2021 Is the Year to Stop Drinking

Woman with her head in her hands in front of lots of alcohol bottlesToo much alcohol has been shown to increase the risks of health conditions like oral cancer, breast cancer, heart diseases, liver cirrhosis and strokes. Research has shown that too much alcohol has an impact on mental health, reduces fertility and impairs memory skills. There is a good understanding of the link between alcohol and the liver – but what impact does it have on other body organs?

There are many studies that have suggested that consuming alcohol in moderation can help by protecting the heart against disease. It stops the formation of clots in the arteries and raises good cholesterol. Help can be sought in the form of alcohol addiction therapy in the same way that one can seek gambling addiction therapy.

Toxic

Drinking too much alcohol has been shown to be bad for the body because it damages the heart. This happens when you drink more than three drinks a day. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, stroke and congestive heart failure. Drinking can also result in more fat in the body.

There is a well-established link between alcohol and cancer. There are an estimated 13,000 cancer cases in the UK each year caused by alcohol consumption – 4,000 women and 9,000 men, according to a study published in BMJ.

There is a 7–12% increase in breast cancer risk for every 10g of alcohol you consume.

Studies have also shown there is a 19% risk increase in bowel cancer when someone increases their alcohol intake by 100g.

There is a report released by an Immunology Journal by Biomed Central showing that alcohol affects the body’s ability to fight off viral infections.
Studies have also shown that light drinking reduces the chances of a woman conceiving, while it lowers sperm quantity and quality in men.
The reason behind this effect on different aspects of human health could be as a result of acetaldehyde – this is the product formed when the body breaks down alcohol.

Acetaldehyde is known to be toxic and damages DNA. There was a recent study done on mice to determine the toxic effects of alcohol by Dr KJ Patel, Cambridge’s Medical Research Council lab, on molecular biology. The results of the study implied that a pregnant woman binge-drinking is enough to result in permanent damage to the baby’s genome.

Children affected by foetal alcohol syndrome can end up being seriously damaged, born with facial and head abnormalities, and mental disabilities.
January is when most people decide to stop drinking because it is one of their New Year’s resolutions.

Some choose to wait until the start of the year even though drinking has been a big problem for them for months. When they start drinking again, it goes from one or two drinks during the weekend and becomes a daily thing, which brings back chaos into their lives: loved ones argue, jobs suffer, and families feel the consequences of the alcoholism.

The Drinking Problem Is Not Going to Simply Go Away

Such a person needs to get professional help. Working with a qualified addictions therapist is a good place to start. With the right expert, you get the chance of coming to terms with your addiction and getting guidance on how you can get through all the chaos and recover from your drinking addiction. Most of the experts have dealt with people addicted, with some even being addicts before. You will get help with your drinking problem so you can get on with your life. You are going to work on a 1–1 basis.

You will have someone to help you with your alcohol problems and other addictions – drugs, alcohol, relationships, sex, gambling, food, co-dependency, pornography, spending, gaming and internet.