinkers who dont have the traditional problem that we all think of when it comes to drinking but their drinking is becoming a problem because its negatively impacting their life, whether thats their physical health, mental health, productivity, sleep, friendships etc.
If youre determined to stop drinking alcohol for 30 days or more, but youre worried how youll manage to stick to it, then you might find some of these ideas useful. Here are all the things I did to stay on track when I decided to give up alcohol:
How Long Do Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Last
These headaches and other symptoms will usually increase by day 3 of alcohol withdrawal when the individual is hitting the peak of acute withdrawal and starting day 4 will usually begin to subside in intensity and continue to slowly subside over the course of the first few weeks of sobriety. Alcohol withdrawal usually lasts about 7-14 days, however, for those that experience protracted withdrawal, prolonged withdrawal, and PAWS, the anxiety and headaches could take months or even a year to fully subside.
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How To Avoid Alcohol Withdrawal
Most people who suffer from alcohol abuse disorder are often told by the people around them that they should stop drinking. However, it isnt as easy as that, and;it can also be hard to decipher if they are an alcoholic or not. A reason why those with;alcohol addiction;refuse to give up is that they know that the withdrawal process can be dreadfully uncomfortable and lasts for a period of time often coming in waves and with some more lasting long-term side effects.
Alcohol is classified as a depressant. Thats because it slows down the rate at which your brain functions. If you drink too much, too often, your brain and liver get used to having alcohol in the blood. In conjunction with;all the other things alcohol does to your brain, your body builds up a tolerance to alcohol, meaning you have to drink more frequently and in larger quantities in order to get the same effect you experience when you first started drinking namely a feeling of happiness and mild euphoria.
The problems really begin when a chronic drinker who experiences alcohol dependence wants to try abstinence from alcohol. Thats when they will experience withdrawal symptoms some of which occur within a few hours of the last drink. An individual could experience anything from excessive sweating and nausea to anxiety and an inability to sleep or eat properly.
It is possible to withdraw from alcohol, but it needs to be done safely and under medical supervision.
