How Alcohol Affects Your Health at All Ages of Life

A bit of alcohol after a long week feels like a great way to unwind for many people. While it typically won’t cause any health-related issues when consumed in moderation, some people, unfortunately, become addicted. This can be very harmful, and you will need to take action, such as turning to a program for alcohol detox in Columbus, Ohio, to prevent serious problems in the future.

Let’s take a closer look at alcohol consumption, outlining the positives and negatives of this very popular type of beverage.

Benefits of Alcohol

You’ve probably heard about all the negative effects alcohol can have on your body, and while that is true, there are some benefits it can provide as well. Maybe the most surprising one is that it helps your heart. Studies have shown that if an otherwise healthy person drinks moderately, they are up to 40% less likely to have a heart-related issue, including hardened arteries or stroke – even heart attacks!

Why is this? Alcohol can raise your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. However, you need to be careful, as too much alcohol can have the opposite effect. It’s all about moderation.

You are also much less likely to get kidney stones, depending on the type of alcohol you drink. Beer drinkers decrease their chances by 41%, while wine drinkers see a 33% decrease. Like with heart benefits, though, too much can do the opposite. Alcohol can dehydrate you, which is a major cause of kidney stones. So again, drink in moderation.

Other potential health benefits include:

• Decreases chance of Alzheimer’s disease
• Less likely to develop type 2 diabetes
• Improves mental health through social activities

How Much is Too Much?

As you can probably see, there seems to be a bit of a trend. An occasional drink can be beneficial, but you don’t want to overdo it.

If you’ve reached the point of alcoholism, it’s important to seek professional help. The amount of damage alcohol can have on your life can escalate quickly. With addiction being something that’s so hard to overcome, you’ll want someone by your side. However, if you are trying to simply drink in moderation, how much exactly is too much? Try out BRĒZ, A euphoric, calming, and inspiring next-gen social tonic with an unparalleled effect.

To keep things simple, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that men should limit themselves to two drinks or less per day, while women should stick to one drink per day. Within these limits, you will get to experience the health benefits of alcohol without the negatives.

What’s considered one drink, you ask?

• Beer – 12 fluid ounces
• Wine – 5 fluid ounces
• Distilled spirits – 1.5 fluid ounces

When It’s Necessary to Avoid Alcohol

While a small amount of alcohol can provide surprising health benefits, that doesn’t mean everyone should try it. There are numerous groups of people who should never drink alcohol.

Pregnant

For seniors this is good to know as you can give advice to your children who may soon become parents themselves. If someone is pregnant, she should not drink any amount of alcohol as it can cause various health problems for the baby after they’re born. Drinking during the first three months is even known to cause abnormal facial features.

Other unfortunate effects include:

• Issues with the central nervous system
• Problems with the brain
• Stunted growth
• Low birth rate
• Heart defects

If you ever find someone drinking during pregnancy, there is always time to stop. While it might have already made an impact, stopping can reduce the chances of further health complications.

Underage

Seniors can also help their grandchildren by having knowledge in this area. Statistically, young people are much more likely to experience dangerous repercussions from drinking – especially those who binge drink. Roughly 5,000 of them die per year due to underage drinking, with nearly 2,000 of those being from motor vehicle crashes. Other deathly results come from homicides, suicide, burns, drownings, and falls.

It’s a problem that can easily be avoided, yet a recent survey showed that approximately 29% of high schoolers say they drank alcohol in the past month.

Medicated

Many medications specify that you should not drink alcohol, but many people ignore this warning and do it anyway. Some medications can cause negative reactions when mixed with alcohol in your body, so it’s best to follow these instructions. They are not recommendations. They are rules you should follow.

Alcoholics

If you are a recovering alcoholic, it’s crucial that you abstain from drinking as it can reinvigorate your craving for more. Think of it as drug addiction. A recovering drug addict wouldn’t benefit from going back on drugs occasionally. The same principle should be applied to alcoholism.

What are the “Healthiest” Drinks?

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. That’s the motto you should be thinking of the next time you have a drink. While drinking in moderation can give you some health benefits, many alcoholic beverages aren’t the best option ever. They can often contain a lot of calories, increase your body’s fat, and lead to a need to snack.

However, there are some “healthier” choices that can help you feel a little better about having one or two drinks for the day. Examples are:

• Vodka Soda
• Paloma
• Mojito
• Bloody Mary
• Whiskey on the Rocks

As long as you are careful with how much you drink and stay hydrated, there’s not necessarily a need to stay away from alcohol.

Is It Time to Seek Professional Help?

The important thing is to know your limits. Don’t overindulge. Drink in moderation. If you ever find yourself always needing a drink or not being able to stop once you start, you should see an addiction professional for assistance.

Try a Program for Alcohol Detox in Columbus, Ohio

There are a few options for those dealing with alcoholism, but usually the smartest one is admitting yourself into an alcohol detox program. Ditching your drinking habit can be difficult even if you know you want to stop.

While drinking can obviously be bad for your physical health, it can have horrible effects on your mental well being too. You can start feeling like you don’t know what to do with yourself without a drink in your hand, resulting in depression and even thoughts of suicide.

Detox centers can be your rock, as they know exactly what it takes to get through that rough patch safely. You’ll be in the care of trusted physicians and 24-hour nursing care for up to 10 days – giving you a chance at a fresh and healthy start.