It’s been a very difficult year – and it’s no surprise that more people than usual have been drowning in grief, or building up non-stop nights at home by arriving for a bottle of wine.
Alcohol education charity Drinkaware (drinkaware.co.uk) found that more than a fifth (22 per cent) of adults drank more in the first lock, and a study by the Royal College of Psychiatry found the number of people who drank at high risk. it had almost doubled after this time.
This can have a major impact on health, as too much alcohol and regular alcohol abuse are linked to a number of diseases and complications.
:: Want to try a dry January?
“January is a great time to think about your relationship with alcohol – by starting the new year drinking less, or not at all, you may notice getting better, losing extra weight, and getting a little extra money in your pocket, ”says Mark Bellis, professor of public health at Bangor University and alcohol consultant at Faculty UK Public Health.
“Over time, reduced alcohol consumption means a lower risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease and liver disease. Dry January can be a way to reduce your alcohol use, but the real benefits will start to accrue if you keep these levels low throughout the year. ”
Alcohol Change (alcoholchange.org.uk), the charity that runs Dry January, reveals that 86 per cent of past participants have saved money, 70 per cent said they had better sleep, 66 per cent said they had more energy, and 65 per cent felt their overall health had improved.
According to a Drinkaware survey, just over a quarter of drinkers (26 per cent) think they should cut back on their shopping.
“Many people have been drinking more since the onset of the pandemic, often out of boredom or coping with what’s going on,” said Drinkaware chief executive Elaine Hindal. “But drinking more can have a huge impact on your health, both mentally and physically. Cutting down on alcohol has many positive health benefits – from reducing our risk of serious illness, to helping us have a better night’s sleep.
“Getting a full break from alcohol, like taking a dry January, can help restore your alcohol relationship. The key is not to go back to old habits on February 1, ”adds Hindal. “If you don’t have abstinence, try to follow the 14-week low-risk guidelines – that’s about six glasses of medium wine or six pints of beer. And make sure you have at least three drink-free days each week. ”
For added motivation, Drinkaware lists 10 main ways in which drinking can adversely affect your health…
1. Mental health problems
Alcohol is depressing, and in addition to contributing to depression it can inhibit brain processes that are important for good mental health. “It is best to avoid alcohol when you are anxious because it can make feelings of anxiety and stress worse,” says Hindal.
2. Increased risk of cancer
Alcohol is also a risk factor for developing cancer. Drinking above the low-risk guideline increases your risk of seven types of cancer, including breast, liver and oral cancer, and Cancer Research UK (cancerresearchuk.org) says: “Cancer risk starts increases at small levels, so the more you can cut down, the more you can reduce your risk. ”
3. Elevated blood pressure
Alcohol is also a possible cause of severe blood pressure, says Hindal. Untreated high blood pressure significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
4. Liver damage
Alcohol can cause unbearable damage to the liver and the risk of developing liver disease, says Hindal. Drinking more than eight units a day if you are a man, and more than five units a day if you are a woman, over a period of two or three weeks can improve fatty liver, the first stage before worse liver damage.
This can be reversed if you stop drinking. Too much alcohol causes cirrhosis of the liver, which occurs when a scar builds up on the liver, preventing it from functioning properly. Alcohol-related cirrhosis can also increase the risk of liver cancer.
5. Brain damage and depression
Drinking more than the consistently low-risk guideline is linked to brain damage and even depression, Drinkaware warns. Alcohol can damage the brain in a number of ways, affecting its ability to function properly over time. For example, causing a person ‘s memory to deteriorate or affecting other mental skills.
6. Fertility problems
Drinking more than the low-risk guidelines could increase the risk of fertility problems, Hindal says.
7. Decreased immune function
Heavy drinking may increase your vulnerability to viral and other illnesses, as alcohol can impair immune activity. “This weak immunity is not limited to heavy drinkers,” he warns Hindal. “Less frequent drinking events can affect your immune system.”
8. Sleep problems
It may seem to help some people with sedation, but alcohol can disturb sleep. Hindal says a heavy drinking session of more than six units in the evening can cause people to spend more time in deep sleep and less time than usual in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which is the next stage. -important renewal of sleep. In addition, several sleepless nights can affect daily mental health, mood, concentration and decision making.
9. Lift weight and bloating
Hindal says that alcohol contains more calories than many people think – a pint of lager has about the same number of calories as a slice of pizza, or a large glass of wine is the same as a bowl of ice cream – and drinking can easily make you gain weight. In addition, drinking alcohol dehydrates our bodies, nourishes the skin, and can make faces look bloated and puffy. The effects of alcohol can also cause a stomach upset.
10. Sexual problems
Alcohol can reduce testosterone levels, leading to loss of libido and reduced sperm size and quality. It also lowers the central nervous system, which means it can make it difficult for some men to get up, and maintain.