The spirit is perhaps the favorite recreational psychoactive substance use of Western culture (with the possible exception of caffeine) and is almost ubiquitous in this environment. And yet, it is a (legal) drug that at best provides meager benefits to our physical or mental health and at worst can seriously endanger our lives.
Should I give up alcohol?
Quitting alcohol completely will never be negative for our health. As we pointed out, the benefits that it can bring to our body are scarce (and are often little studied) and it is, on the other hand, a source of risks.
However, it must be said that in instances of (really) moderate consumption in principle, alcohol does not have to pose a weight problem for health, as long as precaution is taken not to escalate its use and we pay attention to our specific conditions.
Be that as it may, it must be borne in mind that the consequences and the appropriate way to put aside alcohol will vary depending on the degree and the way in which we consume it.
What happens to your body when you quit alcohol if your consumption was moderate
When alcohol consumption is moderate and there is no addictive disorder ( alcoholism ), it is possible to leave it without medical supervision, since stopping its use will not cause any risk or negative effect on our health.
In these cases, one of the possible benefits that we can feel is a slight decrease in appetite that can lead to weight loss or, at least, to a greater ease in controlling it.
Also, stopping drinking alcohol can make us notice a visible improvement in the state of our skin (which should look more hydrated, with better color and with less pimples or acne).
One of the areas in which the cessation of alcohol consumption is most perceived is in the mood . The state has depressant effects on the central nervous system, so stopping it usually leads to an increase in energy, and an improvement in mood and spirits. In addition, alcohol worsens the quality of sleep, so improving this aspect can contribute to that increase in energy during the day and to feel more rested.
On the other hand, alcohol progressively damages certain areas of the brain related to the formation of short-term memory and attention , so that if it is not consumed, this deterioration is slowed and it is even possible that a certain recovery and improvement in these faculties.
Finally, and although it is not something that can be noticed as such, people who do not drink alcohol have a lower risk of suffering from various types of cancer, especially in the digestive system.
What happens if your use is addictive
The panorama changes a lot when the use of alcohol is part of an addictive disorder ( alcoholism ) since, although these people are undoubtedly the ones who most need to stop ingesting this substance, in the short term the cessation of consumption (especially if it is abrupt) It can have unpleasant and dangerous consequences on the body and, therefore, must be supervised and guided by a qualified professional.
This is because alcohol, in addition to causing a very strong psychological dependence in users, is a substance that causes the development of physical dependence : our body ‘gets used to’ working with it and in its absence suffers the so-called withdrawal syndrome .
If this is the case, it is common to experience short-term tremors, weakness, headaches, sweating, hyperreflexia (involuntary nervous system overreaction to stimuli), gastrointestinal symptoms, tachycardia, and hypertension. In some patients, generalized seizures may occur between 6 and 48 hours after cessation.
Likewise, alcoholic hallucinosis may appear , a picture marked by visual and auditory hallucinations and illusions, vivid nightmares, and terror. This condition, after 48 hours, usually progresses to what is known as delirium tremens , in which the person experiences anxiety, confusion, nightmares, profuse sweating, deep depression, delusions (erroneous beliefs), terror, low-grade fever or low fever, increased heart rate and ataxia. Very marked delirium tremens pose a high risk of death .
Under proper supervision , these manifestations can be treated by addressing the symptoms and using drugs such as benzodiazepines, phenobarbital, or propofol. Once the withdrawal syndrome is overcome, the enormous benefits of quitting alcohol begin.
And it is that people who consume alcohol in a compulsive or addictive way suffer a very important cognitive and psychosocial deterioration , whose progress slows when leaving it, with the possibility of a very significant recovery.
In addition, this pattern of use also involves severe damage to many organs of the digestive system, such as the liver or pancreas, and can even trigger life-threatening conditions such as cirrhosis or pancreatitis. The only way to reduce the risk of this happening and to achieve a recovery in the state of these organs is through the treatment of alcoholism and the cessation of consumption. Similarly, the risk of suffering from a multitude of cancers and other disorders such as overweight or obesity is significantly reduced .
