Giving up alcohol: The 15 amazing health benefits of ditching it for a month
As the alcohol leaves your system and you begin to establish some healthy habits, you will begin to feel better—perhaps better than you have in years. Especially after you get past the temporary discomfort of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you'll notice increasing improvements in your physical and mental health.
Symptoms/outcomes you may see
Onset of withdrawal symptoms which may include hand tremors, retching, excessive sweating, restlessness and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms continue. Alcohol cravings, reduced energy and feeling low or depressed are common. Sleep is likely to be disturbed.
For some people, however, day 4 is just the beginning of their withdrawal nightmare. Those who experience the most severe withdrawal symptoms, such as hallucinations and seizures,2 don't begin to have those symptoms until day 4 or 5.
Immediately after quitting drinking, it's likely you'll experience a few nights of bad sleep but this doesn't last long – two weeks in, most people will be sleeping better. “That's because, while alcohol can help us get to sleep, we sleep less deeply when we've been drinking so feel less well-rested,” Dr Piper added.
Generally, symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include abdominal pain and tenderness, dry mouth and increased thirst, fatigue, jaundice (which is yellowing of the skin), loss of appetite, and nausea. Your skin may look abnormally dark or light.
Quitting alcohol, over time, can alleviate intense episodes of anxiety. It can also reduce the possibility of long-term anxiety disorders.
The liver is constantly in a state of regeneration. The moment it stops processing alcohol, it begins the process of healing itself. This process could take as few as four weeks or as long as several years.
From premature aging to blotchy skin to broken capillaries and visible veins ⎼ alcohol not only significantly changes your appearance but can cause irreversible damage. By giving up alcohol, you are allowing your skin to rehydrate and intake the necessary nutrients it needs, promoting healthy, glowing skin.
It's also common for excessive drinking to damage your gastrointestinal tract, leading to poor absorption of nutrients and malnutrition. As your gut heals, you may gain weight from increased appetite and increased food absorption. Often, this is a good sign, especially if you were underweight before.
After 3 months, your liver will continue to experience that relief as mentioned above. Your sleep quality should continue to improve, and this (amongst other benefits) should provide an improvement to your overall health.
After 3-4 weeks of not drinking, your blood pressure will start to reduce. Reducing your blood pressure can be crucial as it can help to lessen the risk of health problems occurring in the future.
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