Busting 7 Popular Sleep Myths and the Real Tricks to Get Better Rest

Chronic alcohol use and binge drinking damage the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. Alcohol can also contribute to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and hypertension (high blood Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House pressure), increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. It wasn’t until 1993 that clinical research funded by the National Institutes of Health was required to include women as research subjects.

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Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults report binge drinking at least once a week, with an average of seven drinks per binge episode. While all forms of alcohol consumption come with health risks, binge drinking appears to be particularly dangerous due to how repeated cycling between a high state and a withdrawal state affect the brain. For example, for some people, alcohol use can lead https://thewashingtondigest.com/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ to “hangxiety,” the feeling of anxiety that can accompany a hangover. Despite efforts to comprehend the overall biology of substance use disorders, scientists’ and physicians’ understanding of the relationship between women’s health and binge drinking has lagged behind. Alcoholism is considered a chronic disease due to the fact that it has genetic and behavioral components.

• Drinking ACV before meals may also help stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the likelihood of post-meal cravings and energy crashes.
• Chronic alcohol use causes hormone imbalances in both men and women and leads to problems with fertility.

Busting 7 Popular Sleep Myths and the Real Tricks to Get Better Rest

So, while you may temporarily feel at ease in the moment, you can feel more stressed the day after. Normally, your body cycles through light and deep phases of sleep. Alcohol inhibits refreshing REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and later on causes “REM rebound,” with nightmares and trouble sleeping.

Alcohol is a stimulant drug.

• Critics of moderation management note that this form of treatment may encourage denial in people with alcohol use disorder, which may delay seeking more effective treatment.
• This article discusses the long-term effects of alcohol, including the risks to your physical health and mental well-being.
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that has immediate effects on the body, like intoxication (feeling drunk) and hangovers (unpleasant aftereffects from drinking).
• Tough love tactics like cutting people off or kicking them out usually have the opposite result families are hoping for.
• But dealing with those feelings and tackling the “why” of your alcoholism is the only way to get on a healthy recovery path.

Over a long period of time, alcoholism can progress until a person is physically dependent on alcohol. Unfortunately, because of the social stigma surrounding alcoholism, many individuals go undiagnosed and continue to struggle. This stigma also feeds into the myths that we will discuss below. Scientists and addiction professionals agree that alcoholism needs to be treated just like other health conditions such as asthma or high blood pressure.

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In truth, coffee has no real effect on your blood alcohol level, which is the major factor in determining your level of intoxication. In fact, alcohol can make sleep worse and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats more pronounced. Consuming alcohol during menopause can also increase the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, says Dr. Jewel M. Kling, M.D., M.P.H., a physician with Mayo Clinic Women’s Health in Arizona. One reason is that people become more sensitive to alcohol as they get older. Or they may take medicines that make the effects of alcohol stronger.

Myth #2: I Only Drink on Weekends

A variety of factors may have contributed to increases in drinking including a growing social acceptability of alcohol and loosening of alcohol policies at a state level. Other factors, such as increased stressors due to the pandemic and other issues may have increased drinking behaviors. Alcohol use, especially excessive alcohol consumption, can harm your physical and mental health. From damaging vital organs to impairing brain function and jeopardizing relationships, the negative consequences of excessive alcohol use are far-reaching. Chronic alcohol use raises your risk for health problems, including heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and mental health disorders. The effects of alcohol start sooner than people realize, with mild impairment (up to 0.05 blood alcohol concentration [BAC]) starting to affect speech, memory, attention, coordination, and balance.

You may have heard myths about alcohol and alcohol use disorder presented as facts. While some myths might be more harmful than others, it’s essential to understand the realities of alcohol and alcohol use disorder. ACV may interact with certain medications, including diuretics, laxatives, and medications for diabetes and heart disease. If you are taking any medications, consult your healthcare provider before incorporating ACV into your diet to avoid potential interactions.

Myth 3: An Irish coffee will keep you warm on the slopes

If you are drunk, nothing will help make you sober except time. However, it will not improve your coordination or decision-making skills. These can be impaired for several hours after you stop drinking. This is why it is never safe to drive after you have been drinking, no matter how many cups of coffee you have. When you find the right tools and support for you, it’s possible to recover from alcohol use disorder. For ways to seek support, you can visit Psych Central’s guide to mental health help.