When a person abruptly stops drinking, alcohol stops inhibiting neurotransmitters and the brain struggles to adapt to the new chemical imbalance, causing the debilitating side effects of withdrawal. Anyone who has been binge drinking or is dependent should seek medical help and advice before stopping drinking, due to the potentially dangerous and even life-threatening effects of being left without proper supervision. However, no one should be afraid to stop drinking because of this; the right help for you is there. It says that men who drink up to 14 units of alcohol per week are less than 1% likely to develop colorectal cancer, but an 11% chance if they drink more than 35 units per week.
There are many alcohol treatment programs that focus on helping people overcome drinking problems, no matter how mild or severe they are. While drinking alcohol has been shown to increase the risk of developing many types of cancer, stopping drinking alcohol will reduce the risk compared to continuing to drink. In people who drink a lot for a long time, the brain is almost continuously exposed to the depressive effects of alcohol. Male fertility can be affected by excessive alcohol consumption, but it is believed that those effects can be reversed quickly when drinking is stopped.
When someone abruptly stops drinking after excessive alcohol consumption, they may experience Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS). This can cause life-threatening health complications if not treated properly. If your doctor thinks you may be experiencing AWS, he or she will ask you questions about your history of drinking alcohol and how recently you quit. There are many other stages of recovery after drinking and their schedule will largely depend on the person.
Professional care from a specialized alcohol rehabilitation center is highly recommended for those trying to stop drinking, as abstinence can be extremely dangerous. This schedule is a broad estimate of what will happen, and when, after a dependent drinker has had their last alcoholic beverage. If you drink alcohol excessively for weeks, months, or years, you may have mental and physical problems when you stop drinking or when you severely reduce the amount you drink. What specifically happens in your body when you abruptly stop drinking depends on a variety of factors.
