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After all, alcohol is deeply woven into our social celebrations, cultural traditions and even daily routines. But perhaps, for a moment, you may pause to reflect on your habits—how the last drink made you feel and how it might impact your health in the future. If you are considering cutting back, here are some simple, actionable steps you can take to limit or completely avoid alcohol.
We have already featured a two-part series by Sally Satel on the topic. The liver, in particular, bears much of the brunt, as it’s responsible for breaking down alcohol and removing toxins from the body. Over time, alcohol can pile on the pressure, causing the liver to become overloaded and inflamed. But according to experts, it isn’t the order in which you consume your drinks that matters. In the United States, one alcoholic or “standard” drink contains the same amount of alcohol—roughly 14 grams.
Myth #1: I Do Not Have a Problem Because I Can Hold My Liquor
Frozen fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are picked and frozen when they’re at their ripest and most flavorful and nutritious. The freezing process locks in both their flavor and nutrition, preserving it while they’re transported to us. Often these frozen products are actually a better option than their “fresh” counterparts. You may have heard that mushrooms should never be washed, since they will quickly absorb any water they touch and become waterlogged, but this is absolutely false.
Also, not many people realize that it can be extremely dangerous to take acetaminophen while having even just a few drinks, according to American Addictions Centers. “The resveratrol studies have been done in mice, and you’d have to drink so much red wine to get the therapeutic amount — over 100 glasses! If you’ve ever heard the phrase that a couple of cocktails can “take the edge off” after a long week at work, you may believe the myth that alcohol can calm you down.
Treatment & Support
- Here are 11 that you definitely should stop believing—and why they’re complete lies.
- Alcohol also interferes with this zone, making the hormone-driven changes worse.
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. ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
“Drinking coffee or other caffeine products after having one too many drinks can trick your brain into making you feel energized and more awake or alert,” warns Dr. Janesz. And while it may seem harmless to live by some of these “tips,” some of these alcohol myths can put your health at risk. When it comes to alcohol, the line between fiction and fact is often blurry. Whether it’s at a party with friends or through pop culture references, there are quite a few things about drinking alcohol that get misconstrued. The Trump Administration is installing new CDC and FDA leadership and priorities, and speculation about tobacco regulation is rampant, but killing urban myths doesn’t require government action. If anything, it needs government inaction, allowing tobacco users and health professionals to educate themselves about the facts surrounding smoke-free nicotine.
Myth #5: Drinking is a Good Way to Take the Edge Off My Chronic Pain
Believing in these myths can prevent individuals from seeking the help they need, prolonging suffering and increasing the risk of severe consequences. By addressing these misconceptions, we can create a more supportive environment for those struggling with alcohol addiction and empower them to take the first step toward recovery. But this apparent “strength” can actually be a weakness as well. Being able to drink more may also encourage you to do so, making you more likely to develop an unhealthy habit. And aside from genetic differences, higher alcohol tolerance is a common sign that someone is developing alcohol dependence. A person may be able to “drink others under the table” precisely because they actually drink more often.
This is a direct quote from Dr. Brian King, director of FDA Center for Tobacco Products. Federal officials use “lifelong” when they’re trying to scare us about kids, but that’s deceiving. The claim is obviously false for the nation’s 56 million former smokers. About 7%, according to a meta-analysis published over 20 years ago. That’s why access to satisfying and safer nicotine cigarette substitutes that don’t require abstinence is vital for smokers. Now that you know the science, it’s hard to ignore that the pull to drink still lingers, even with the logical awareness of the consequences.
- Wine, beer, shots, or a mix won’t make you more intoxicated.
- Repeated alcohol use seriously disturbs sleep and makes it difficult to re-establish a normal sleep pattern.
- Yet, more and more, the science is pointing to the health risks of drinking alcohol.
- Here we explore ten common myths or misconceptions concerning alcohol and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Long-term, excessive alcohol use can lead to memory problems and significant cognitive damage, according to American Addiction Centers. Taking aspirin, Advil, or any of the NSAIDs while drinking increases the risk of gastrointestinal troubles, like bleeding and ulcers. Wait until your headache hits the next day, and then take an Advil, preferably with a big gulp of Pedialyte.
- A 2015 study involving 561 students found that children who drank alcohol before sixth grade were more likely to abuse alcohol when they reached ninth grade.
- If you are concerned about your relationship with alcohol, it’s important to make yourself aware of the facts.
- As a general internist, I am obsessed with smoking cessation.
- In a video for Ria Health, Claudia Christian of the C Three Foundation lays out five of the most common alcohol myths, and the real facts you need to know about drinking.
Myth: Drinking one glass of alcohol a night has no impact on your health.
Her nutrition philosophy is to dig deeper and identify the root causes of people’s health concerns using a holistic, integrative and functional approach. Many people (including some professional chefs!) believe that marinades will tenderize meat, but that isn’t true. The salt in the alcoholism treatment marinade will disperse throughout the meat, increasing moisture retention and resulting in juicier meat, but this is not the same as tenderization.
Addiction is a chronic condition, and like other chronic illnesses, it requires ongoing management. A relapse is not the end of recovery but an opportunity to reassess and adjust the alcohol treatment program. Substance abuse treatment centers, such as those specializing in addiction treatment in Boston, provide continuous support to help individuals regain stability after a setback.
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. If you are drunk, nothing will help make you sober except time. Your body needs time to break down the alcohol in your system. 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.
Alcohol can be especially problematic in older adults because it can conflict with medications and worsen the symptoms of other health problems that are common among older people. In addition to affecting the liver, alcohol affects the brain, the heart, and both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Problem drinking is not about what you drink, but how it affects your life.