A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.
Why people should consider Sober October, according to a doctor
Even though the month is more than halfway over, is it too late to try Sober October?
Not according to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. I asked her about the benefits of cutting out 鈥 or just cutting back 鈥 on alcohol use. How much alcohol is considered too much, for men versus women? What are signs of problem drinking? And if people want to reduce their drinking, how can Sober October help?
Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore鈥檚 health commissioner.
CNN: How much alcohol is considered too much, from a health perspective?
Dr. Leana Wen: There are three issues to consider when answering this question.
The first is how much a person is drinking on a regular basis. Adults of legal drinking age should not drink more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, according to the .
These findings are based on research showing that the risk of health problems increases after these amounts. Higher amounts of alcohol consumed on a regular basis are associated with higher risks of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, several types of cancer and early death.
In the United States, about from each year. Alcohol-associated liver disease is the .
The second issue is whether the person engages in binge drinking. This behavioral pattern is , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more drinks on one occasion for men. People who binge drink are at higher risk for injuries such as car accidents, falls and drownings. In addition, a large amount of alcohol consumed at once stresses (people鈥檚) organs more than if the drinks are spaced out over time.
There is a third consideration, which is whether the individual has alcohol use disorder. This the in the U.S., with meeting the criteria for diagnosis.
There are several keys to diagnosing this condition. One of them is loss of control 鈥 for instance, someone who cannot stop drinking once they start or otherwise cannot control how and when they drink.
Another is having difficulties fulfilling work, parenting and other important obligations. Individuals may also experience physical symptoms when they stop drinking, such as nausea, sweating and restlessness.
CNN: How can Sober October help people?
Wen: One way is by prompting people to assess how much alcohol they are really drinking. Some individuals may be surprised by how much they are drinking over the course of a week. Others may be prompted to assess their relationship with alcohol and what are the circumstances under which they drink.
Do they drink when they are depressed, anxious and lonely? Are they experiencing shame or loss of control over how much alcohol they consume? Is alcohol use accompanied by other drugs? These are warning signs, and people should seek further help from their primary care provider.
CNN: Are there specific health benefits that come from cutting back alcohol for a month? Or do people need to commit to reducing alcohol use for years to see long-term effects?
Wen: Of course, it is better to reduce alcohol intake for a longer period than a month. There are some studies, though, that show even a short period without alcohol can have health benefits.
According to , more than 6 in 10 people reported better sleep, and nearly half lost weight after a month without alcohol. According to another study, from , people who stopped drinking for just 28 days had a change in a blood test measuring liver inflammation. have found improvements in blood pressure and insulin sensitivity after a short period.
If people go back to drinking heavy amounts of alcohol after the month of abstinence, these health benefits will probably go away. But some people may find that they like how they feel when they have stopped or reduced drinking and decide to continue to drink less going forward.
CNN: If someone finds that they are unable to cut back on alcohol, despite wanting to, what should they do?
Wen: This is a warning sign that they could have alcohol use disorder. People should contact their primary care provider or mental health professional. There are effective treatments, including approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with psychotherapy and community support groups.
CNN: Who should try Sober October? And who shouldn鈥檛?
Wen: Anyone who drinks alcohol can try Sober October. They may find that they have a healthy relationship with alcohol. They may find that there is an issue they weren鈥檛 aware of before. They may also discover that they don鈥檛 have a problem, but they feel better after drinking less and are happy with the money they are saving on alcohol.
People who experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking should seek medical assistance to help them quit. For these individuals, suddenly stopping could be dangerous.
CNN: What if someone doesn鈥檛 want to cut out alcohol completely? Is there any benefit to trying "Sober-ish" October?
Wen: Yes. Individuals can assess their relationship with alcohol by simply being more aware of how much, when and why they drink alcohol. And they don鈥檛 need to stop altogether, or for a whole month, to experience some health benefits.
Along those lines, they also don鈥檛 have to try this only in October. Campaigns like Sober October and help to introduce awareness of excessive alcohol use, but people interested in evaluating their alcohol intake can cut it out or cut it down any time of the year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.
'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout
Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.
Cooldown expected across Canada before above-seasonal temperatures return
Canada is getting served a smorgasbord of weather this week. The West saw its first sign of winter, while the eastern half of Canada experienced summer-like temperatures on Tuesday.
Man charged after attempting to force his way into the House of Commons: police
On the tenth anniversary of the shooting on Parliament Hill, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing as he attempted to push past security guards into the House of Commons.
One dead in multistate E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Tuesday regarding an E. coli outbreak that it says is linked with McDonald鈥檚 Quarter Pounders.
Former Conservative leader says Trudeau 'should move on' amid efforts to oust him
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'should move on,' as he faces growing inner-caucus turmoil.
Kevin Vickers says 'not a day that goes by' he doesn't think about Parliament Hill shooting
On the 10-year anniversary of the deadly Parliament Hill shooting, former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers says there's 'not a day that goes by' where he doesn't think about it.
With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.
Local Spotlight
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.
The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.
A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.
A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥