Quitting Alcohol, will make you happy

Quitting alcohol can have numerous benefits on your physical health but it is now found that it can have positive effects on your mental health also. A study that was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal stated that quitting alcohol may have mental benefits. For the study a mix of non-drinkers and moderate drinkers was taken as a sample. Their mental and physical well-being were measured by scoring them on a scale of 0 to 100 and followed up to a four-year period. The results of the study showed that during the beginning of the study the highest level of mental well-being was among men and women who were lifetime abstainers. The results also showed that women who were moderate drinkers and had quit drinking during the study experienced improvements in mental well being. Their levels of mental well- being were found to be very close to the levels of lifetime abstainers. Putting down that glass can have more than just mental health benefits. They will lead to improvements in your physical health while ensuring fewer cardiovascular issues among others. So here are some health benefits that you can reap if you say no to alcohol.

Improvement in sleep: Drinking alcohol can disrupt your circadian rhythms and mess with your REM sleeping phase. Quitting it can improve your quality of sleep by ensuring a calm nervous system.

Glowing skin: Alcohol can dehydrate you and make your skin cells lose its lustre. Saying no to alcohol can help your skin get better.

Social confidence: If you are somebody who depends on alcohol at social gatherings, quitting can help you enjoy the company of the people around you in a much better way. You will be able to connect with them better and face the world with heightened confidence.

Enhanced fitness levels: Alcohol can affect your hydration, motor skills and even muscle recovery. Quitting can help you attain your desired body composition and better your muscle recovery process.

Elevated energy and uplifted mood: Consumption of alcohol affects the supply of vitamin B in your body. This vitamin sustains your energy levels. Ditching alcohol improves vitamin B levels which can rev up your energy quotient and also better your mood.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                       https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                     FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                   

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Women who quit alcohol improve mental health ‘within four years’

LIFETIME non-drinkers are less likely to experience mental health problems, according to a study which also found that women benefit more than men from quitting alcohol. 

Researchers found that within four years of giving up alcohol, women had had experienced an improvement in their mental well-being that put them on a par with people who had always abstained. 

They said their findings “suggest caution in recommending that moderate drinking could improve health-related quality of life”. 

They add: “Instead, quitting drinking may be associated with a more favourable change in mental well-being, approaching the level of lifetime abstainers.

“This may be analogous to smoking cessation, which results in the recovery of health outcomes to the level of lifetime non-smokers.” 

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The study, compared teetotalers with moderate consumers of alcohol in both US and Hong Kong populations. 

Moderate drinking was considered 14 drinks or fewer per week for men, and seven drinks or fewer per week for women. 

Heavy drinkers and binge drinkers were excluded from the study. 

It comes at a time when more adults in Scotland are giving up alcohol, and the overall intake of alcohol in 2018 was at a record low – coinciding with the introduction of Scotland’s minimum pricing law. 

Similarly, alcohol consumption among teenagers is at an all-time low. 

However, among adults in Scotland who do drink, the majority are still exceeding recommended guidelines – averaging 19 units per week, compared to the 14 unit maximum advised by Government. 

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The sample size for the study was just under 41,500 participants – around 10,400 from Hong Kong and 31,000 from the US. 

Those who had never consumed alcohol scored the highest level of mental well-being at the start of the five-year analysis. 

For female drinkers, quitting was linked to a favourable change in mental health in both the Hong Kong and US populations. 

The authors state: “We found that lifetime alcohol abstainers reported the highest level of mental well-being. 

“Women who quit drinking were found to have a greater improvement in mental well-being than lifetime abstainers. This association was found in a Hong Kong cohort as well as in a US cohort. 

“On average, the mental well-being of female quitters approached the level of lifetime abstainers within a four-year period in both cohorts. 

“In contrast, initiation and persistent moderate drinking for four years were not associated with better mental or physical well-being.” 

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The results remained consistent even after the researchers adjusted for differences in socio-demographic characteristics, BMI, smoking status, self-reported diseases and physical activity.
However they added that it was unclear whether the change experienced by women actually has a physiological basis. 

They added: “The explanation for our findings and the underlying mechanism are not clear. It is possible that alcohol-related neurotoxicity reverses following abstinence. 

“Alcohol cessation may also reduce stressful life events, such as conflict within family, difficulties in employment and legal troubles, resulting in improved mental well-being. 

“It is also possible that improved mental well-being may result from the psychological benefits of ‘giving up’ per se rather than an effect of alcohol, as most Chinese women in Hong Kong use alcohol fewer than four times per month, which may not have a physiologic effect.” 

The findings will raise further questions over what is a safe and sensible amount to drink.
Another study last year said regularly drinking more than recommended limits is as bad for health as smoking. 

They estimated a 40-year-old drinking two pints or glasses of wine a day above guidelines can expect to die two years early and was associated with a higher risk of stroke, fatal aneurysm and heart failure. 

A brain scientist and co-author of the study, said: “Global alcohol consumption is expected to continue to increase unless effective strategies are employed. Our findings suggest caution in recommendations that moderate drinking could improve health-related quality of life. 

“Instead, quitting drinking may be associated with a more favourable change in mental well-being, approaching the level of lifetime abstainers.” 

Another person said: “We know that regularly drinking above the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Many people also use alcohol to relax and combat the feelings of stress, but the negative effects of alcohol are actually likely to make stress worse. 

“By cutting down on how much we drink we can reduce the risk of developing mental health problems as well as around 60 other diseases including liver disease, heart disease and alcohol-related cancers. 

“However, it can be difficult to always make the healthy choice when alcohol is available anytime, anywhere and we’re encouraged to drink in every social situation. Action on the price, availability and marketing of alcohol can help reduce consumption and protect health.” 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Quitting alcohol can improve mental health in women

Quitting alcohol may improve women's mental well-being besides their health-related quality of life. "More evidence suggests caution in recommending moderate drinking as part of a healthy diet," said the Dr.

 The study included 10386 people cohort who were nondrinkers or moderate drinkers (14 drinks or less per week for men and 7 drinks or less per week for women) between 2009 and 2013.

The researchers compared their findings with data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a representative survey of 31079 people conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the United States. 

The mean age of participants in the cohort was 49 years and 56 per cent were women. About 64 per cent of men were nondrinkers (abstainers and former drinkers) and almost 88 per cent of women were nondrinkers.

Men and women who were lifetime abstainers had the highest level of mental well-being at the start of the study (baseline). For women who were moderate drinkers and quit drinking, quitting was linked to a favourable change in mental well-being in both Chinese and American study populations. 

These results were apparent after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index, smoking status, and other factors. "Global alcohol consumption is expected to continue to increase unless effective strategies are employed," says the Dr.

 "Our findings suggest caution in recommendations that moderate drinking could improve health-related quality of life. Instead, quitting drinking may be associated with a more favourable change in mental well-being, approaching the level of lifetime abstainers," the Dr. said.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Quitting alcohol may improve women's mental well-being besides their health-related quality of life. "More evidence suggests caution in recommending moderate drinking as part of a healthy diet," said Dr Michael Ni, School of Public Health and The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Hong Kong (HKU). The study published in the journal 'CMAJ' included 10386 people cohort who were nondrinkers or moderate drinkers (14 drinks or less per week for men and 7 drinks or less per week for women) between 2009 and 2013. https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/quitting-alcohol-can-improve-mental-health-in-women-545106

https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/quitting-alcohol-can-improve-mental-health-in-women-545106

Quitting alcohol may improve women's mental well-being besides their health-related quality of life. "More evidence suggests caution in recommending moderate drinking as part of a healthy diet," said Dr Michael Ni, School of Public Health and The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Hong Kong (HKU). The study published in the journal 'CMAJ' included 10386 people cohort who were nondrinkers or moderate drinkers (14 drinks or less per week for men and 7 drinks or less per week for women) between 2009 and 2013. https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/quitting-alcohol-can-improve-mental-health-in-women-545106

https://www.thehansindia.com/life-style/health/quitting-alcohol-can-improve-mental-health-in-women-545106

How to cope with Dementia

A lot of things can be done to cope with the initial stages of dementia. A person goes through a wide range of emotions such as fear, denial, frustration, and anger, post the diagnosis. Here is a list of tips that will help a patient with dementia to cope better:

1. Physical health: For a dementia patient, it is very important to take care of one’s health. A good diet along with regular exercise and adequate rest is a prerequisite to manage this disorder.
2. Regular check-ups: Regular medical check-ups with the doctor are necessary in this condition. Depression and other mental health problems should be discussed with a professional.
3. Quit alcohol: Alcohol might give momentary pleasure from the misery, but it has long-standing implications. It reacts with the medicine and creates additional health and memory-related complications.
4. Allocate time for difficult tasks: With time, it can become difficult to perform even the simplest of tasks. The patient should accordingly schedule the time to perform the tasks which may be difficult to carry out. Adequate breaks should be taken while performing a task to avoid getting fatigued.
5. Redefine work: If a patient is suffering from dementia is still working, it should be ensured that the work is more manageable from a desk. Planning an early retirement may be a good idea in order to cope with dementia.
6. Be organised: Keeping track of things can get difficult with time. It, therefore, makes sense to organise all belongings systematically. Putting labels on doors and drawers also help.
7. Continue pursuing your hobbies: Amidst the difficulty and the depression, it is a good idea to continue doing things that are fun. While such activities might require some assistance from the doctor and family members, this helps the patient to be cheerful and healthy.
8. Maintain notes: Since dementia is involved with forgetfulness, it makes sense to maintain a diary and keep records of phone numbers, people, appointments, etc.
9. Communication channel: Maintaining a direct communication channel with family, friends, and relatives is a good idea. Sharing feelings will go a long way in maintaining relations with loved ones.
10. Support group: Joining a dementia support group can be highly beneficial for the patient. It will not only give the patient company but also make sure that the patient gets a lot of useful information about the disorder. It also helps in keeping the morale up.
11. Getting ready for the future: Things need to be meticulously planned well in advance to ensure that when the disease progresses, the patient has enough people to look after him. Things such as medical arrangements, financial assets, and property details should be carefully handed over as per the patient's wish. This will ensure a smooth run of the patients’ life when they can no longer take care of themselves.
12.  this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
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