Alcohol Withdrawal: How to Get Through It
Alcohol withdrawal can be difficult and, in some cases, life threatening. Depending on how often you drink and how much, you may need support from a healthcare professional if you want to stop drinking. Being dependent on alcohol can cause physical withdrawal symptoms like shaking, sweating or nausea. If you have these symptoms if you miss a drinking session, it can be dangerous to stop drinking completely too quickly without proper support.
- Whether you are a heavy drinker or a binge drinker, excessive alcohol use can result in some serious risks to your health.
- Signs of an impending seizure include tremors, increased blood pressure, overactive reflexes, and high temperature and pulse.
- While it has been suggested that one or two drinks per day may have health benefits, one meta-analysis found that even moderate intake has serious health risks.
- However, for people who exceed recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, he said staying away from alcohol for a month can reap changes.
- You’ll have more energy and stamina, and you may notice that your skin looks healthier.
Symptoms and Causes
If you’ve stopped drinking and still can’t sleep, talk to your provider. There are many things that can affect https://thealabamadigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ your sleep—physically and mentally. But there are also things you can do to cope and improve your sleep.
- This is because alcohol can cause changes in brain chemistry, which can lead to cognitive problems.
- A counselor can help someone prepare for life after withdrawal and provide support as they navigate quitting drinking.
- A healthcare provider will also run tests to rule out other medical conditions that have similar symptoms of alcohol withdrawal or occur alongside withdrawal.
- Treatment varies depending on the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
- Then, we’ll learn about the benefits of quitting alcohol and ways to stay sober for the days, weeks, and months to come.
Lower Cancer Risk
Most people with mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal don’t need treatment in a hospital. But severe or complicated alcohol withdrawal can result in lengthy hospital stays and even time in the intensive care unit (ICU). Alcohol use disorder frequently occurs alongside Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House other mental health conditions. Pre-existing mental health conditions can sometimes lead people to turn to alcohol to cope with their symptoms. In other cases, long-term alcohol exposure can increase a person’s risk of developing a psychiatric illness.
Can cutting out alcohol bring about health benefits?
If you manage to limit alcohol consumption beyond a monthlong break, it could improve your heart health and reduce the risk of stroke and certain cancers. Quitting drinking can have many important benefits for your physical and mental health, but there are many other types of benefits you may experience as well. Some people who stop drinking may experience delirium tremens (DT). This condition is serious and may lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures. 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.