Whether you or someone you love consumes alcohol moderately or abusively, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the effects of alcohol on your physical and mental health. The recovery team at America’s Rehab Campuses has put together this list of facts about alcohol that you may not know but should. Of course, we also offer care and treatment when you’re ready to undergo the process of alcohol detox and recovery.
1. What Is a Standard Drink?
A standard drink may be less than you think or regularly consume. Any beverage that has more than 14 grams (0.6 oz.) of alcohol is considered a single serving.
Here are a few examples:
- 12 ounces of beer at 5% alcohol
- 5 ounces of wine at 12 % alcohol
- 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (40% alcohol)
How does your alcohol consumption compare to these standards?
2. Alcohol Has Different Effects on Women and Men
Women and men drinking the same amount of alcohol will not have the same reaction. Regardless of size, women produce less alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme used to digest alcohol.
About 95,000 Americans die from alcohol-related illnesses and events every year. Of these, 68,000 are men, making the ratio about two to one compared to women. As a matter of fact, alcohol is the third leading cause of accidental death in the country. It follows closely behind poor diet and lack of exercise and tobacco use.
There’s a safe way to detox and get help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Contact our admissions team today to get started.
3. Alcohol Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Alcohol can also lower blood sugar levels. This is very dangerous for those who have hypoglycemia or diabetes. It’s crucial to talk to your physician about drinking if you have either of these conditions. For those who have alcohol use disorders, it may be difficult to put down the bottle — even when health issues threaten their life. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone.
4. Many Factors Affect the Risk of Alcoholism
Your diet, weight, genetics, gender and family history all affect whether you are more susceptible to alcohol addiction. Learn as much as you can about your family history and whether you may be susceptible to alcoholism based on any other factors.
Unfortunately, if you have a family history of alcoholism, you are much more likely to have problems once you start drinking. For assistance with recovery from alcohol dependence, you can count on the staff at America’s Rehab Campuses for caring, nonjudgmental treatment.
5. Drinking Does Not Warm You Up
Did you know that alcohol doesn’t actually warm your blood or any other part of your body? In fact, it causes chills, which can impede your body’s attempt to get warm on a chilly night. When you drink alcohol, your blood vessels dilate, so you lose heat faster. So, skip the alcohol, and throw an extra log on the fire to stay warm in the colder seasons.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Arizona
If you need assistance overcoming alcohol use disorder, our team is ready to help. You don’t have to go through it on your own or risk your life by quitting cold turkey. Our medical detox program will rid your body of alcohol and help you remain more comfortable through the difficult first stage of recovery. Our alcohol recovery programs focus on you as an individual and give you the coping skills you need to leave alcohol abuse in your past. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you regain control of your life.
