Debunking 10 Myths About Drinking Alcohol
Once it enters your system, it triggers immediate physiological changes in the brain, heart, and liver, among other organs. Over time, these changes can lead to long-term health complications if you’re drinking too much. Without treatment, alcoholics risk developing serious health problems, including liver damage, heart disease, and cancer. They may also experience relationship problems, financial difficulties, and employment challenges. Drinking only on weekends does not make someone any less of an alcoholic. If you’re like most people, you probably have some misconceptions about alcohol use and addiction.
MYTH: Your blood turns blue when it’s out of oxygen.
The moon does pull on ocean water, but that tug at any one point is about 10 million times weaker than Earth’s gravity. It’s really the interplay of gravity between the moon, Earth, and sun that creates a tidal force, and it’s more of a « push » than a « pull. » Shark have a highly enlarged brain region for smelling odors, allowing some of the fish to detect as little as 1 part blood per 10 billion parts water — roughly a drop in an Olympic-size swimming pool. However, multiple studies show that there isn’t an association between drinking more milk (or taking calcium and vitamin D supplements) and having fewer bone fractures. “If someone is in the habit of relaxing in the evening with a drink, find ways to sub that out once in a while instead of having it every day,” suggests Melendi.
- It’s time to put an end to the most alluring science myths, misconceptions, and inaccuracies passed down through the ages.
- We can’t then get frustrated with those people because we built out a cultural norm around it,” he says.
- If you’re concerned about your alcohol use, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional.
Top 5 Most Popular Beers in Vietnam
- You only drink on weekends; how could you be a heavy drinker?
- And this means they are more likely to have a problem—not less.
- This is true of satellite phones, which the military uses every day, but your mobile phone works in a much different way.
- Thus, various kinds of alcohol possess little biological effect, but their expectations or mental condition may lead them to respond variously.
- In reality, alcoholics can maintain sobriety for long periods, only to relapse when they encounter a trigger.
Regardless of what most people think, judging by research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), just over a third of youths don’t consume alcohol often. Communication challenges could trigger mental illnesses like memory loss and multitasking. For years, research and popular culture have said moderate alcohol intake is safe. Alcohol can safeguard from heart disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis in small amounts.
Substance Use Treatment
In most of the United States, your blood alcohol content (BAC) must be under 0.08% for you to legally drive. Even though alcohol can lower your inhibitions, it’s also considered a depressant. This means that alcohol can reduce sex drive and impact a person’s ability to maintain an erection. Contrary to popular belief, not all alcoholics guzzle booze 24/7. Many alcoholics may have periods of sobriety or only drink on certain occasions.
It’s important to monitor your alcohol intake, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage you are consuming. Binge drinking, defined as four or more drinks in a short period for women and five or more drinks for men, can lead to serious health consequences. These include blackouts, alcohol poisoning, and an increased risk of accidents and risky behavior. You might excuse your heavy drinking habit as simply a stress-relieving vice and think it’s no big deal because you don’t fit the mold of a struggling addict.
- Getting drunk is inherently dangerous, all types of alcohol get you equally intoxicated, caffeine can’t sober you up, and higher tolerance may indicate alcohol dependence.
- There is a common misconception that alcoholics are people who drink every day.
- Many alcoholics may have periods of sobriety or only drink on certain occasions.
- Many people believe they can quit drinking anytime, but this isn’t true.
- Drinking tends to produce higher blood alcohol concentrations in women than men because of a difference in body weight and composition.
MYTH: Being stressed will give you high blood pressure.
Not everyone who starts drinking at a young age will necessarily develop the condition. An Australian longitudinal study conducted between 2010 and 2016 concluded that there was no evidence behind the idea that parents supplying underage children with alcohol reduces alcohol-related harms. While it’s true that psychological and emotional issues can contribute to alcohol misuse, they don’t automatically lead to full-blown alcoholism. Many people turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism for their struggles, but not everyone becomes dependent. It is crucial not to drink too much booze since it can hurt you in the future while making you feel down or fall asleep.
- This blog post will dispel some of the most common myths about alcohol use and addiction.
- In other words, coffee may just mask the feeling of being drunk, which is still not good.
- Alcoholism affects everyone around the alcoholic, especially those closest to him or her.
She recommends trying a few other enjoyable alternatives to unwind, such as a bubble bath and/or enjoying herbal tea. “And sometimes we do things because they have become habit and not myths about alcoholism because we enjoy them as much as we think we do,” she adds. But she also thinks she’ll be cutting down her consumption in the near future, which is something she’s done in the past. “I’m trying to find a balance with alcohol, and that’s always shifting and changing,” the mom of two explains. Regardless of the guidelines, drinking can be problematic if it results in negative feelings, choices, or outcomes, which is highly individualistic. Research shows that alcohol is linked to aggressiveness, an increased likelihood of disclosing personal or sensitive information, and engaging in detrimental or dangerous behaviors.
Rob Gronkowski Got Hit by a Flying Can of Beer During Victory Parade
Since then, numerous studies that have analyzed data from more than a million children have shown that there’s no connection between vaccines and autism. But while « liquor before beer » seems partly true, we’ll mostly chalk up « never sicker » to bad decision-making. Scientific research going back to the 1960s shows that we « learn » how to behave while drunk, and that our actual drunken behavior is a direct reflection of our expectations. The « hair of the dog » is a myth — a mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning won’t make you feel better. You lose body heat through anything that’s uncovered, and your head is more likely to be exposed than other areas of your body.