Mr Jelili stepped out of his room wearing a buba and sokoto which he complemented with a black palm slipper. He had a black leather wristwatch strapped to his left wrist which held his briefcase. He had barely stepped out of the passage into the verandah that connected the house to the outside when he suddenly felt light-headed and dizzy. He stopped and sat on the stool that was placed in front of Iya Biola's room. He waited for it to subside before leaving. He was about to step out of the verandah into the street when he suddenly fell down. His neighbours heard a loud thud and rushed out. Immediately, he was carried into Baba Mulika's cab and driven to the hospital. At the hospital, his children were called. They arrived as the doctor was about to address his neighbours. He summoned them into his office.
'Good morning, doctor. Thank you so much. We heard what happened to our father, so, we rushed down from work' Ajao, his first son, stretched out his hands to the doctor.
'Yes, Mr ...' The doctor paused waiting for him to fill the gap.
'Ajao. You can call me Ajao' Ajao replied.
'Alright, Mr Ajao. Your father is in a stable condition now. However, his case is not looking too good.'
'Ah! Doctor, why is it not looking too good?' Yemisi, the first daughter and immediate younger sister of Ajao, asked as she struggled to wipe the tears that threatened to fall from her face with the back of her palm.
'Madam, please calm down. We discovered from the tests we conducted that your father has a large amount of alcohol in his system. He drinks alcohol heavily, if I am correct, right?' The doctor looked from one sibling to the other.
'Doctor, my father is a heavy drinker if that is what you are asking for. In fact, there's no day he doesn't drink at least eight bottles of alcohol. He takes different brands.' Ajao responded.
'In fact, our mother left him because of this vice' Yemisi added 'See, what Daddy has done to himself now' She sniffed.
'Well, this has caused a lot of damages to his organs especially the liver. However, there's still hope if he can stop drinking. We will commence treatment for him, and he should get better.'
'Stop drinking alcohol ke? Doctor, you don't understand. This man has been drinking alcohol even before I was born. Look at me, I am married with three kids now. How does one stop something that is like a second nature to him? ' Ajao said.
'Well, if he values his health. I would advise that you talk to him to stop. We will also play our part in counselling him.' The doctor said 'Oh, yes, I know a health and lifestyle coach who can help him with these changes. I will give you her card, so, you can reach out to her' The doctor added. He searched the tray on his table for a business card. He took it and handed it over to Ajao.
'Oh. This will be better. Thank you so much, doc. We really appreciate. Can we see him now?"
'Sure, you can'.
Alcohol is a substance that is commonly consumed by the general public. It has significant impact on our health and well-being. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of developing many diseases like heart diseases, cancer, obesity, liver disease, depression, worsening diabetes, erectile dysfunction amidst others. Although, moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with some health benefits, however, the health risk associated with alcohol consumption far outweighs the benefits. A study conducted in 2018 suggests that no amount of alcohol (even in moderation) actually improves an individual's health. Are you struggling to quit alcohol consumption? I present to you ten benefits of staying away from alcohol.
1. Enhanced liver function: Excessive alcohol consumption causes liver damage and liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis. Heavy drinkers have an overworked liver because the liver is constantly working to process alcohol out of the body. Once the liver is damaged by alcohol, a prolonged immune response increases inflammation in the liver leading to chronic inflammatory diseases of the liver. There's an improved liver function once an individual stops drinking. Studies have shown that most drinkers' livers can return to completely normal function after 4-8 weeks of no alcohol.
2. Lower risk of heart diseases: Heart diseases such as stroke, hypertension, heart attack etc is one of the leading causes of death. Excessive consumption of alcohol increases the cholesterol levels which is a risk factor for developing heart disease. Although moderate consumption of wine (1 bottle per day for women and 2 bottles per day for men) reduces the risk of heart diseases. This is due to the presence of a substance called resveratrol in the wine. Anything that exceeds the recommended amount increases the risk of developing heart disease. Therefore, staying away from alcohol reduces the risk of heart disease and promotes heart health.
3. Improved function of the immune system: The immune system is saddled with the responsibility of fighting off infections and diseases from the body. Excessive consumption of alcohol has been associated with increased bacterial and viral infections. It has been scientifically proven that alcohol disrupts the ability of the immune system to fight off infections as well as recovering from sickness, thereby, increasing the susceptibility of an individual to illness and infection. Staying away from alcohol improves the function of the immune system.
4. Weight management: Alcohol is high in calories and contributes to weight gain when consumed in excess. A can of beer contains 154 calories. Consuming alcohol also impairs one's ability to make smart dietary choices. After consuming alcohol, there's every tendency to want to eat something. This also adds extra calories leading to excessive weight gain. Staying away from alcohol helps in weight management by cutting down on those extra calories. Also, drinking alcohol reduces an individual's likelihood of engaging in exercise that helps in weight loss.
5. Better Sleep Quality: Although, alcohol initially helps individuals fall asleep, overtime, it disrupts sleep patterns and lead to poor quality sleep. The sleep foundation found a link between excess consumption of alcohol and poor sleep quality and duration. It increases an individual's risk of developing sleep bruxism (nighttime teeth grinding) which can cause morning headache, tooth damage and temporomandibular joint disorders. Staying away from alcohol improves sleep quality and overall health.
6. Reduced risk of cancer: Alcohol is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer such as liver, breast, colon, ovary and throat cancer. Even light drinking (1 bottle or fewer per day) has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women and colorectal cancer in men. Staying away from alcohol reduces one's risk of developing cancer.
7. Healthier skin: Staying away from alcohol leads to healthier, better-looking skin. The skin completely renews itself within a month of avoiding alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to the development of upper facial lines, under-eye puffiness and midface volume loss. Common skin conditions linked to alcohol includes hives, psoriasis, itchy skin, eczema (especially on the scalp).
8. Better hydration: Alcohol is a diuretic i.e it allows the body to lose excess water through passage of urine and sweat. This can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Staying away from alcohol maintains the hydration level and electrolyte balance.
9. Improves concentration, enhances mental clarity and focus: Alcohol impairs cognitive function and leads to difficulty in concentration and memory. High levels of alcohol consumption have been linked to poor academic performance and poor job performance.
10. Improved mental health: Alcohol not only affect the physical health, it also affects the mental health. It has a negative effect on mental health leading to increased levels of anxiety and depression. Excessive consumption can also lead to mood swings, increased aggression and paranoia. Staying away from alcohol improves mental health and reduces the risk of developing mental health issues.
There are many health benefits associated with staying away from alcohol which range from improved liver function, reduced risk of heart disease, reduced risk of cancer, better hydration and a host of others. Staying away from alcohol may seem impossible at first especially for those who are addicted. However, it is not impossible. Consider the benefits waiting for you on the other side and take that bold step today. Stay away from alcohol!!!
NB:We are bio individuals which is to say not all size fits all.prioritizing yourself and your journey with the support and guidance of a health coach will further help in your progress and such a person would be able to get detailed information about themselves that could facilitate results.
