If you’re one of the many people who drink regularly, there are a number of reasons why you should consider quitting altogether. Excessive and dependent drinking can lead to health issues such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and depression. Those who don’t give up alcohol eventually develop a drinking problem that will likely only worsen their life. Here are five healthy reasons why you should quit drinking altogether.
Improved memory functioning
No longer intoxicated, the body is better able to filter the effects of alcohol. This will help lower memory functioning that is caused by heavy drinking. Excessive drinking tends to affect brain functioning. It can even cause problems with memory and judgment. These are issues you want to avoid down the road.
Proper brain functioning is essential because it ultimately affects your ability to learn, problem-solve, and also remember things. If you’re drinking every day, some of these impairments may not be noticed since they might “seem” like part of your daily routine. However, as you stop drinking altogether and give the brain time to recuperate, you’ll eventually notice these issues disappear.
Carrying around unnecessary weight
You know the feeling of having a hangover the next day? It’s not fun. Don’t get us wrong; we understand that sometimes you have to get a little buzz on at the end of a long work day. But then, when you wake up, you’ll inevitably feel sluggish. You might find it difficult to concentrate, or your thoughts might be blurry and unfocused. This is because your brain has been flooded with alcohol, and it’s now working overtime to process everything that happened that night.
Aside from the headache and foggy brain, you’re also likely to feel sluggish and bloated. At this point, it’s easy to access the fridge for a quick snack to help you start feeling better. Unfortunately, eating during this time will only worsen your problem.
Your risk for certain types of cancer goes up
Obviously, if you’re drinking every day, your risks for certain types of cancer go up significantly. Specifically, if you have an alcoholic liver disease, you’re far more likely to develop liver cancer. For example, that means that if you have an alcohol problem, the risk of developing primary hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC increases about 8-fold.
But it doesn’t just stop with your liver; other cancers could also be influenced by alcohol consumption:
- Breast cancer (women) – Alcohol consumption has been recognized as a significant risk factor for breast cancer in women.
- Colorectal cancer (women) – Alcohol consumption has been shown to be associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer in women carriers of the mismatch repair gene.
Oral cavity and pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers – A person’s risk for certain mouth and throat cancers increases with long-term heavy drinking.
Therefore, it’s best if you keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum or quit altogether.
You will be able to have positive social relations
In a society that is constantly evolving, there are times where it’s crucial to be able to handle yourself when things get tense. You don’t need to be a tough guy or gal all the time, but if you’re on the heavy-drinking side, you should make sure you can have some social interactions without feeling like you’re being a jerk or you’re going to embarrass yourself.
Some people even drink more because they want to socialize better with their peers.
You will be able to live a more fulfilled life
As you’ve probably noticed by now, alcohol addiction is a severe issue. It can really interfere with you and the people around you. Some just get addicted to the feeling and its effects on them. This, of course, makes it hard to function normally. It’s vital that you can maintain a healthy lifestyle when all of your energy is being consumed by something else.
Call to Action
By visiting our institution, you will be able to learn more about the beneficial aspects of keeping sober or quitting alcohol altogether. It is important to embrace a healthy lifestyle at all times. Call us at 954-523-1167.