Maintaining Sobriety Through Exercise

A daily exercise routine can be an invaluable asset in maintaining your sobriety. Physical activity can often provide a similar sense of well-being as experience when using alcohol. In addition to the psychological benefits, regular physical activity work to rebuild health following the damaging effects of addiction and withdrawal. For addicts and alcoholics alike, a specified exercise regimen can make physical activity part of a sober, healthy lifestyle rather than a new addiction.

Instructions

1 – Speak with your physician regarding your exercise intentions. This is standard advice, but is more important to those who have recently quit drinking. Malnourishment is common among newly sober people, even if you are overweight. Kidney, liver, heart or stomach issues are common as well. Alcoholism can be extremely draining to your body and health. As such, it’s important to obtain the “A-OK” from your physician prior to pursuing a new exercise plan.

2 – Do not attempt to concur the world over night. Start out by setting some short-term goals and documenting your progress in a dedicated health journal or notebook. Begin with a short walk around the block; then a jog; then two blocks; etc.

3 – Exercise even when you don’t feel up to it. This is when your body requires physical activity the most. The endorphin's produced by your body during these activities will promote a heightened sense of well-being. Routine physical activity will also work to re-establish a healthy sleep schedule. All of these aspects contribute to continued sobriety and mental stability.

4 – Don’t jump ahead. Stick to your exercise plan as it is outlined. Add to your workouts only in increments determined ahead of time. These tactics are crucial to maintaining a healthy exercise routine while avoiding obsessive tendencies.

Need Help?

If you or someone you love are suffering from an alcohol addiction, our Los Angeles drug rehab is the place to call. Pick up the phone today, and let our team of addiction specialists help you back on track towards the healthy, happy and fulfilling lifestyle you deserve. 

Alcohol and The Immune System

Though moderate drinking can certainly have its share of health benefits, daily and excessive intake can have a profound effect on the body’s immune system. In reality, most people do not realize the damage inflicted when drinking to intoxication. The body, particularly the kidneys and liver, must work harder to remove the toxins from the drinker’s system. In this entry, we will discuss exactly how alcohol affects our immune systems.

Facts

Our bodies are equipped with a natural defense system; white blood cells. Five different types of white blood cells exist, each serving their own unique purpose. The lymphocytes, in particular, work to remove bad cells, while combating toxins and foreign substances. When an individual abuses alcoholic beverages, white blood cell production is hindered. When white blood cell counts are low, our risk of disease and illness is heightened.

Consequences

When we fall under the weather, one of the first things physicians recommend is to push plenty of fluids to help flush out the toxins. Because alcohol dehydrates the body, drinking it while sick only serves to negatively impact the healing process. When proper fluid amounts are lacking in the body, vital organs become affected.

Alcohol offers no nutritional value. As such, routine drinking only serves to wear down our immune system while adding excess numbers to our daily calorie count. People who drink constantly are much more likely to suffer from colds or even develop conditions such as cancer. In addition, alcohol works to deteriorate the stomach lining, raising the risk of additional issues, including heartburn, which can result in esophagus erosion.

Options

If you or someone you love is suffering from an alcohol problem, our Above It All treatment centeris the place to call. Pick up the phone and let our team of addiction specialists help you back on track towards the healthy and happy lifestyle you deserve. 

   

A Breakdown of the Alcohol Stages

The human body breaks down alcohol in 3 various stages. Each stage takes a fair amount of time while the body reacts to the ingested substance. In most people, the average drink (12 oz. beer, 4 oz. wine, 1 oz. shot) takes an hour to metabolize fully. As such, it’s important you know what your body must go through in order to break down these types of substances.

Metabolism

When alcohol is ingested, the fluids hit the drinker’s stomach on their way to the small intestine. This is the point where the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Here, small blood vessels will absorb the alcohol before transporting it to the liver. Once alcohol reaches the liver, our metabolism begins converting and breaking it down with enzymes into non-toxic acid. In total, roughly 80-90% of ingested alcohol is broken down by our body’s metabolism.

Excretion

Another ways our bodies remove alcohol is through the process of excretion. Alcohol is eliminated largely through urinary passages once it has passed through the kidneys. Additional excretion methods include sweat, saliva, feces and milk.

Exhalation

Our lungs exhale roughly 5% of all ingested alcohol. This factor makes it easy for breathalyzer tests to determine the body’s current alcohol content. Alcohol content found in breath comes from air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli.

Alcohol Levels

BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) is the most accurate way of determining the current amount of alcohol in an individual’s system. The measurement is made by the percentage of alcohol currently in the individual’s blood. Though blood tests have been found to be more accurate, breathalyzer tests are more common due to their ease of use. Urine tests may also help in determining current system alcohol levels. If an individual chooses to drink more alcohol than their body can metabolize in a short period of time, the BAC is be increased.

Need Help?

If you or someone you live our drug rehab in California is the place to call. Pick up the phone today, and let our team of addiction specialists help you back on track towards the happy, sober, and fulfilling lifestyle you deserve. 

Teen Drinking Facts

Alcohol use effects the human body in a variety of ways that inhibit our ability to perform routine tasks. Driving after consuming even one drink can be extremely dangerous – enhancing the risk of auto accident-related injury and fatality. Alcohol use also serves to inhibit academic performance. In the U.S. the legal drinking age is 21. If you are concerned about teenage drinking, it is important to open a discussion on the topic.

Effects

Alcohol acts as a depressant. As such, individuals who drink will experience slowed brain activity. Even just a drink of two may cause the drinker to act confused or out of character. Drinkers will often experience mood swings and a loss of balance.

Legal

As stated above, the minimum drinking age in the U.S. is 21. This restriction pertains to the purchase, possession and consumption of any alcoholic beverage. According to the Underage Drinking Prevention Project, the only exceptions are when a minor is in a private establishment, requires alcohol for medical reasons, is using in conjunction with a religious ceremony, or possesses it on the job for purposes of lawful employment.

Laws will vary between states. As such, it’s important to educate yourself on regional restrictions.

Education

Regular alcohol consumption often serves to inhibit poor academic performance. Studies show that high school students who regularly consume alcohol are at a 5X higher risk of dropping out of school that those who abstain altogether.

Sex

Alcohol use in minors offers a heightened risk of dangerous sexual activity. Because drinking works to lower user inhibitions, many young people may be more easily swayed into unprotected sex. This works to heighten the risk of unplanned pregnancies, and STDs.

Discuss

If you or someone you love is struggling with an alcohol issue, our California drug rehab facility is the place to call. Pick up the phone today, and let our team of specialists help your teen back on track towards the happy, productive and healthy lifestyle they deserve.