Many people across the globe enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner or whiskey on the rocks for a nightcap. In fact, they may enjoy it so much that it becomes a daily habit. On the other hand, some people drink unhealthy amounts on a daily basis. Individuals that drink habitually are likely struggling with an alcohol use disorder, also known as addiction. All of this begs the question, is there a healthy amount of alcohol consumption, and how much alcohol is safe to drink on a daily basis?

What Happens When You Drink Alcohol Every Day

The risks associated with drinking alcohol every day vary from person to person and case by case. Who is drinking, how much they drink, how often they drink, and why they drink are all factors that can influence the outcome. For instance, someone who drinks heavily is more likely to experience physical side effects. Additionally, the longer someone drinks heavily, the more likely serious health complications are to arise. 

Dangerous Alcohol Consumption

Drinking every day is particularly dangerous when multiple drinks are consumed in a single sitting. People who have preexisting conditions such as liver or heart disease are at a greater risk for developing serious complications from alcohol consumption. Additionally, a family history of alcoholism increases the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder yourself. Essentially, it is not safe for these individuals to drink alcohol on a daily basis, and drinking in high amounts on a regular basis is never safe. The dangers of alcohol consumption include:

• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Mental health issues
• Nerve damage
• Anemia
• Cancer
• Seizures
• Gout
• Reduced immune function
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Sleep problems

Psychological Significance of Drinking Every Day

Typically, when you ask if something is safe you are asking if it is physically safe. However, alcohol can have physical and psychological impacts. If someone is drinking alcohol every day, the first question to ask is “why?” Do you drink it because you enjoy the taste, do you do it to manage stress and anxiety, or for another reason. The reason for drinking can be a significant indicator of whether it is safe for an individual to drink alcohol or if it is being abused. 

Benefits of Drinking Everyday

Individuals who only have one standard drink per day are much less likely to experience any serious side effects from their alcohol consumption and may even see some benefit from drinking, such as stress relief. Hence, having a drink after a “long day”.

A systemic review, Does Drinking Reduce Stress published by Sayette M. A. (1999) explored stress-response damping (SRD); the idea that alcohol can lessen an individual’s response to stress. The review did cover studies that indicated “drinking can reduce stress in certain people and under certain circumstances”. However, some studies also reported incidents where stress was exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Sayette went on to identify and elaborate on an array of factors that play a role in alcohol’s SRD effects.

Essentially, some people may experience some benefits from drinking one or two alcoholics beverages per day, but not everyone. The potential risks of drinking alcohol every day greatly outweigh the possible benefits and there is no amount of alcohol that can be guaranteed to be safe.

Sources:

Sayette M. A. (1999). Does drinking reduce stress?. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 23(4), 250–255.

It’s well known that taking alcohol and painkillers together is a terrible idea, but how dangerous would it be to drink alcohol while taking arthritis medication like Meloxicam? The short answer: It’s very risky. It’s powerful and can cause major heart and gastrointestinal problems that could be life-threatening. Additionally, many of the specific side effects of this medication overlap with those caused by alcohol use. Read on to learn more about the side effects of mixing meloxicam and alcohol, why it reacts badly to alcohol, and how long until you can drink after having taken a dose. 

Meloxicam and Alcohol Side Effects

On its own, taking meloxicam exactly as directed can result in the development of deadly heart and stomach issues. Adding alcohol to the mix, however, increases the likelihood of those serious health consequences occurring. 

High Blood Pressure

One of the lesser-known side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like meloxicam, is that itc can cause, or worsen, hypertension. This affects everything from your heart to kidneys and even your eyes. Alcohol is also known to cause acute blood pressure elevation as well (scientists believe this is because alcohol stimulates adrenal glands which result in your heart working harder and pumping more blood more quickly). 

Although the effects of alcohol on blood pressure are rapidly reversible and resolve themselves within a few hours of consumption, when paired with meloxicam’s significant half-life, the overlap can be deadly on the body. The resulting cardiovascular stress lays the groundwork for a stroke or heart attack–both of which can be fatal. 

Stomach Ulcer

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like these are known to irritate the digestive tract. Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting are fairly common. Far less common (and much more concerning) gastrointestinal side effects are the development of stomach ulcers. These are painful sores on the stomach lining that can interfere with digestion and result in a lot of discomfort. 

Heavy drinking can also contribute to the development of a stomach ulcer. Alcohol does so by increasing the amount of stomach acid which can lead to irritation. When alcohol and meloxicam are combined, they not only amplify the likelihood of developing an ulcer but can exacerbate the condition, resulting in the potentially life-threatening complication of a bleeding ulcer. Symptoms of this condition include sticky stools that are black or dark red, bloody vomit, and anemia. 

Kidney Problems

NSAIDs can cause two types of acute renal (kidney) injury and can lead to chronic kidney injury or failure. This is because the anti-inflammatory function of NSAIDs can inhibit the production of renal prostaglandins, important lipids that help maintain normal kidney function. With the kidneys producing fewer of them, these tiny bean-shaped organs can have a harder time regulating the balance of salt and water in the body (among other things). This can lead to fluid retention which can cause a domino effect that harms several vital organs and bodily functions in addition to the kidneys themselves. The longer NSAID, or in this case meloxicam, is used the greater these risks. Alcohol compounds these issues by directly interfering with your kidney’s ability to regulate fluid in the body. Alcohol compounds these issues by directly interfering with your kidney’s ability to regulate fluid in the body. 

How long to wait to drink alcohol after taking Meloxicam?

The average meloxicam dosage has a half-life of about 20 hours. Since it takes at least five half-lives for a substance to be considered out of your body, it can take up to 5 days for meloxicam to get out of your system. However, since meloxicam is usually prescribed for long-time use, drinking any alcohol at all while taking this medication is ill-advised. Essentially, there is no “safe” time-frame to have alcoholic after taking meloxicam. 

If you or someone you know is unwilling or unable to stop drinking while taking an NSAID like meloxicam, they’re putting their health in serious peril. Continuing to drink in light of painful side effects could be demonstrative of an unhealthy drinking compulsion. Learn more about identifying the signs of alcoholism and what to do when you confirm them. 

You’re out for a night of fun with friends and your one drink has turned into half a dozen. You don’t normally drink this much, just every once in a while so it’s fine…right? Determining when you should be concerned about your drinking habit can be surprisingly difficult. 

Social Drinker vs Problem Drinker

The line between social drinker vs problem drinker is much narrower than you might think. Plus, most people tend to underestimate how much they drink (both the amount in a single sitting and the frequency in which they indulge) so trying to analyze your own relationship with alcohol can be tricky.

What is a Social Drinker?

A social drinker is considered to be someone who primarily drinks on social occasions and does so in moderation. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has defined this threshold based on gender. For women, this means a maximum of 3 drinks in a single day but no more than 7 drinks total during a week. For men, who have greater alcohol tolerance, this threshold is no more than 4 drinks in a given day, with a maximum of 14 drinks in a single week. This type of drinking pattern is considered to be low-risk with a very low likelihood of leading to alcohol addiction. 

These limits sound fairly reasonable, but those aren’t the only set of numbers that determine whether your drinking is high or low risk. It’s important to consider what a standard drink is. Drinking three pitchers of beer during one night is a vastly different amount of alcohol than drinking three cans worth. So when the NIAAA refers to a “drink”, they are referring to both set numbers of drinks and specific amounts per drink.

The Size of a Standard Drink

The size of a standard drink is determined by the alcohol content and is defined as a drink with 14 grams of pure alcohol. Naturally, the stronger the drink, the smaller the standard size will be. Your standard beer is about 5% alcohol. Wine is a bit stronger with an average of 12% alcohol content. Distilled spirits (gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, etc.) are some of the strongest with around 40% alcohol content. As such, the standard size of each will be:

• Beer: 12.5 fluid ounces (the size of the average beer can)
• Wine: 5 fluid ounces
• Spirits: 1.5 fluid ounces

Let’s revisit our earlier comparison. Using the standard drink size, a pitcher of beer is typically 32 ounces and the equivalent of slightly less than 3 cans of beer. Drinking three pitches would actually equate to about 8 cans of beer, putting the drinker well beyond the limits of what’s defined as social drinking.

How does your drinking compare when measured using standard drink sizes? 

What is a Problem Drinker?

A problem drinker isn’t an official term or diagnosis. It is often used to describe drinking habits that have caused negative social, behavioral, financial or health consequences to a point where individuals feel the need (or are told) to cut back. Problem drinkers can self-correct whereas genuine alcoholics will find themselves both physically and mentally compelled to continue drinking heavily.

Drinking that falls under this category often falls in the realm of alcohol abuse, although it’s not necessarily always the case. Problematic drinking can include:

• Binge drinking (drinking enough more than 4-5 drinks in a given day) 
• Extreme binge drinking (more than 8-10 drinks in a given day)
• Heavy drinking (binge drinking more than 5 or more days in a 30-day period)

Ultimately, what determines if someone is a problem drinker or not isn’t necessarily the health consequences of their drinking habit. Rather, it is their relationship with alcohol that is the most telling factor. The dysfunctionality of this relationship is primarily what separates problem drinking from alcohol use disorder. 

Is Your Drinking Habit Problematic?

Alcohol consumption is so commonplace that our sense of “moderation” can be seriously skewed towards viewing excessive drinking as normal. Have you’ve found that your drinking habits might be a reason for concern? If so, it doesn’t automatically mean that you’re an alcoholic. Alcoholism is a literal addiction to alcohol where your body has developed both physical and psychological dependence. 

One of the clearest signs that you might be an alcoholic is if you’ve tried to stop drinking but felt physically ill after doing so. Those aren’t hangover symptoms. They’re likely a sign of alcohol withdrawal and that you need help managing your drinking habit. Learn more about recognizing alcohol addiction and how to get treatment. 

Being married to an alcoholic is hard – and making your marriage work can be even harder. Sometimes referred to as an alcoholic marriage, this unhealthy relationship dynamic takes a tremendous emotional, financial, and physical toll on the spouse as well as the drinker. Not only that, but it often causes irreparable harm to the very relationship itself which is why marriages where someone has an alcohol use disorder (AUD) have higher rates of divorce. Recognizing the signs that your spouse’s drinking habits have gone too far could save both the marriage and their life. 

10 Struggles of Being Married To An Alcoholic

Alcoholism doesn’t just happen overnight. The process is gradual, so much so that a spouse may not realize that their husband or wife is slowly becoming an alcoholic before their very eyes. Another reason why the development of a drinking problem goes undetected is that the spouse may be an enabler, making excuses for the husband or wife, and is unwilling to recognize the problematic behavior. 

1. They’re struggling at work or having difficulty keeping a job

One of the telltale signs of a drinking disorder is when it impedes crucial daily life such as school or going to work. An alcoholics’ work performance is usually the first to suffer, likely from calling out due to hangovers or being intoxicated during working hours. Once terminated, they may have difficulty finding new places of employment or maintaining a job for more than a few days or weeks at a time which can be a massive blow to household finances. 

2. They shirk family responsibilities

Marriage is a partnership, and things quickly become problematic when you can no longer rely on your partner. Whether it’s managing the household or rearing children, if your spouse is routinely dropping the ball, it’s a clear sign that their priorities have shifted.

3. Personal hygiene has deteriorated

Alcoholism is a disease that affects the body both physically and psychologically. One of the side effects of which include a growing disinterest in anything that isn’t alcohol. The result of which means that your spouse’s personal hygiene routine has suddenly taken an extended hiatus. 

4. They experience rapid mood swings

Alcohol interferes with neurochemicals, the resulting imbalance can result in the formation or aggravation of mental health disorders. Depression and anxiety are common developments in alcoholism and can result in your spouse quickly going between various emotional states.

5. They skip meals

Malnutrition and anemia are commonplace amongst alcoholics, one of the reasons being that they are known to skip meals in lieu of an alcoholic beverage. If your spouse is constantly passing on dinner but has a drink in hand, it could be a sign they’re at the point where alcohol outweighs their basic survival instincts. 

6. Unintentional weight changes

Another consequence of a drinking problem can be fluctuations in weight. If they are frequently skipping meals as mentioned above, you might notice them shedding the pounds seemingly without explanation. Conversely, alcohol use disorders can also cause significant weight gain since alcohol is loaded with carbs and sugars that are difficult for the body to burn. Further, alcohol interferes with the digestive system and can leave them with a slower metabolism that also contributes to weight gain. 

7. They engage in high-risk behavior

A chronic drinking problem can damage the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and rational decision-making. As such, you may notice your husband or wife engaging in increasingly risky behavior that they normally would not. This might look like gambling, illegal activity, or getting into frequent car accidents. However, this can also take the place of mundane behaviors like deciding to skip work or picking fights.

8. They’ve become physically abusive

The World Health Organization has identified drinking as a major factor in domestic violence against a spouse. This can include physical, psychological, or sexual forms of abuse. 

9. They’re abandoned their hobbies 

This is a common behavior of addicts. Over time, their thoughts and financial resources are consumed by the source of their addiction as both the psychological and physiological need for alcohol grow stronger. This behavior is concerning if your spouse is constantly canceling plans (especially ones that are part of their routine).  

10. Your sex life has taken a hit

It’s not unusual for there to be dry spells in a married couple’s sex life. However, if your intimacy has been lagging for an e

xtended period of time, it could be caused by alcohol’s libido-deflating effect in men. Numerous studies have shown that alcohol can lower testosterone levels.

Protect Your Family, Get Help Today

An alcoholic spouse’s habits have negative repercussions that affect household dynamics, finances, and intimacy. These issues then create a domino effect of instability which affects spouses and their children. This is why alcoholism is considered to be a family disease as its effects extend far beyond the alcohol itself. Not sure how to broach the topic with your alcoholic husband or wife? Start with our addiction intervention guide that can help you navigate this sensitive but necessary subject. 

At Level Up Lake Worth, we offer family therapy to help couples and families work together to overcome the struggles listed above. We understand that the impacts of addiction never stop with the addict. Family therapy creates a safe space to talk honestly and for each member of the family to gain what they need to repair the unit as a whole.

Alcohol is such a deeply integrated cultural norm that discerning when the occasional over-indulgence has become true alcoholism can be difficult. After all, it’s not unusual for a person to drink too much, and doing so doesn’t automatically make them an alcoholic. What ultimately sets a binge apart from a true disorder is the person’s relationship with alcohol. Wondering where your drinking habits fall on the scale? Here are 6 not-so-subtle warning signs that you have unhealthy drinking habits and might need to go to an alcohol rehabilitation center:

1. You lie about how much you drink

It seems that whenever you’re asked about your drinking habits you constantly find yourself downplaying the amount of alcohol you’ve consumed or making excuses about why you “needed” the drinks you had. Simply put: if you feel the need to fib or become defensive, odds are that deep down you know your drinking habits are well beyond what others would consider normal. Similarly, frequently drinking alone or in secret is another red flag that your drinking habits have surpassed healthy standards.

2. You’ve given up hobbies and other activities that used to bring you pleasure

Planning your next drink is never far from your thoughts and it’s gotten to a point where you’ll cancel plans to make sure that it happens. Or, perhaps your drinking has become so frequent (and the hangovers so intense) that you’re no longer functional enough to indulge in your usual past times. It’s one thing to have your interests change, but it seems like more and more of your usual leisure activities have fallen by the wayside but your determination to drink remains unwavering.

3. Your work performance has noticeably slipped

Even more concerning than abandoning your hobbies—things you like to do— for alcohol, is abandoning the things you have to do. If your drinking habits have noticeably impeded your ability to function in the workplace (or any other place where you wield a significant amount of personal responsibility), you’re demonstrating that you find alcohol to be more important than one of the cornerstones of special expectations. And since work is directly related to the ability to provide for ourselves, it also means you’re valuing alcohol over the risk of shelter and other life necessities.

4. You have multiple DUIs

Getting tangled with the law for an infraction is as damaging to one’s reputation as it is costly. Doing so multiple times shows a blatant disregard for both health and safety as well as basic rational decision making. Impunitive actions like a DUI are meant to discourage such behavior. Their failure as a meaningful deterrent shows just how upended your priorities have become and also highlights the loss of control you have over your actions.

5. You know you drink too much but don’t change

If your usual approach to drinking is to say “I know I shouldn’t be doing this but…” and then do it anyway, it’s pretty clear that you’re struggling with self-control and the ability to self-regulate your drinking. If your body is saying “no” but you feel like some invisible force is making you say “yes” against your better judgment, that’s a fairly obvious sign of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

6. You experience withdrawal symptoms

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is indicative of physical dependence—the body’s precursor to full-blown addiction. Your neurochemical balance has been altered to a degree that it can no longer function normally without alcohol. This can be considered one of the most obvious and urgent signs that you might need to go to an alcohol rehabilitation center. These symptoms most commonly manifest themselves as shaking, sweating, headaches, hallucinations, nausea, and seizures, and can occur in as little as a few hours after your last drink.

Find an Alcohol Rehabilitation Center Near You

There are an estimated 17 million adults and adolescents with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Sadly, the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that only 1 of every 10 seek or receive any treatment. Part of the reason for such dismal numbers is simply that most individuals aren’t aware that they have a drinking problem. 

Alcoholism is a serious and debilitating disease that will progressively get worse the longer it goes untreated. Exhibiting even one of these behaviors can be indicative of a potentially dangerous alcohol addiction. An alcohol rehabilitation center can help mitigate the unpleasant withdrawal effects and help with behavioral therapy for this chronic relapsing brain disorder. 

Non-alcoholic beer would appear to be the perfect solution for a recovering alcoholic: They can maintain their sobriety while once again partaking in social gatherings, or simply indulge in the signature tangy malt flavor of the most popular beverage in the world. Yet, the concept of alcohol-free beer is one of great controversy that has many wondering: Can alcoholics drink non-alcoholic beer and still be in recovery? 

What Is Non-Alcoholic Beer & Is It Real Beer? 

Yes, non-alcoholic beer is “real” beer and not just some mocktail being pushed as an alternative for your usual brewsky. Alcohol content, or lack thereof, has no bearing on beer’s classification. Beer is defined as any beverage made by brewing a cereal grain such as barley, wheat, or corn. Normally during the brewing process, the sugars from the starch source ferment creating ethanol. The result is beer’s standard 4-5% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Non-alcoholic beer is sometimes referred to by other names such as alcohol-free beer, zero alcohol beer, or “near-beer”. Depending on who you ask, however, certain names carry different meanings or even different alcohol allowances. That’s why no matter whether a beer is advertised as having no alcohol, it’s crucial to check and read labels.

How Non-Alcoholic Beer Is Made

There are two ways that beer manufacturers typically make beer without the alcohol content. They either remove the ethanol that’s naturally produced during the fermentation process or stop that process from happening altogether. Most non-alcoholic beer manufacturers opt for the former option, brewing beer as normal and then removing the ethanol that’s produced, although both methods can be expensive and time-consuming. The exact method of this extraction can vary with some manufacturers boiling the ethanol away while others use a physical filter to separate it. 

What’s In a Name? The Source of Controversy

Whether you’re for or against alcoholics drinking non-alcoholic beer, one thing that we can all agree on is that this product category is pretty misleading. Despite its name, non-alcoholic beer does, in fact, contain trace amounts of alcohol. Legally, as long as it contains less than 0.5% ABV, it can be considered a non-alcoholic beer (which is also sometimes referred to as alcohol-free beer, or de-alcoholized beer). 

The Pros of Non-Alcoholic Beer

Not everyone drinks alcohol to get drunk. Many supporters of alcoholics drinking non-alcoholic beer believe it a harmless act if a person is doing so for the taste. Drinking is deeply ingrained in our social customs and for many, the allure of drinking a beer isn’t to get rowdy or inebriated, but for nostalgic purposes. In that sense, non-alcoholic beer presents a rare opportunity for recovering addicts to indulge and reconnect with the malty beverage that accompanied many a pastime while maintaining their sobriety. 

Sure, there may be tiny traces of alcohol and the name is somewhat of a misnomer. But as long as they drink it without the intention of getting drunk, what’s the harm? It’s similar logic to that of decaffeinated beverages. The label may say that your coffee or tea may say “caffeine-free” and it’s accepted that trace amounts may still exist.

The Cons of Non-Alcoholic Beer

Opponents of so-called non-alcoholic beer feel that the presence of alcohol, no matter how tiny, can put recovering alcoholics in danger of relapse.  While an alcohol level of less than half a percent cannot cause someone to become intoxicated, simply re-introducing the substance back into the body could undo weeks, months, or even years of progress. 

Plus, having a low ABV doesn’t make non-alcoholic beer a risk-free substitute. Drinking several and in rapid succession could put enough alcohol in the system to make a person mildly inebriated (although they would likely feel very sick in the process). This could provide a dangerous temptation to misuse this seeming work-around, and end up being just as problematic as the real thing. 

Another case against this beer-alternative is that memory is a well-known and powerful player in addiction. Simply tasting the malt could cause cravings within the brain and send the individual on a path straight towards relapse. For this reason, even genuinely alcohol-free beers are considered a no-go. 

Final Thoughts: Can Alcoholics Drink Non-Alcoholic Beer?

Whether an alcoholic can safely drink a non-alcoholic beer without relapsing is a matter of personal preference. Some recovering addicts are wary of any amount of alcohol, no matter how small, and will even abstain from using wine in their cooking. For others who feel in control of their past addiction, it’s a chance to be reunited with a taste that accompanies their happiest moments. Ultimately, choosing to drink non-alcoholic beer is a highly personal decision by the individual recovering alcohol – there is no right answer.

The key to doing so safely and without jeopardizing your sobriety is to be honest and know your limits. For those who feel comfortable with the idea and want to try a non-alcoholic beer, we recommend setting up precautions to minimize detrimental outcomes. Things like only drinking in the presence of a trusted friend that would step in if consumption gets out of hand. 

If you are struggling with your addiction and are worried about relapsing, our experienced staff can help talk you through it. 

It’s common knowledge that heavy drinking can have long-lasting and detrimental effects on your liver, kidneys, and brain. However, many alcoholics fail to realize the detrimental relationship between alcohol and high blood pressure that puts their entire body at risk – not just a few organs. Can alcohol cause high blood pressure? Yes. Although scientists are still exploring the exact cause of the correlation, there is no question that the two are related.

Why High Blood Pressure is Dangerous 

High blood pressure or hypertension, is a health condition where the force against artery walls is higher than the normal – 130/80 mmHg to be precise. The higher your blood pressure levels, the harder your heart has to work to pump blood throughout your body. This leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues such as stroke, heart attack, and heart disease – the highest cause of death in the United States. High blood pressure can also be harmful to the arteries themselves, due to the excess force damaging the tissue and causing tiny tears.

High blood pressure kills as many as half a million Americans each year, but that isn’t the scariest part. What makes high blood pressure so dangerous is that it is a silent killer. Until something drastic happens there are rarely any obvious symptoms. Nearly half of the U.S population has high blood pressure and the majority of them don’t have a clue. As can be easily imagined, high blood pressure is particularly dangerous to alcoholics for several reasons.

Why Does Alcohol Increase Blood Pressure?

There are several direct and indirect factors at play in the relationship between alcohol and hypertension. Many of the ways that alcohol affects the body set the stage for high blood pressure to occur – but the trouble doesn’t end there. Several symptoms of alcohol and high blood pressure overlap, exacerbating internal organ damage in the eyes and kidneys and deepening the amount of cardiovascular stress. Binge drinking was shown to have a direct correlation with levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). To put it simply, alcohol causes the arteries to narrow due to the build-up of plaque similar to fatty foods.

Everyone knows that alcohol is pure sugar and carbs, a caloric bomb that can sneakily add on the pounds. Alcohol has another weight-gaining culprit at the cellular level. Excessive alcohol consumption triggers the cells associated with inflammation, which has a strong influence on weight gain, particularly those hard to lose pounds. This is a natural progression into another proponent of developing hypertension, obesity is a well-known aggravator of high blood pressure. When compounded with the plaque-building nature of heavy alcohol consumptions, can wreak havoc on an already overworked cardiovascular system. For this reason, it is impossible to determine a singular reason why alcohol affects blood pressure.  

Alcohol Withdrawal & High Blood Pressure

Because alcohol and high blood pressure are such a dangerous combination, scientists recommend complete alcohol abstinence. Many alcoholics in detox are disappointed to learn that becoming sober doesn’t automatically fix alcohol-related blood pressure problems. In fact, those who quit drinking cold turkey often find that it causes their blood pressure to spike. These effects are temporary, however, so it would be incorrect to say that alcohol withdrawal is a cause of high blood pressure.

What causes high blood pressure during alcohol withdrawal is similar to that which causes withdrawal symptoms in the first place: The heart, brain, and central nervous system have become accustomed to working extra hard to compensate for impaired bodily functions. Suddenly, alcohol is no longer in the system and your heart is still firing on all cylinders.  

Is High Blood Pressure Due to Alcohol Use Reversible?

Alcohol can have many lingering effects on the brain and central nervous system. Fortunately, high blood pressure caused by alcohol is one of the few effects that are almost entirely reversible. In a study that monitored the blood pressure of detoxing alcoholics, 92% of the participants saw their blood pressure decrease by the third day of withdrawal.

How to Manage Your Drinking and Lower Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure and alcohol consumption can typically be managed by exercising moderation, although this can be much easier said than done. For those with a physical alcohol dependency, cutting down on drinking could trigger a number of other unpleasant side effects. Still, knowing that alcohol causes high blood pressure, and the potential health risks of which, make the short-term discomfort well worth it.

Level Up Lake Worth can not only assist with every stage of alcohol detox, including withdrawal but can provide additional insight into the state of your blood pressure and addressing any potential risks. Contact us today to take a proactive step towards improving your heart health and overall quality of life.

The effects of alcohol can vary wildly from person to person. Some get energized and rowdy while others become weepy or aggressive. If you’ve ever wondered “Is alcohol a stimulant or a depressant?” the answer is alcohol is a little bit of both. 

The Difference Between Stimulants and Depressants

Whether alcohol is a stimulant or a depressant has nothing to do with how drinking makes you feel. A celebratory drink with friends can put you in high spirits, while a solitudinous sip after bad news can leave you somber and contemplative. It doesn’t matter. A drug’s classification as a stimulant or depressant (yes, alcohol is a drug) is solely determined by how it affects the body. 

What is a Stimulant?

Also referred to as “uppers”, stimulants are a class of drugs that can make users feel energized, alert, or confident. Stimulants affect the central nervous system (CNS) and work by speeding up the messages between the brain and the body. They target specific neurotransmitters and increase the levels sent to the brain. Stimulants are also considered to be a psychoactive drug for this reason. Physiological responses typically include an elevation in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

Even legal stimulants have the ability to be dangerous or addictive. Caffeine, for example, is one of the most commonly used drugs, with 90% of Americans consuming at least one caffeinated drink per day. Widely popular around the world and available in a variety of forms, this legal drug can result in unpleasant withdrawal effects that are both physical and psychological. Side effects of stimulants can include depression, anxiety, insomnia, or restlessness. Heavy or prolonged use can be fatal as a result of heart issues (irregular heartbeat, failure) or seizures.  

What is a Depressant?

A common misconception about depressants or “downers” is that they are related to depression or perhaps cause it. This class of drugs has nothing to do with mood. They are actually named so because they suppress the central nervous system – the complete opposite of stimulants. Depressants slow down the messages sent between the brain and the body. Lowered neurotransmission levels interfere with nerve receptors, thus reducing overall brain activity. 

Depressants primarily affect concentration and coordination. Substances like alcohol or GHB or marijuana will cause slower reaction times and impaired motor functions. Large doses can result in drowsiness, unconsciousness, and vomiting while long-term effects can include permanent cognitive and memory impairment, heart and liver damage, lung infections, and even an increased risk of cancer.     

So Is Alcohol a Stimulant or Depressant?

Alcohol can be tricky to identify since it has characteristics of both stimulants and depressants. Although formally classified as a depressant, the line isn’t black and white. 

The key differences between stimulants and depressants are the specific chemical alterations they make within the brain. Stimulants affect dopamine while depressants affect gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which decreases neuron activity. Since alcohol targets neither of those chemicals, alcohol doesn’t fit neatly into one classification or the other. 

The effects of alcohol on the body change depending on the stage of consumption, which also contributes to the confusion surrounding alcohol’s drug classification. In the initial stage of drinking alcohol, it is found to act as a stimulant, increasing levels of dopamine within the brain. Once the drink fully enters the system, it acts more as a depressant. Studies have associated this change in bodily response to the changes of BAC (blood alcohol content) levels. Rising BAC levels are energizing and cause an increase in neurotransmitter activity while falling BAC levels slow them down.

The Dangerous Potential of Alcohol Abuse

There is still much that scientists and doctors don’t know about alcohol. There have been hundreds of studies on this substance, and even to this day, it is unknown why alcohol affects some differently than others. One thing that is certain, however, is how devastating prolonged alcohol abuse can be on the body. 

Cognitive impairment caused by alcohol is often the direct culprit of otherwise avoidable accidents and mishaps. Internally, the risk of permanent organ damage is high and the long-term consequences can be dire. Just because a drug is legal doesn’t mean that it doesn’t carry risk. An estimated 2.8 million deaths occur worldwide each year. Don’t become a number, if you or a loved one is in need of alcohol detox or treatment for alcoholism, contact Level Up Lake Worth today.