By Dr. Afriyie Randle
WKTV Community Contributor
Social isolation has effected us in so many different ways. Some have chosen to take advantage of this pandemic to spend time with family, focus on themselves or take a vacation, while social isolation and other COVID-19 related life changes has lead to an increase in use and abuse of alcohol.
Social media outlets have made memes about “quarantinis” and COVID drinking, making light of a truly serious condition. Unwinding with a “quarantini” or a glass of your favorite spirit might seem like a good way to cope with the stress of this pandemic, but for some people, too much alcohol is a problem.
Consuming alcohol can weaken your body’s ability to fight off infections leading to depression, anxiety, obesity and liver disease. In addition, excess alcohol many lead to such conditions as hypertension (high blood pressure), strokes and heart attacks. ti also could lead to increase susceptibility to contracting COVID-19.
Instead of going down the road of the misnomers of alcohol abuse, let’s take a look at what happens when you actually stop abusing alcohol.
1. Improved health with decreased sicknesses. Alcohol impacts your immune system’s ability to fight off disease.
2. You will dodge accidents and fatal injuries. Even cutting back your drinking by a third can lower the number of injuries and sick days.
3. Your heart gets healthier. Reducing your alcohol intake may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and nay decrease your chances of stokes and heart attacks.
4. The liver heals. The live is responsible for helping your blood clot along with breaking down fats, proteins, and sugars.
5. Weight loss. Alcohol accounts for so many empty and non-nutritional calories.
6. Ease depression and anxiety. Alcohol is actually a downer working as a depressant to slow down vital bodily functions.
7. Decrease your cancer risk.
8. Improve your libido. In women, reducing alcohol use may improve vaginal lubrication and in men, it may decrease erectile dysfunction.
9. Restful nights/daytime sleepiness. Alcohol disrupts rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage that is essential in learning and making or retaining memories.
10. Clearer thinking. As mentioned above, reducing your alcohol intake increases your ability to retain and make memories.
Always be mindful of your alcohol intake and drink responsibly.
