Lindsay Lohan, like so many other young people, often forgets about the negative health effects of alcohol and excessive partying. Newspapers, magazines, and the internet are constantly reporting on – yet another – outrageous party Lindsay Lohan attended, and demanded all attention. Whether it’s getting stupidly drunk and wasted, or getting high on drugs, or kissing guys or girls in public…she makes it work somehow, doesn’t she? But how does a lavish lifestyle like Lindsay’s affect one’s physical health (not to mention mental and emotional health)?

Effect of Stimulants on the Body

Stimulants such as alcohol, certain medicines, recreational drugs, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine etc. are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, increased risk-taking behavior among others. However, these temporary improvements seem to rapidly transform into a false sense of confidence and locomotion, poor coordination, distorted visual perceptions, poor judgment, etc.

Due to their effects typically having an “up” quality to them, stimulants are also occasionally referred to as “uppers”. As the effects of the stimulants begin to wear off, you may experience a level of fatigue that is worse than when you first took the stimulant. This exhaustion results in further impaired reflexes and concentration. Stimulants produce these various effects by enhancing the activity of the central and peripheral nervous system through a number of different pharmacological mechanisms, the most prominent of which include facilitation of norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and/or dopamine activity.

Long-term effects of stimulants

The one-in-a-while party where one overindulges on alcohol won’t do that much harm, but when the consumption of alcohol, drugs and/or other stimulants becomes a regular activity it will pay its toll for sure! Known long-term side-effects of stimulant use include:

Impotence

High blood pressure

Heart failure

Chronic sleep problems

Extreme mood swings

Compulsive repetition of actions

Paranoia/anxiety/depression/irritability/suspiciousness

Weight loss

Panic attacks/seizures

I guess you agree it’s not worth all that partying, is it? The problem is that people get addicted to these stimulants: smokers, alcoholics and drug abusers.

SO, let’s shed some more light on alcohol abuse in this article…

What kind of drinker are you?

If you drink on social occasions only (party, restaurant, pub with friends) and otherwise do not crave alcohol, you are what we call a ‘social drinker’ or even better a ‘sensible drinker’. If you are otherwise in good health, the occasional alcohol will do you no harm.

A ‘hazardous’ drinker is a social drinker who drinks too much and often suffers from a hangover. The hazardous drinker usually enjoys alcoholic drinks not just in social settings but also consumes them daily at home. The hazardous drinker will encounter some health problems in the long-term. The self-help tips below will help the hazardous drinker to become a sensible drinker again.

A ‘harmful’ drinker drinks more alcohol than his/her body can tolerate and the alcohol consumption is currently causing some problems. You may feel less energetic, bloated, suffer from mood swings and feel unhappy, you argue with your partner about your drinking problem and you spend too much money drinking.

The ‘dependant’ drinker needs a drink all the time and drinks way too much. Without alcohol the dependant drinker starts shaking and sweating, and feels anxious and sick. This drinking problem affects job performance and other aspects of life. The dependant drinker is afraid to cut down because of the feelings it may provoke.

Lindsay Lohan is obviously a harmful or probably even a dependant drinker; but what are you? Be truthful and get help if needed. If you are a ‘hazardous’ or ‘harmful’ drinker, the self-help tips below may suffice to get you back on track andprevent a burden on your health.

How to Control Your Drinking?

First of all, for a complete self-analysis, please download or print the pdf-file below for FREE! This self-help guide is a courtesy of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, UK.

Step 1: Planning

You will need to transform ‘bad’ habits into ‘good’ habits which will take some time. The first step is to take control of your drinking by planning when and how much you will drink:

1. Use a drinking dairy and plan when and how much you will drink
2. Identify high-risk times, for example weekends, a night out with friends, after a hard days work etc.
3. Pick at least 2 days a week you will not drink alcohol at all
4. On the days you do plan to drink, pick the time you will leave the bar or go to bed and follow through
5. Keep track of what you really consumed versus what you planned to consume
6. Plan to eat before drinking and try to eat while drinking

Step 2: Cutting back

Start to reduce the amount of alcohol you use by trimming back at times you will least miss it:

1. If you plan to go out for a drink, don’t have a drink at home before you leave
2. Start drinking at a later time in the evening and set a time before which you will not drink
3. If you drink spirits, gradually use more and more of the ‘mixer’ (soda, tonic, ginger ale, lemonade) and less and less of the spirit
4. If you drink wine, buy smaller glasses and choose wine with a lower alcohol content
5. If you drink beer or lager, stick to standard strength and avoid premium varieties

Step 3: Alternatives

Substitute some drinking time with other activities:

1. Initially, pick one day a week you usually drink and substitute with another activity, for example exercise, going to the movies, a play-date with the kids etc.
2. If you tend to drink at home, start experimenting with other, non-alcoholic drinks and find some that you like. Also try the Mind-to-go drink (as a shot) as a substitute for shots and spirits.
3. If you plan to go out and drink with friends, offer to be the designated driver
4. If consuming alcohol, alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic drinks

For hangovers, please refer to the following article (SEO5 team to insert article link).

If you gained weight because of the excessive use of alcohol (yes, alcohol turns into sugar), check out our Sensible Weight Loss Program.

If you are a harmful drinker or a dependant drinker and the above self-help tips do not work for you, please contact your local AAA and visit a licensed acupuncturist who specializes in addiction.

Yours in Optimal Health,

Dr. Mike

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