This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

If the January blues weren’t depressing enough thanks to the dark mornings, early evenings and going back to work minus festive spirit, you might also be braving Dry January.

It’s common knowledge that excess drinking puts our bodies under a lot of strain, so it’s no wonder that many of us are attempting to ditch the drink after a Christmas of over indulgence.

If you’ve made it this far, the good news is you’re halfway there. If you’re in dire need of some mid-way motivation, health experts at Optical Express have revealed how saying off the bottle can not only help your purse, but can also really impact your body. Here’s what happens when you swear off the champagne…

Within 24 hours

Drinking alcohol increases blood-sugar levels which can lead to blurred vision, as it causes the eye lens to swell, reducing your ability to see. After 24 hours of no alcohol, your blood-sugar levels will normalise and any vision impairment will return to normal. In other words, banishing your beer goggles.

Within a week

After a heavy drinking session, your body will be dehydrated as alcohol is a diuretic, plus you’re also likely to lose excess fluid through sweating and frequent toilet visits. But, after a week, your body will reverse the effects of dehydration and normal hydration levels will be maintained, as long as you drink water frequently throughout the day.

Undoing the effects of dehydration will also correct the problem of dry eye, which occurs when there aren’t enough tears to hydrate the eye ball. Dry eye typically causes irritation and blurred vision, and can increase risk of infections.

Within 2 weeks

Your blood pressure will start to lower and normalise and you might notice a slight weight loss as you cut out the empty calories. This will also contribute to lowering your blood pressure.

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Within 3-4 weeks

Getting closer to the end of Dry January, you will start to benefit from a healthier liver as it sheds excess fat and full function is restored. Your liver health is reflected through the condition of your eyes, as the white part of your eye can yellow, which indicates liver damage from years of drinking.

Within a month

Following your month off alcohol your body’s red blood cells will have begun to renew, meaning a better blood flow and oxygen supply to your organs. Good circulation is also important to maintaining good eye health, as it means that they are receiving a frequent oxygen and nutrients to prevent disease and damage, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.