People who participate inDry Januaryare often hoping to level up their health. But no matter your reasons for abstaining, chances are you’ll feel better aftergiving up alcohol.

Keeping track of how you feel throughout the month can also help you answer some important questions about your lifestyle choices, saidNatalie Klag, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.

“If someone’s trying to decide, ‘Do I feel better without alcohol?’ This should be a time of self-reflection,” she said. Ask yourself questions like “How do I feel? What feels better? What am I enjoying more?”

Most people will notice at least some health benefits when theystop drinking. Just note that this only applies to casual drinkers, saidLauren Kelly, MD, an internal medicine physician at Mount Sinai who specializes in addiction among older adults.

People who drink heavilymay suffer severe and dangeroussymptoms of withdrawalif they give up alcohol completely, Kelly said. In that case, it’s best to talk with a healthcare provider before making any drastic changes.

Here’s How to Do Dry January Right

Alcohol takes a real toll on thegut microbiome, Dr. Kelly said. Some people who regularly drink experiencedigestive issuessuch as upset stomach,diarrhea, loose stools, andacid reflux, she added. When you stop drinking, these issues may go away or become less severe.

It’s also important to note that people who drink more may experienceconstipationwhen they first stop drinking, Dr. Klag said, though this should improve within a week or two.

Why Dry January Might Mess With Your Poop Schedule

2. Your Blood Pressure May Improve

Chronic alcohol use can lead tohigh blood pressure, Dr. Kelly said.High blood pressure, also called hypertension, raises your risk of heart disease and stroke, among other health problems.

Research shows that when women drink more than one drink per day and men drink more than two drinks per day, their risk of high blood pressure is raised.People participating in Dry January may see their blood pressure decrease to a healthier reading.

The Impact of Alcohol on Your Body

3. You May Feel Less Anxious

Alcohol use can increase stress hormones in the body, includingcortisol, which can worsenanxiety, Dr. Kelly said. There are many symptoms of anxiety, but common signs include anxious, restless, and tense thoughts, as well as physical manifestations like rapid heartbeat,dizziness, andshortness of breath.

Abstaining from alcohol may lower your stress level and reduce feelings of anxiousness.

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Alcohol?

4. You May Get Better Sleep

Because alcohol suppresses yourrapid eye movement(REM) sleep, which your body requires to feel well-rested, you may notice improved sleep when you stop drinking, Dr. Kelly said.This may lead to improved energy levels and mental clarity throughout the day.

The opposite may be true for heavy drinkers, Dr. Klag noted: People in this category may have a tough time sleeping for a while after giving up alcohol. If the problem hasn’t subsided within a month, it may be a good idea to speak with a sleep specialist.

Why Does Alcohol Make Me Sleepy? Exploring the Science Behind Drowsiness

5. Your Appetite May Change

Alcohol can disrupt the balance of the hormones that control hunger and satiety, which can affect when and what you eat, Dr. Kelly said. Alcohol affects people’s hunger and satiety differently, so it’s difficult to say exactly how your eating habits may shift when you stop drinking. However, some people may notice healthier eating patterns and better nutrition.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body?

6. Your Mouth Might Not Be as Dry

Alcohol can lead tooral drynessor dry mouth due to decreased saliva secretion.This can cause symptoms like sore throat, cracked lips, feeling thirsty, and more, which may improve when you stop drinking.

Whether you notice all of these health benefits or only a few, taking a break from alcohol is usually a good thing. Not only will it help you feel better, but it will give you some much-needed information about how much—or how little—alcohol consumption feels right for you.

Are You Struggling to Cut Back on Alcohol? Try Damp January

What This Means For YouWhen you eliminate alcohol, your body can shift and change in significant ways. Experts said that includes healthier bowel movements, better sleep, improved blood pressure, and mental health benefits, such as reduced stress. The good news is all these improvements count even if you plan to reintroduce alcohol after Dry January.

What This Means For You

When you eliminate alcohol, your body can shift and change in significant ways. Experts said that includes healthier bowel movements, better sleep, improved blood pressure, and mental health benefits, such as reduced stress. The good news is all these improvements count even if you plan to reintroduce alcohol after Dry January.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing high blood pressure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure risk factors.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Cancer Institute.REM sleep.Inenaga K, Ono K, Hitomi S, Kuroki A, Ujihara I.Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2017;53(3):78-85. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2016.12.001National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dry mouth.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing high blood pressure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure risk factors.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Cancer Institute.REM sleep.Inenaga K, Ono K, Hitomi S, Kuroki A, Ujihara I.Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2017;53(3):78-85. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2016.12.001National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dry mouth.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing high blood pressure.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure risk factors.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Cancer Institute.REM sleep.Inenaga K, Ono K, Hitomi S, Kuroki A, Ujihara I.Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2017;53(3):78-85. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2016.12.001National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dry mouth.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing high blood pressure.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure risk factors.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Anxiety.

National Cancer Institute.REM sleep.

Inenaga K, Ono K, Hitomi S, Kuroki A, Ujihara I.Thirst sensation and oral dryness following alcohol intake.Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2017;53(3):78-85. doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2016.12.001

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Dry mouth.

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