It's been several days since I quit the habit of drinking beer early in the evening everyday. It has been a refreshment for me after having worked hard in the garden/farm. I could not help recalling chatting cheerfully with Ellen W1YL around our sunset. I was always with a glass of beer then. I have never been a heavy drinker. Only 350ml can a day.
But ALDH2 subtype might be heterozygote of ALDH2*2 in my case, that is, the alcohol metabolism is slowed with ALDH2*2 allele. This variant, quite popular among mongoloid, could be inducted by alcohol intake but still slows the metabolism of alcohol resulting in aldehyde accumulation which could damage arterial endothelium and/or neuronal tissue etc. It is known to be a carcinogen as well. Since I have drunk alcohol often since young days, I am getting less intolerable to alcohol than before, except for recent years in elderly.
There are a couple of reasons why I decided quitting drinking. Getting older, I am not feeling as high with drinking as before. I thought I was getting worse with alcohol metabolism. Usual a can of 350ml is often felt too much for me recently. That was one reason why I decided quitting drinking. Secondly, I had sleep disturbance at least partially related with alcohol intake. Shallow sleep and frequent awaking at night. It is well known that insomnia is a risk factor for dementia. I have become more conscious of that problem since I have a family history of senile dementia, that is, my mother's case.
It is only "a several days long trial" but I am feeling better as for sleep. No change as for early rising. Maybe, the biological clock within me has deteriorated as a consequence of aging. However, sleeping much deeper without drinking is quite helpful to me. So far, no rebound nor withdrawal symtoms yet.
A few years ago, it has elucidated alcohol is carcinogenic without threshold. If any cancer related with alcohol develops with me, it should be already occured. But for younger people, it should be a problem in some time interval. No threshold is a important factor esxpecially for young people.
Recently, a couple of articles have revealed the relationship between alcohol intake and arteriolar sclerosis.
This study shows in cross sectional autopsy cases, alcohol intake is associated with arteriolar sclerosis due to hyaline degeneration in dose dependent manner. It should be noted even moderate intake is associated with it. This arteroloscrerosis should be related with the neuropathology of dementia. The cross sectionality is a limit factor of this study.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213555
Congratulations to you for weighing the evidence and choosing to protect your health. We also rarely consume alcohol. It definitely affects my sleep and my mood the next day. My husband sometimes has a kombucha after mowing the grass. I am not sure this translates well—it’s a fermented fruit drink with a very small amount of alcohol in it. Some of it is made with ginger. I hope you will continue to thrive in good health, Shin!
ReplyDeleteHello, Susan. I am still away from alcohol, though I sometimes wonder what to do with a few cans of beer in the refrigerator! I am pretty sure I am not dependent on alcohol. So I may consume them for some celebration. Kobucha is familiar to us. Isn't it a bit salty? It will be necessary to prepare some beverage in summer. We sure need some drink after working hard in the farm. I would go to bed listening to Faure's chamber music now. It is really a gift to us from heaven. Best holiday season to you and your OM!
DeleteHello Shin, well done on your decision. It is very wise. I'm still rather foolish and enjoy a few glasses of beer once or twice a week with family or friends. I never drink alone although I did at one stage in my life. It leads you to dark places. I don't touch whisky anymore because I can't stop at one or two and I know my own weaknesses. Plus of course the hangovers get worse with age. I'll follow you into total abstinence in a few years I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI miss CW at times, do you? But then I remember the last few years of QRV and it was all 5NN TU, with the number of real conversations in one year I could count on the fingers of one hand. Online CW was a novelty for a while but there are not enough users to make it interesting.
It is better to move on and remember the good times. Gardening for you is perhaps a more fulfilling and creative activity.
Take care...
Hello John, you are doing well with alcohol. One of the best ways. It is pretty personal and private matter how to do with drinking. You are controlling it by yourself. I am rather surprised I have not missed beer almost at all. I have more time for reading etc. It's a struggle with time since I am losing the ability of remembrance. Still a lot of things to appreciate in the world. My brother, a psychiatrist, is a good reader. We discuss about books we have read through e mail. It is a fun. CW?! Yes, sometimes nostalgic for the QSOs like that with you. Frequently dreaming of setting up cosy small station here. But in some time, I could not help recalling a feeling dry as dust having no callers for repeated CQ and decide not to go that way yet. So I share completely your thought about it. The good old days have gone! Let's keep in touch and talk about it, John. Thanks for your good comment.
DeletePS; How is your family doing? Wishing you all the best for the holiday season.
DeleteThe family is all good. My eldest son is coming over from UK soon with his wife and my baby grand son who I haven't met yet. A grand occasion!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the winter season, 73.