BOOZE is often associated with celebrations.
But if you’ve noticed that drink is becoming a frequent fixture in your life, then one expert has said you might need to look at cutting down.
GettyWe all like a drink now and again, but once expert has revealed the physical effects you might experience if your intake has soared[/caption]
While it’s common knowledge that too much plonk can leave you with a pounding head, nutritional therapist Hannah Braye said it can have a really bad effect on the rest of your body.
The NHS states that men and women shouldn’t drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
That’s around six medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or six pints of four per cent beer.
This should be spread across three days or more and while guidance states there’s no safe level of boozing, sticking to these levels lowers your risk of harming your health.
But it can be easy to over do it on the booze, and speaking to Sun Health, Hannah, who is a nutritional therapist at BioKult, said there are six warning signs you should be looking out for if you feel like your alcohol consumption is out of control.
1. Bloated
If you frequently feel bloated, your alcohol intake may be creating a negative impact on your digestive system, Hannah said.
“The healthy bacteria in our colon may be significantly affected by alcohol and this could mess with our gut flora.
“This is why taking a live bacteria supplement, before a night out and again in the morning, may help to increase the healthy bacteria, help defend the lining of our digestive tract, and help increase the removal of toxins.
“Bloating may seem like a little annoyance, but it may be a sign of more serious harm, she added.
If it persists, it may be time to seek medical attention, the expert said.
2. Feeling sick
Hannah said that if you drink too much booze on a regular basis, you run the risk of developing illnesses more frequently since it can weaken your immune system.
“Guzzling down alcohol too frequently can significantly decrease the number of disease-fighting cells in your blood.
“These cells play a crucial role in our system since they are the first to react when something that shouldn’t be there shows up.”
As a result, Hannah said you may contract more infections and diseases than the average person by drinking too much alcohol.
“Cutting yourself off after a few spaced-out drinks or overall reducing your alcohol intake can therefore improve your mood and overall health by allowing the bacteria in your stomach to regenerate,” Hannah said.
3. Trouble sleeping
Many people struggle to get the seven to eight hours of sleep that experts say people need because they toss and turn all night long.
And Hannah said that your snooze may suffer because of alcohol.
“A good night’s sleep is crucial for your well-being. It’s just as important as eating well and working out regularly.
“Alcohol has been connected to sleep issues like insomnia even though it can have a sedative effect.
“Drinking alcohol may be a contributing factor if you have difficulties getting to sleep or staying asleep,” the expert explained.
So, while a drink at the end of a long day may be something you look forward to, alcohol should only be consumed in moderation if you want to prevent any sleep problems, Hannah said.
How to get help with your booze
There are plenty of helpful resources and tools to help you with your drinking issues.
Drinkline – Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
Alcoholics anonymous – free self-help group that offers a 12 week plan
Al-Anon – A group for family members or friends struggling to help a loved one
Adfam – a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol
National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa – helpline for children who have parents who are alcohol dependent – call 0800 358 3456
4. Skin issues
Drinking too much alcohol can enhance pre-existing skin conditions and make you more exposed to problems that could be potentially harmful, Hannah said.
“Addressing the early warning symptoms of alcohol skin disorders allows you to manage your drinking habits before you cause irreversible harm to your health.
“Alcohol effects on the skin are normally noticeable long before you develop irreversible damage to your health.
“Alcohol can cause the skin to become dry, which raises the likelihood of wrinkles and fine lines appearing,” she added.
5. Dental problems
Too much alcohol consumption carries a significant risk of plaque development and tooth damage, Hannah explained.
The expert said that sugary foods and beverages provide the bacteria in your mouth with the fuel they need to grow, allowing them to attack and destroy your enamel.
“Drinking water in between alcoholic beverages to refill your saliva or drinking less alcohol will help keep your mouth fresh.
“Heavy drinking can irritate the tissues within your mouth and even result in serious problems like tooth loss, in addition to raising your chance of acquiring dental decay, gum disease, and discoloured teeth.”
6. Vision issues
You may have had the experience of having too much to drink and noticed that things begin to get blurry as the alcohol affects your brain and vision.
In most cases, Hannah said that this can go away after a short time and will fade along with your hangover and headache.
“Sometimes excessive drinking can result in major eye issues. You may develop symptoms including discomfort, irritation, and blurred vision, as well as enlarged blood vessels in the eyes which may cause a bloodshot appearance.
“While these problems are mild, long-term alcohol misuse can permanently harm the optic nerves, which oversee transmitting visual information from the eyes to the brain.”