In Britain, almost 10% of men show alcohol dependency tendencies. And all that 10% risk complex health issues if they don’t ditch that habit. According to the NHS, men that regularly indulge in alcoholic beverages risk a series of conditions, among which cancer takes a leading position.
In the short run, alcohol can lead to injury, accidents, poor sexual performance and low energy levels. It can also increase the risk of heart failure, in case of prolonged use.
According to specialists’ recommendations, men should not exceed 14 units of alcohol weekly. Besides, the UK’s Chief Medical Officer recommends splitting the quantity you drink between multiple days and don’t exaggerate with the amounts you ingest at once. But let’s see what happens in men who exceed the recommended weekly amount.
Short term risk of injury
The short-term effects of binge drinking are different in both genders, mainly because they process alcohol differently. Although men tend to show fewer signs of intoxication than women do when drinking the same quantity, they are more exposed to all negative effects because they enjoy indulging more in similar beverages.
Besides, men’s bodies store significantly less water than women’s bodies do. This is one of the reasons why they process differently alcohol.
When intoxicated, men tend to show risky and aggressive behaviour. This makes them more vulnerable to alcohol-related accidents and injury.
To prevent similar events, men must limit their intake below their personal intoxication limit. Besides, specialists recommend spreading the quantities of alcohol that both genders ingest evenly between a couple of days.
Lowered sexual performance and fertility issues
While some men drink alcohol to get the confidence they need and ditch inhibitions, in large quantities, alcohol can lower sexual performance and lower their sperm count.
According to multiple studies, excessive alcohol consumption in men might lower the chances to conceive. However, once men break their excessive drinking patterns, the negative effects are lowered. Once they stop drinking, men can achieve again proper libido and improve their sperm quality and quantity.
While excessive drinking lowers hormonal activity, it can also keep sperm cells from reaching maturity. This makes the cells unable to travel to and fertilize the egg. When the liver doesn’t metabolize Vitamin A as it should, sperm movements become chaotic. This also contributes to infertility.
Sometimes, excessive drinking can also result in erectile dysfunction, mainly because it affects the nervous system. In this case, natural conception is nearly impossible.
Weight gain
Excessive drinking can make you look worst. Have a guess, how many calories does a pint of beer have? Well, somewhere around 300. That daily dose of alcohol s making you fat, and this is a fact. But the calorie count in each pint of beer is not the only thing that can make your BMI grow.
Your metabolism is getting slower with each measure of alcohol you drink.
Fun fact: your body is unable to store alcohol. Now, it works intensively to burn it. Burning up fat is not important anymore for your body. In the long run, you’re more likely to develop unattractive features. Man boobs or excessive growth of mammary tissue, hair loss and skin conditions are the most frequent results.
If you want to look your best keeping your alcohol consumption in line is one of the best suggestions we could offer.
Gout and an array of other health concerns
Gout is a terrifying condition, pretty similar to arthritis. Sufferers experience inflammation, pain, and swelling in their joints and the most exposed to developing it are middle age men.
But this isn’t the only complex condition you can get from abusing alcohol. Liver damage, bone disease, cancer, heart conditions, diabetes, depression and anxiety, pancreatitis, stomach inflammation are only Some of the most serious health concerns you expose yourself to.
Tips to curb alcohol consumption
There are many strategies you could use to curb alcohol abuse. The easiest one is to admit that you have drinking issues and search for professional help.
Getting yourself admitted to a professional rehab centre can help you turn your life for the better.
Similar establishments can help you “re-wire” your brain’s normal functions and connections. Medically-assisted rehab centres can help patients overcome withdrawal symptoms and identify the root of their alcohol addiction. If you’re not in the phase where you’re addicted to alcohol, there are other strategies you can use to limit your alcohol intake. Here are some of them.
- Find better stress-coping mechanisms.
- Turn from alcohol to self-care practices.
- Keep track of your alcohol intake with the help of a smart app.
- Alternatively, use a journal.
- Get into exercising. It’s nearly impossible to work out while intoxicated.
- Pick up a hobby.
- Set daily and weekly alcohol limits.
- Have someone keep you accountable for your alcohol consumption.
- Counselling might work, but find an addiction counsellor.
- Change the way you think of alcohol. If you see it as a social outlet, have a drink for social interaction purposes and switch to non-alcoholic beverages after.
- Understand how alcohol consumption can damage your relationships and interactions.
- When searching for specialised centres, find the ones that offer a holistic approach.
- Mental health issues can sometimes be the root of alcohol addiction, so get yourself checked by a professional.
Apart from having huge drawbacks on men’s health, alcohol consumption can lead to serious mental issues in both genders. Alcoholics’ personal relationships also have to suffer. These people tend to isolate themselves and find their happiness in drinking.
They might say hurtful and hateful things to their loved ones while under the influence. Make sure you evaluate your drinking habits periodically. Ask your friends and family for feedback on how much you drink. Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep track.
If they seem to all agree that your drinking habits do more harm than good, listen to their advice and get yourself admitted to a rehab centre. This may be the easiest way to overcome such issues.
