Summary

Quitting alcohol can lead to significant health improvements, including the alleviation of heartburn and other esophageal discomforts, often within a short period.

Abstract

The article discusses the personal journey of the author who experienced severe heartburn and chest pains as a result of heavy alcohol consumption during the COVID lockdowns. Despite relying on medications like Pepto Bismol and previously, Zantac, for temporary relief, the author highlights the irrationality of continuing to drink alcohol while suffering from its adverse effects. The author emphasizes that quitting alcohol not only brings about well-known health benefits such as improved mood, sleep, and liver function but also provides the underrated advantage of eliminating heartburn. The article suggests that this particular benefit can manifest quickly, with the author's heartburn disappearing within two weeks of abstaining from alcohol, even while continuing to eat spicy foods. The author encourages readers to consider esophageal health as a compelling reason to quit drinking and invites them to engage with the content by clapping for the post.

Opinions

The author believes that people often overlook the esophageal health benefits when considering the reasons to quit alcohol.
It is noted that alcohol consumption can lead to a cycle of pain and temporary relief from medications, which is an irrational approach to health.
The article suggests that the physical pain caused by alcohol-induced heartburn can be severe enough to warrant quitting, yet many, including the author, have historically chosen to manage the pain with additional drugs instead.
The author expresses a personal realization that alcohol impairs rational decision-making, as evidenced by their own struggle to

Enjoy this underrated health benefit when you quit alcohol

In the midst of my peak COVID alcohol drinking phase, I was walking out of the pharmacy when a guy spotted the medication I was carrying.

“Man, I’m drinking bottles of that stuff right now!” he said with a laugh.

Inside that bright pink bottle: Pepto Bismol.

Pepto was a hot item during COVID lockdowns as our diets and quality of habits took a total nosedive.

Crappy, greasy food, delivered to our doors and washed down with damaging poison, did a number on many people’s esophaguses.

Unnecessary pain

In fact, one of the reasons I’ve quit in the past (many times over, only to re-start) was the painful heartburn that came with daily drinking.

When I would start drinking again, I wouldn’t feel the effects in my chest for close to a week.

As a few more days would pass, I would start to get that burning sensation after drinking, especially if I’d throw some hot sauce on top of that (which I almost always do).

A week or two after that, I would get severe chest pains and swelling.

Products like Pepto or — before it got banned — Zantac would provide temporary relief, and following the the next session, the pain would be even worse.

In retrospect, isn’t wild what we do to our bodies without even thinking about it?

Countless times, rather than just quitting alcohol because it was actually causing me severe physical pain, I’d just take different drugs to try and manage it.

Alcohol really does chip away at our ability to make rational decisions.

Image by Natural Herbs Clinic from Pixabay

An underrated health benefit

When we think about quitting alcohol, we think about the more obvious, big-picture health benefits: better mood, better sleep, more energy, clearer skin, proper liver function, no more hangovers, stuff like that.

Yet losing the discomfort of heatburn is a deeply underrated health bonus that comes with quitting alcohol, and I can tell you from personal experience that it doesn’t take all that long to kick in.

I’m currently on a 90-something day streak without alcohol, and during this round, my heartburn pain tapered off to zero in less than 2 weeks.

And that’s with hot sauce remaining in my life.

Alcohol has always been the main trigger.

If you’re looking for another reason to unburden yourself from booze, your esophageal comfort and health is as good as any!

Thanks very much for reading this post all the way to the end. If it inspired you on your own journey or you just enjoyed it, please take a moment to give it a clap or two so others can find it!