Cutting back on alcohol to less than two drinks https://ecosober.com/ a day can reduce blood pressure significantly, reducing risk of stroke and heart disease. Reducing blood pressure also reduces risk of kidney disease, eye problems and even erectile dysfunction. Your doctor may also prescribe medications that can reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Vivitrol (naltrexone), Campral (acamprosate), and Antabuse (disulfiram) have been FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder.
One Year In: Reduced Inflammation and Healthier Heart
As you approach and pass the What Happens to the Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol six-month mark on your quitting alcohol timeline, new routines firmly take root, and a profound shift in lifestyle solidifies. This phase often feels like a deeper integration of sobriety into one’s identity. Some alcohol-related damage may be permanent, particularly in cases of severe, long-term consumption. Advanced liver cirrhosis, certain types of brain damage, and some cardiovascular complications may not fully reverse. However, stopping alcohol consumption always prevents further damage and often allows for partial recovery.
Surprising Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol
If you’re a heavy drinker or someone with a history of alcohol dependence, always consult with a medical professional before quitting. This is your detailed, week-by-week (and month-by-month) timeline of the real physical and mental changes you can expect when you stop drinking alcohol. We’ll cover the challenging moments and the incredible benefits, drawing on common experiences (while remembering everyone’s journey is unique).
- Research also shows that some people experience an increased libido after reducing or quitting alcohol.
- How a person stops drinking is a key factor in the severity of withdrawal symptoms, with heavy drinking being eight or more drinks for women, and 15 or more drinks for men in a week.
- For those who do not drink heavily, this period often brings noticeable improvements.
Your mental health will improve.
Other studies have shown that having social support can help people to reduce alcohol use. It’s no wonder then that giving Sober living home up alcohol – even temporarily – can benefit sleep quality. And alongside better sleep, 52% of the Dry January participants surveyed reported having more energy, while 50% said they had better overall health.
- Keep in mind that everyone is different and will experience different things when they stop drinking.
- Regular alcohol use slows the central nervous system, and the body compensates by producing more stimulatory chemicals to stay awake, alert, and prepared for survival.
- These sugary mixers can interfere with the fat-burning process after a workout, essentially canceling out the benefits of your exercise.
- Every year, millions of people across the world give up alcohol for a month—a tradition that started as Dry January, and has expanded into similar efforts, such as Sober October.
- Dependent drinkers will often feel more energy and a sense of well-being at the 3-month mark.