10 Non-Obvious Ways Quitting Drinking Improves Health

Quitting alcohol consumption can have several health benefits. Major among them include improved memory, better sleep, enhanced ability to focus, and energy. Quitting alcohol can also reduce the risk of liver problems, heart disease, and some cancers. Some people drink alcohol when hanging out with friends. Others drink as a way to unwind after a long day at work. But, most people that drink tend to consume a little more alcohol over the weekend. So, how would quitting alcohol improve the health of such people?

Excessive alcohol consumption is known to cause long-term damage to the body. For instance, alcohol abuse can harm some organs, increase the risk of diseases like cancer, and impair the immune system. The damage caused by alcohol to the brain is the most obvious side effect. On drinking alcohol excessively, you feel confused, dizzy, and disoriented. On the day that follows, you can have a severe headache and a groggy feeling. Some people experience symptoms like vomiting, low temperature, and nausea. These are some of the symptoms of alcohol damage on your body.

Fortunately, vital body organs can recover from this damage if you seek free alcohol treatment (AddictionResource gives more info). Internal body parts and vital organs can take a few days to recover from the negative effects of moderate, infrequent drinking. However, heavy and binge-drinking lead to an addiction that causes long-term damage. This damage may take time to heal. Nevertheless, your overall health will improve if you quit drinking. Here are some of the ways health improves when a person leads a life without alcohol.

Improved Appetite

According to the BBC, scientists have discovered that alcohol turns the brain into a starvation mode. This increases appetite and hunger. Thus, people that drink alcohol eat more. So, when a person quits drinking, they have to find a way to ensure their hands are busy. As such, they can eat more leading to weight problems. To avoid this, replace food with fruits and juice once you quit drinking.

Increased Cravings for Sugary Foods

Blood sugar levels can increase in people that have an addiction to sweet alcohol. This addiction can also cause cravings for sugary foods. However, people react differently. Some individuals have a decrease in their sugar levels and this can be dangerous for those with diabetes. When you quit drinking, you learn to control your cravings for sugary foods.

Improved Sleep Quality

If you're accustomed to drinking alcohol before bed, getting quality sleep without a glass or two can be difficult. Alcohol may seem to make you fall asleep quickly. However, it lowers the quality of sleep. Therefore, transitioning from alcohol can make sleep deep. Some people even have nightmares. But, after withdrawal symptoms have worn off, sleep quality improves.

Waking up is also easier when you quit drinking. When slightly drunk, you go into the deep sleep phase immediately. Thus, you skip the initial stages of sleep. Once the concentration of alcohol in the blood drops, you no longer get deep sleep. Consequently, you wake up more often. Without alcohol in your system, the natural sleep cycle is restored. This makes it easier for you to wake up.

A Healthy Liver

Most people seek free alcohol treatment centers in realizing its effects on their health. Regular and heavy drinking kills liver cells. This leaves scars in the liver. However, this vital organ can recover slowly when a person stops drinking. When a person drinks less, the liver recovers faster.

Improved Digestion

When you quit drinking, your digestion process improves. Gastric acid production increases when a person drinks alcohol. Consequently, the stomach walls wear off slowly. If not controlled, it can lead to other problems like stomach ulcers. Increased gastric acid production is also the reason why people eat more while drinking alcohol.

Skin Color Changes

This is another major motivator for seeking free help for alcoholics. Alcohol interferes with the normal blood circulation in the body. This leaves some parts of the skin without sufficient oxygen, water, and nutrients. Consequently, the skin becomes dry. This gives a person early wrinkles and pigment spots appearance. Once you stop drinking alcohol, signs of alcohol effects on your skin, like facial swelling and dark under eyes circles, disappear.

Stronger Tooth Enamel

Alcohol consumption decreases saliva production. This affects the health of teeth negatively. Therefore, if you quit drinking, the risk of developing cavities decreases. You also get stronger tooth enamel.

Improved Ability to Taste and Smell

Some people drink alcohol to kill some pain. But, alcohol can kill the sense of smell and taste receptors too. A recent study showed that heavy drinkers have an impaired sense of taste. Light-to-moderate drinking has also been associated with smell impairment. Luckily, you can regain your natural sense of taste and smell when you quit drinking.

Dramatic Decrease in Body Mass

The body mass decreases in individuals with extra weight when they quit drinking. On average, the numbers are 6 to 8 lbs. per month.  When a person abstains from drinking longer, they lose more weight.

Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

This is another major reason to search for 'free rehab near me' online. When you drink alcohol, your blood pressure increases. When this happens more often, your hypertension risk increases. But, without drinking alcohol, your blood pressure doesn't increase too often. This reduces the risk of having cardiovascular diseases.

Clearer Mind

When you quit drinking, your mind clears up. This enables you to think more efficiently and effectively. When you drink alcohol, your brain swells a little. Alcohol also kills the brain cells due to a lack of sufficient oxygen. Although these changes are slow, they are irreversible. When you quit drinking, you avoid causing such damage to your brain. A healthy brain enables you to think more efficiently and clearer.

The Bottom Line

The health of heavy drinkers is likely to benefit more from quitting in many ways. Some of the damage caused by alcohol to their bodies can be reversed once they quit drinking. Nevertheless, even the health of light and moderate drinkers can benefit from quitting. However, quitting alcohol when already used to having it in your system is not easy due to withdrawal symptoms. It can also be expensive for some people. Luckily, you can get an affordable or free drug treatment program that suits your recovery needs even with a tight budget.