Think a beer before bed helps you sleep? Or that coffee can sober you up? Our chemical dependency expert reveals the truths behind common myths about drinking.
Drinking: Are You Overdoing It? 5 Red Flags
Find yourself drinking more than you meant to — or faster than you intended? Five red flags signal when drinking has become a problem in your life. But help is always available, and it’s never too late to ask for it.
6 Surprising Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health — Not Just Your Liver
Some of the ways alcohol affects our health are well known, but others may surprise you. Here are six less-known effects that alcohol has on your body, as well as how your liver breaks it down.
How Mixing Medicine and Alcohol Can Harm You
If your physician asks you how many alcoholic drinks you consume every day, there’s good reason to be precise. If you are taking medication, consuming alcoholic drinks regularly could create serious health problems. But a recent analysis of data from more than 26,000 adults age 20 and older showed that more than 40 percent of … Read More
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Why You Should Limit Alcohol Before Bed for Better Sleep
That glass of red wine, a nightcap, or beer before bed can be a sure-fire ticket to falling asleep easily. But while they might ease you into a deep slumber initially, they can end up robbing you of a good night’s rest. “The problem is, in a single night, as the alcohol is metabolized during … Read More
Why Women Who Don’t Drink Can Still Get Cirrhosis
You might think that men are more likely to develop cirrhosis than women because they drink alcoholic beverages much more often than women. But women actually are at higher risk of developing cirrhosis — even when they drink only half the amount of alcohol men drink. If you’re a woman, you may be at risk for developing cirrhosis, even if … Read More
How to Get Through the Holiday’s When You’re a Recovering Alcoholic
For recovering alcoholics, particularly those who quit drinking in the recent past, this festive time of the year can be a difficult one — and altering your usual holiday routine to encourage sobriety is definitely something to consider, says Jason Jerry, MD, staff physician at the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center at Cleveland Clinic’s Lutheran … Read More
5 Tips to Take Out to the Ball Game
Is it game day in your hometown? Are you catching baseball fever? A little baseball fever never sent anyone to the hospital, but you can still make your trip to the ballpark easier on your body. Use these tips to stay healthy while you’re trying to catch that fly ball. 1. The every-inning stretch Don’t … Read More
Did You Have Too Much to Drink?
It’s New Year’s Eve. Like most people, you probably have plans to go out on one of the biggest drinking nights of the year. Your plans are set. But have you thought about a designated driver if you plan on celebrating by consuming alcoholic beverages? Here are a few tips: 1. Add a cab company … Read More
Energy Drinks and Alcohol: A Bad Combination
Planning to ring in the New Year at a party? If you’re going to be drinking to celebrate the occasion, think twice about what you use as a mixer. Lots of people mix energy drinks with their alcohol without thinking of the potential effects. Julia Zumpano, RD, a registered dietician with Cleveland Clinic, warns the … Read More