It wrecks your heart, batters your brain and poisons your liver – yet millions of us still kid ourselves that the odd glass of wine or pint is harmless.
The World Health Organization now warns that no level of alcohol is safe for health. It is classed as a Group 1 carcinogen – the same category as tobacco – and has been conclusively linked to at least seven types of cancer.
Studies also show that even light or moderate drinking raises the risk of myriad health issues from heart disease, liver damage and even depression.
But doctors stress the harm is not permanent.
‘The benefits of quitting alcohol occur progressively over time,’ said Professor Debbie Shawcross, a liver doctor at King’s College Hospital.
‘In the first few weeks there will be improvements in sleep quality, concentration, hydration, and digestion. In the long term, blood pressure will drop and stress on the liver will reduce.’
Becoming teetotal or even cutting back can reduce the risk of serious disease and help you live a longer, healthier life.
Here, the Daily Mail breaks down exactly how alcohol wreaks havok on the body… and the benefits, from head to toe, when you give up.
Experts say that even those who consider themselves low or moderate drinkers will feel the benefits of a week, month or year off the bottle.
It’s good for your sleep and mental health
While many people swear a nightcap helps them drift off, alcohol is a depressant – and sedation is not the same as sleep.
‘It is important to remember that alcohol is a depressant – and sedation is different from sleep,’ said Annabelle Bonus, director of research at Drink Aware.
But Prof Shawcross says these changes are reversible. Some people see results within days of quitting; for most, noticeable improvements to sleep and mood arrive within a couple of months as the brain’s neurotransmitters reset.
It aids digestions and relieves acid reflux
Alcohol irritates the stomach and relaxes the valve that stops acid rising into the throat, causing heartburn. Lying down after drinking makes it worse.
Cutting out alcohol can ease reflux almost immediately, said Prof Shawcross. Many people find calmer digestion within days.
The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units each week – that’s 14 single shots of spirit, six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine
Quitting booze protects your heart…
Alcohol raises blood pressure and fuels oxidative stress, damaging proteins in the blood, raising LDL cholesterol and increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Inflammation makes dangerous clots more likely.
The good news is that once you stop drinking, free radicals start to be flushed from the body. Heart health improves from the very first day without booze.
… and it helps boost brain health
Alcohol is both a depressant and a neurotoxin. It shrinks brain tissue, damages memory and disrupts dopamine and serotonin, leading to low mood and loss of motivation.
But the brain is resilient. ‘Sustained sobriety can improve your mood, cognitive function and memory, but these effects may be felt in the short term too,’ said Prof Shawcross.
Quitting allows the brain to rebalance its chemistry, leading to clearer thinking, improved wellbeing and lower risk of dementia later in life.
Just cutting down protects the liver
The liver processes up to 98 per cent of alcohol at a fixed rate – one drink per hour.
Excess booze lingers in the blood, and repeated binges force the organ into overdrive.
Fat builds up, the liver inflames, and scarring develops. Left unchecked, this becomes cirrhosis, which can kill.
One in six patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis will develop liver cancer.
‘If there is excessive alcohol in the blood, the liver cannot speed up the detoxification process, meaning that alcohol can stay in your blood for up to six hours after your last drink,’ said Prof Shawcross.
‘In some cases, it can take the liver several days to recover following a binge of alcohol and sometimes up to weeks or months if the damage is severe.’
The hopeful news: long-term abstinence dramatically reduces the risk of cirrhosis and cancer. Even cutting back to NHS guidelines protects the liver.
Abstining slashes cancer risk
Every drink raises the risk. Just one a week increases it by three per cent.
A daily small glass of wine – about 10 units a week – raises it by 15 per cent. Two bottles a week – 20 units – increase it by 27 per cent, meaning 14 in 100 women who drink at that level can expect to develop breast cancer.
Alcohol has also been linked to cancers of the liver, mouth, head and neck, bowel and throat. But quitting lowers the odds, and the longer you stay sober, the lower the risk becomes.
The bigger picture…
Alcohol is one of the biggest causes of preventable disease. It costs the NHS £3.5 billion a year and was responsible for 10,470 deaths in the UK in 2023. In the US, 95,000 adults die each year from excessive drinking.
The NHS recommends no more than 14 units a week – the equivalent of six pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine.
But experts stress the body begins to bounce back the moment you stop. Whether it’s a week off, a year, or forever, your health improves from day one.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .