What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Drinking?

Men consume an additional 433 calories on those days they drink a “moderate” amount of alcohol, according to one study. Cut those from your diet—and don’t replace them with desserts or snacks—and you’ll start to drop pounds without much effort. Here are a few key improvements the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-happens-when-you-stop-drinking-alcohol/ brain undergoes when you stop drinking alcohol. After going a period of time without drinking, your brain structure will also begin to repair itself, and chemical levels will stabilize. The sooner you stop drinking, the easier it will be for your brain to start correcting itself.

Whether you’re sober curious, wanting to learn about the health benefits of sobriety, or looking join a challenge like Sober October, let’s dive into what happens when you stop drinking. Since alcohol can damage your cells, it may lead to DNA changes that increase your risk for certain cancers, particularly liver, colon, and rectal cancer. In fact, alcohol use accounts for 6 percent of all cancers and 4 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. Bumping up our vitamin C intake, washing our hands and getting quality sleep are all tried-and-true ways to help us stay cold and flu-free (although nothing is guaranteed). But less-known is that drinking too much alcohol isn’t doing our immune system any favors and can actually reduce how well it functions. For many people, sipping on a bold glass of wine at the end of a long day or enjoying an ice-cold frothy brew while watching a sports game are habits that are simply part of their daily life.

Your cancer risk falls.

Drinking more than recommended can lead to a fatty liver that is ineffective at removing toxins from your body. If you or someone you love needs help to stop drinking, reach out to the specialists at Woburn Addiction Treatment today. Drinking can send your hormones into a frenzy—it impacts our endocrine system, which allows our body to respond appropriately and cope with changes in our environments. Severe alcohol-induced hormone dysregulations can sometimes cause serious issues like reproductive deficits, thyroid problems, and behavioral disorders over time. Mocktails and so-called zero-proof beverages are growing commonplace on menus as more people opt to follow a “sober curious” or strictly teetotal lifestyle.

At this point, your risk of developing all types of disease will be reduced and your bone density will start to increase. Keep in mind that everyone is different and will experience different things when they stop drinking. The brain also begins to repair some of the damage and shrinkage you may have experienced while drinking. One study showed that after 6 weeks of abstinence from alcohol, brain volume increases by an average of 2%. If you have decided that it is time to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption, knowing what happens to your body when you stop drinking can give you a better idea of what to expect. However, the nature and intensity of these effects can vary depending on how much and how frequently you drink.

Timeline of What Happens When You Stop Drinking

As mentioned above, early recovery might mean struggling with mood and overall mental wellness, but as your body and brain begin to heal, you will experience renewed motivation towards healthy habits in your life. Alcohol is a widely consumed drug that affects the brain and body in various ways. When consumed, it passes through the bloodstream and reaches the brain, where it can alter neurotransmitter levels and brain chemistry. The consequences of alcohol on the brain can range from mild impairment to severe damage, depending on the frequency and amount of consumption. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper provides both inpatient and outpatient detox and rehab. We are here to help you and those you love recover from addiction and begin a healthier, alcohol-free future.

You could break out in cold sweats or have a racing pulse, nausea, vomiting, shaky hands, and intense anxiety. Some people even have seizures or see things that aren’t there (hallucinations). Your doctor or substance abuse therapist can offer guidance and may prescribe medication like benzodiazepines or carbamazepine to help you get through it. There are many benefits to giving up alcohol, both short-term and long-term. If you’re considering quitting drinking, these benefits may be just what you need to help you decide. Of course, giving up alcohol is not always easy, and there may be some challenges along the way.

Conditions

You may feel sleepy after a glass of wine and assume that alcohol helps you sleep better, but in reality, alcohol interferes with your ability to get a good night’s rest. This is because alcohol affects your body’s biological clock, called the Circadian clock, which regulates when you fall asleep and wake up. If you’re a binge drinker, you could also be at risk of developing insomnia. And even if you’re someone that can quickly fall asleep after a night out, alcohol keeps you from getting any REM sleep—the most restorative type of rest. You get better sleep, your skin looks younger, your heart health improves, your immune function improves, and your risk of cancer even decreases. Cancer risk can be increased because of several factors, some entirely out of our control, like genetics, per the American Cancer Society.

But anything more than a drink or so a day has the opposite effect, especially if you abuse or are addicted to alcohol. One of the unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol is that you may find yourself more productive than before. This is because alcohol can cause fatigue and decreased motivation, so when you stop drinking, you may find it easier to get things done. One of the surprising side effects of giving up alcohol is that your skin may start to look better.

Heart and blood pressure

Without alcohol, your body experiences on average four to six REM cycles a night — with alcohol, you can typically expect between one and two REM cycles. Without the drain on your hydration reserves, your skin is brighter and clearer. One hour after your last alcoholic drink, your liver begins filtering the alcohol out of your bloodstream so that it doesn’t poison you. It changes the chemical composition of alcohol to acetaldehyde, and then acetate. If you’re concerned about how alcohol is affecting your health or wellbeing, it’s never too early to seek support. You can speak with a physician at Monument entirely online to ask questions and learn about your treatment options.

Your sleep gets better every night, eating habits stabilize, skin clears, and immune function increases. Around week three, you should see your blood pressure levels return to normal. You also stop experiencing acid reflux, and your stomach lining has repaired itself from the damage that drinking alcohol does to it.