– Written by Vanderbilt School of Nursing Students
The Positive Effects of Quitting Alcohol
Stopping and reducing your alcohol use has many positive effects on your body. This includes lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and reducing your risk for heart failure and cancer. Quitting alcohol significantly increases life expectancy. Once you stop using alcohol, your liver has time to heal and restore itself. Alcohol cessation can also elevate your self esteem, decrease anxiety, and promote better sleep.
What is alcohol withdrawal?
After long term use of alcohol, your brain starts to adjust to the constant presence of alcohol in your system. Because alcohol is a central nervous depressant, your brain must work harder to communicate with your body when using alcohol. When alcohol use is suddenly stopped, or seriously cut back, the body experiences alcohol withdrawal. During withdrawal, your brain cannot adjust quickly enough to the removal of the depressant and continues to work in overdrive causing a potentially dangerous set of symptoms.
What does detox feel like?
Detox is the process of removing the substance out of the body. Symptoms typically develop within several hours to a few days of quitting and usually worsen after 48 to 72 hours. These symptoms include:
- Cramps
- Increases in heart rate
- High Blood pressure
- Hyper alertness
- Jerky movements, tremors and shaking
- Irritability
- Easily startled
- Vomiting
How detox can become a medical emergency
The medical emergency that can occur due to withdrawal from alcohol is called Delirium Tremens. Delirium Tremens can be deadly and should be managed with the help of medical professionals. Delirium peaks at 2 to 3 days after cessation of alcohol and lasts 2 to 3 days
Symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate
- Excessive Sweating
- High blood pressure
- Disorientation and Clouding of Consciousness
- Seeing or Hearing Hallucinations
- Extreme Mood Swings
- Agitation
- Delusions
- High Grade Fever
- Seizures
These symptoms can be severe, even deadly. If you have an alcohol use disorder or are worried about your alcohol use and want to quit, it is safest to find a treatment center that has a detox level of care so that you can detox safely.
Treatment for an Alcohol Use Disorder can significantly improve quality of life, but it’s not something anyone should go through alone. It can be made easier with support from places like The Next Door. If you or someone you love are thinking about quitting alcohol, please reach out to your provider or a facility such as The Next Door for emotional and medical support.
Ready to detox safely with help and support?
- Call The Next Door at 855-863-4673
Looking for more information about alcohol addiction or withdrawal?
Experiencing a medical emergency related to alcohol withdrawal?
- Call 911
