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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
Why people should consider Sober October, according to a doctor
By Katia Hetter, CNN
Updated:
12:55 PM EDT, Wed October 16, 2024
Source: CNN
Even though the month is more than halfway over, is it too late to try
Sober October?
Not according to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. I asked her about
the benefits of cutting out — or just cutting back — on alcohol
use. How much alcohol is considered too much, for men versus women?
What are signs of problem drinking? And if people want to reduce their
drinking, how can Sober October help?
Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George
Washington University. She previously was Baltimore’s health
commissioner.
CNN: How much alcohol is considered too much, from a health
perspective?
Dr. Leana Wen: There are three issues to consider when answering this
question.
The first is how much a person is drinking on a regular basis. Adults
of legal drinking age should not drink more than one drink per day for
women and two drinks per day for men, according to the .
These findings are based on research showing that the risk of health
problems increases after these amounts. Higher amounts of alcohol
consumed on a regular basis are associated with higher risks of chronic
illnesses such as , several types of and early death.
In the United States, about from each year. Alcohol-associated
liver disease is the .
The second issue is whether the person engages in binge drinking. This
behavioral pattern is , according to the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, as four or more drinks on one occasion for
women and five or more drinks on one occasion for men. People who binge
drink are at higher risk for injuries such as car accidents, falls and
drownings. In addition, a large amount of alcohol consumed at once
stresses (people’s) organs more than if the drinks are spaced out
over time.
READ MORE:
There is a third consideration, which is whether the individual has
alcohol use disorder. This the in the US, with meeting the
criteria for diagnosis.
There are several keys to diagnosing this condition. One of them is
loss of control — for instance, someone who cannot stop drinking once
they start or otherwise cannot control how and when they drink.
Another is having difficulties fulfilling work, parenting and other
important obligations. Individuals may also experience physical
symptoms when they stop drinking, such as nausea, sweating and
restlessness.
CNN: How can Sober October help people?
Wen: One way is by prompting people to assess how much alcohol they
are really drinking. Some individuals may be surprised by how much they
are drinking over the course of a week. Others may be prompted to
assess their relationship with alcohol and what are the circumstances
under which they drink.
Do they drink when they are depressed, anxious and lonely? Are they
experiencing shame or loss of control over how much alcohol they
consume? Is alcohol use accompanied by other drugs? These are warning
signs, and people should seek further help from their primary care
provider.
CNN: Are there specific health benefits that come from cutting back
alcohol for a month? Or do people need to commit to reducing alcohol
use for years to see long-term effects?
Wen: Of course, it is better to reduce alcohol intake for a longer
period than a month. There are some studies, though, that show even a
short period without alcohol can have health benefits.
According to , more than 6 in 10 people reported better sleep, and
nearly half lost weight after a month without alcohol. According to
another study, from , people who stopped drinking for just 28 days had
a change in a blood test measuring liver inflammation. have found
improvements in blood pressure and insulin sensitivity after a short
period.
If people go back to drinking heavy amounts of alcohol after the month
of abstinence, these health benefits will probably go away. But some
people may find that they like how they feel when they have stopped or
reduced drinking and decide to continue to drink less going forward.
CNN: If someone finds that they are unable to cut back on alcohol,
despite wanting to, what should they do?
Wen: This is a warning sign that they could have alcohol use disorder.
People should contact their primary care provider or mental health
professional. There are effective treatments, including approved by
the US Food and Drug Administration, along with psychotherapy and
community support groups.
CNN: Who should try Sober October? And who shouldn’t?
Wen: Anyone who drinks alcohol can try Sober October. They may find
that they have a healthy relationship with alcohol. They may find that
there is an issue they weren’t aware of before. They may also
discover that they don’t have a problem, but they feel better after
drinking less and are happy with the money they are saving on alcohol.
People who experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking
should seek medical assistance to help them quit. For these
individuals, suddenly stopping could be dangerous.
CNN: What if someone doesn’t want to cut out alcohol completely? Is
there any benefit to trying “Sober-ish” October?
Wen: Yes. Individuals can assess their relationship with alcohol by
simply being more aware of how much, when and why they drink alcohol.
And they don’t need to stop altogether, or for a whole month, to
experience some health benefits.
Along those lines, they also don’t have to try this only in October.
Campaigns like Sober October and help to introduce awareness of
excessive alcohol use, but people interested in evaluating their
alcohol intake can cut it out or cut it down any time of the year.
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