This can help repair the liver and improve its ability to filter toxins. Alcohol is a known cancer-causing agent according to the US Department of Health and Human Services Report on Carcinogens. It has been particularly linked to cancers of the head and neck, esophagus, liver, breast and colon, and some studies indicate association with pancreatic cancer and melanoma risk. A person’s blood pressure can also rise as a result of alcohol use. Alcohol increases the hormone ‘angiotensin II’ in the blood, which leads to the narrowing of blood vessels. This means more “push” is needed from the heart to pump blood, and the heart’s walls become weaker and thinner.

• „Being sober will actually help you sleep and have you feeling more restful and energized in the mornings,“ says Zeitlin.
• Giving up alcohol can be tough—but the benefits make it worth the effort, says Damon Raskin, M.D., a Los Angeles-based physician who is board-certified in addiction medicine.
• Just as long-term heavy alcohol use has many health risks, abstaining from alcohol has several potential benefits for your body and health.
• In fact, more than half of us report drinking alcohol on a monthly basis, and over a quarter report binge drinking in the past month.
• Many people in long-term sobriety report that their relationships have significantly improved.

Let’s go through the timeline of what happens when you stop drinking, sectioned into simple, bite-sized chunks. So, giving up alcohol may help you to improve your relationships with friends and family. Another benefit of giving up alcohol is that your mind may be clearer.

The First Day (12-24 Hours)

Her interests include Minority Health, Women’s Health and Pediatrics. As a wife and mother of two, she uses real-life experiences to clearly communicate keys to better health and wellness for mind, body and spirit. If your drinking seems to be affecting your work or personal relationships—regardless of how much booze you’re knocking back—it’s time to consider taking it easy, he adds.

From beer to mixed drinks, alcohol abuse can contribute to thousands of extra calories a month. Consider healthy eating and exercise to supplement the weight loss you’ll get from not drinking. After you’ve gone a month without drinking, your liver will start repairing itself. You’ll have less What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol liver fat, so your liver can function more effectively. Alcohol has a lot of empty calories and can lower your inhibitions, making it harder to resist eating unhealthy, fattening foods. If you’ve been having symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, they should start subsiding after 48 hours.

4 Weeks

It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Your heart is healthier You might think that a regular glass of red wine or another alcoholic beverage might be good for your heart. But that may not be true, or only for those who like to drink lightly . If you use more than that, cutting back or quitting can lower your blood pressure, levels of fats called triglycerides, and your risk of heart failure.

In addition, frequent drinking can cause inflammation throughout the body. All of this means that taking a break from booze could help you better fight off any seasonal illnesses. Getting better sleep because you’re sober certainly doesn’t hurt either. There are plenty of other perks to easing up on alcohol besides weight loss. The weight around my middle was the first to go once I cut out alcohol. After about six months of not drinking, I lost all of the booze belly and the 15 pounds I gained.

One Year After Quitting Drinking

“Future cancer risks — such throat, stomach, and liver cancer — also decrease significantly.” Cheers to that. Anyone who is dependent on alcohol is likely to experience physical and mental withdrawal symptoms when they decide to quit drinking. Withdrawal acts as a barrier between addiction and recovery for many alcohol addicts. By now you might be feeling back to your normal self physically and mentally. Generally speaking, you might be done feeling the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, or at least beginning to notice them going away. If you used constantly and never allowed your body time without alcohol, then you probably are still experiencing symptoms at full force. Alcohol abuse is infamous for the toll that it can take on the body, although some risks are misunderstood and others are understated.

Dr. Elizabeth Klenk graduated from the University of Toledo with a BA in Biology and from the University of Cincinnati with a Master of Science in Biological Sciences followed by her MD. She was a hockey player and played goalie for several high level mens‘ teams. Dr. Klenk also reads avidly and enjoys spending time with her children, playing music, hiking, and participating in cattle herding competitions across the country with her Border Collies.

48 hours After Quitting Drinking

A recent study backs up those claims and showed that giving up drinking boosts your mental health too. You’re also likely craving your usual drink while feeling depressed and lethargic. You may experience shaking, sweating and hand tremors as the day progresses, depending on how much you were drinking before. On the positive side, your blood sugar is beginning to normalize.

• And because you are likely to be eating better and sleeping more, you might also reduce the number ofstress-related headaches you experience.
• Brigitte Zeitlin, RD, is a nutritionist who has worked with many women in weight management.
• According to science, there’s a biological reason the effects of alcohol are harder on our bodies as we age.
• There are many benefits to giving up alcohol, both short-term and long-term.
• New research suggests binge drinking can make changes to your cells and make you crave alcohol even more.