Signs you could be abusing alcohol
Many people enjoy the odd glass of wine after work or on a night out with our friends but how do you know when your apparently moderate drinking is starting to cause you health problems?
Below are just a few of the signs that your drinking could be having a more harmful effect than you thought.
1. Needing the loo at night
Its happened to us all - you’re warm and comfortable in bed and then you wake up in the middle of the night needing the loo. This does of course happen from time to time but if you’re under 65 and have accepted that waking up mid-sleep to go to the loo is normal, it could be a sign that alcohol is wreaking havoc with your body.
At night we produce more of the anti-diuretic hormone which is why we don’t need to go to the loo as much. Whilst alcohol is in your system however, the production of this hormone is decreased which causes you to produce more urine.
2. Dry eyes
Drinking can make your eyes feel noticeably drier because alcohol not only dehydrates the whole body, it can also end up in your tears which interferes with lubrication.
3. Stomach problems
Stomach problems such as diarrhoea could be a sign that you’re drinking more than you should. This may be because you don’t absorb all the excess fluid you’re drinking and the result is watery stools. Stools that don’t flush away easily could also be a sign your liver is struggling to cope and if you’re urine is darker than normal and you’re not dehydrated, this could be an early warning sign your liver is not filtering out dead blood cells and other waste effectively.
4. You’re becoming grumpy and forgetful
For many of us, a few drinks can help us drop off to sleep but alcohol actually causes fragmented sleep cycles that leave you feeling more tired. It also stops you getting into REM sleep which is extremely important for helping our brains process mood and memory. The outcome is you will wake up feeling tired, grumpy and forgetful.
Support for alcohol addiction at Life Works
If you think that you or someone you know could have a problem with alcohol, please feel free to visit our Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation page for more information about the signs, symptoms and treatments available. You can also contact us today for help.