Health

Brain Health: The Top 5 Benefits of Quitting Alcohol

When we think about how alcohol affects our health, most people think about the liver or their weight. However, alcohol abuse has a much more pronounced and problematic effect on our brains.

Blackouts, impulse control issues, and sluggishness are just some of the ways we’ve had more than enough, and that’s just the short-term effects. If you are considering quitting but aren’t sure about the pros, then read on to find out how it will be good for your brain.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the effects that alcohol has on your brain, as well as some of the ways your brain benefits from quitting alcohol or at least drinking in moderation.

Hours for Drinking Alcohol Extended as Covid Restrictions Eased

How Alcohol Affects Your Brain Health

A person’s brain looks and works differently when they consume alcohol because of the way it interferes with their brain’s communication pathways. When alcohol goes into your system, it impacts the areas of the brain that affect your balance, memory, speech, and judgment, to name a few. As your brain slows down due to alcohol use, you can suffer accidents or injuries. Furthermore, long term abuse of alcohol can lead to much more serious consequences, such as a reduction in neuron size.

And these are just some examples of how alcohol impacts your brain, other effects include:

A person’s cerebral cortex works slower when they drink alcohol, which can impair their thinking, and in turn, lead to poor judgment.
Additionally, alcohol slows down the central nervous system, resulting in sluggish thinking, talking, and moving.
People whose frontal lobes are affected by alcohol may have trouble controlling their emotions and urges. It is possible for the individual to act without thinking or even to become violent.
Having too much alcohol in the body may make people forget new information, such as a phone number or a name. Even a few drinks can cause this.

That’s why if you are drinking alcohol, it’s very important that you do so in moderation, which is why philosophies, such as mindful drinking have become so popular.

5 Benefits to Your Brain Health from Quitting Alcohol

Now that we’ve seen a few examples of the effects that alcohol and brain health interact, let’s take a look at some of the benefits your brain can derive from quitting alcohol:

Your Dopamine Will Become Normal Again

Dopamine imbalance in the brain is created by alcohol abuse. As you engage in enjoyable activities, such as eating chocolate or playing sports, your brain releases dopamine, causing your brain to repeat and crave those actions in the future.

However, using alcohol causes the brain to overproduce dopamine while simultaneously reducing its dopamine receptors. That’s why first-time quitters can feel depressed and hopeless due to the lack of dopamine and diminished receptors.

In the absence of alcohol, you’ll struggle for a while as your brain adapts to the new normal; however, your brain health will eventually normalize dopamine levels and respond to the chemical.

Your Frontal Lobe Will Start to Regenerate

When you drink excessively, your frontal lobe takes a heavy hit, which is responsible for many important functions such as reasoning, behavior control, memory, and motor function.

Alcohol abuse can severely damage this part of the brain, causing a wide range of problems such as memory loss and an inability to think rationally.

It may still be possible for people in early recovery to suffer from these symptoms, as well as a reduced ability to process large amounts of information, but as time goes on, new cells will gradually start to regenerate and repair the damage.

As you begin to heal, you will start to feel how your decision-making skills grow better.

You’ll Learn New Skills More Easily

Alcohol becomes a crutch for many chronic drinkers to handle daily situations and emotions. Alcohol may have helped you become outgoing, manage stress, or cope with depression.

In spite of the fact that alcohol isn’t a cure for any of these problems, it can make it harder to cope with life’s circumstances without it. In order to achieve long-term sobriety, you’ll have to develop healthier coping mechanisms and social skills in the early stages of sobriety.

By participating in the same activities as before, but sober, you can grow and evolve your brain power.

When you enter recovery, you may be socializing and managing emotions for the first time since you were a heavy drinker.

As your brain acquires new skills and develops emotional maturity, it creates pathways for healthy interactions in the future.

Heavy alcohol use can cause severe damage to your brain, but it is entirely possible to recover from addiction and begin to heal from within.

Your Brain Will Produce More Serotonin

Heavy alcohol use may have the short-term effect of boosting serotonin, a chemical that increases feelings of happiness and well-being, but the long-term consequences often include a decrease in serotonin production, which can lead to depression.

It is possible for your serotonin production to return to normal once you quit drinking. Depressive symptoms may require medication during recovery if you continue to experience them.

When alcohol is removed from the equation, it is easier to understand your mental health and determine what you need to feel your best.

You’ll Feel a Boost in Your Motivation Levels

Although early recovery can mean struggling with mood and overall mental wellness, you will experience renewed motivation towards healthy habits as you begin to heal your body and brain.

You will then be able to engage in new activities that boost your mood and stimulate the growth of brain cells, such as daily exercise.

For those recovering from addiction, the early days of sobriety can be challenging and draining, but with a balanced and healthy brain comes heightened motivation.

Final Thoughts

Alcohol can be a lot of fun, but when not handled with care, it can have a lot of negative effects on your health, particularly that of your brain health. You’ll struggle to control your mood, remember things, and coordinate your actions, just to name a few of its effects.

That’s why moderation, or quitting altogether, is so important. We are not saying it will be easy, but as you feel your serotonin and dopamine levels start to normalize again, you’ll start to get a new outlook on things.

If you are not sure where to begin, a good place to start is using a drink-tracking app, like Sunnyside, to have better control over how much you are drinking.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP