[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Menopause can bring a range of challenging symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, mood swings and anxiety. According to ASCERT, alcohol can make many of these symptoms worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany women tell us they use alcohol to relax or cope with stress during menopause,\u201d said Gary McMichael, Chief Executive of ASCERT<\/strong>. \u201cBut what they might not realise is that alcohol can actually intensify symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep problems and mood changes. We want to encourage women to think about how much they drink and explore healthier ways to manage this life stage.\u201d<\/p>\n As women age, their bodies change, losing muscle, gaining fat, and breaking down alcohol more slowly. This means alcohol stays in the system longer and can have stronger effects. During menopause, these changes can contribute to weight gain, increased anxiety, and disrupted sleep.<\/p>\n Heavy drinking can also have longer-term effects. \u201cAfter menopause, women\u2019s bones naturally become thinner,\u201d explained McMichael. \u201cDrinking too much alcohol can make this worse, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Alcohol use in midlife is also linked to higher risks of heart disease and certain cancers, including breast cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n Alcohol affects women differently than men. Women tend to be smaller and have less of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach, meaning their blood alcohol levels rise more quickly. Because women generally have more body fat and less body water, the alcohol becomes more concentrated in the bloodstream.<\/p>\n \u201cThese biological differences mean women can be more affected by alcohol than men, even when drinking the same amount,\u201d McMichael added. \u201cUnderstanding that is key to making informed choices about drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week<\/strong>, spread evenly over three or more days. ASCERT advises simple, practical steps to help reduce alcohol intake:<\/p>\n ASCERT\u2019s Rethink Your Drink<\/em> campaign i<\/a>nvites women to reflect on their relationship with alcohol using the steps AWARE, PREPARE, ENGAGE<\/strong>, a practical framework for making sustainable lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n \u201cMenopause is a time of transition,\u201d McMichael said. \u201cBy becoming more aware and making small, positive changes, women can protect their health, improve their wellbeing, and feel more in control.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information, self-help tools, or confidential support, visit www.ascert.biz<\/strong><\/a> or contact ASCERT<\/strong> at info@ascert.biz<\/strong> or 0800 2545 123<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Media:<\/p>\n Lisburn charity urges women to \u2018Rethink Your Drink\u2019 during Menopause Awareness Month<\/a><\/p>\n Local charity urges women to \u2018Rethink Your Drink\u2019 during Menopause Awareness Month<\/a><\/p>\n ASCERT urges women to \u2018Rethink Your Drink\u2019 during Menopause Awareness Month | CommunityNI<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ASCERT, Northern Ireland\u2019s leading alcohol, drug and mental health charity, is raising awareness about the impact of alcohol on menopause symptoms, urging women to \u201crethink their drink\u201d as part of a new information campaign highlighting the often-overlooked connection between midlife hormonal changes and alcohol consumption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4915,"featured_media":77242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Alcohol and menopause: a difficult mix<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Women and alcohol: why the difference matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Making small changes can make a big difference<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
Is it time for a change?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
ASCERT, Northern Ireland\u2019s leading alcohol, drug and mental health charity, is raising awareness about the impact of alcohol on menopause symptoms, urging women to \u201crethink their drink\u201d as part of a new information campaign highlighting the often-overlooked connection between midlife hormonal changes and alcohol consumption.<\/h1>\r\nMenopause can bring a range of challenging symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, mood swings and anxiety. According to ASCERT, alcohol can make many of these symptoms worse.\r\n\r\n\u201cMany women tell us they use alcohol to relax or cope with stress during menopause,\u201d said Gary McMichael, Chief Executive of ASCERT<\/strong>. \u201cBut what they might not realise is that alcohol can actually intensify symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep problems and mood changes. We want to encourage women to think about how much they drink and explore healthier ways to manage this life stage.\u201d\r\n
Alcohol and menopause: a difficult mix<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAs women age, their bodies change, losing muscle, gaining fat, and breaking down alcohol more slowly. This means alcohol stays in the system longer and can have stronger effects. During menopause, these changes can contribute to weight gain, increased anxiety, and disrupted sleep.\r\n\r\nHeavy drinking can also have longer-term effects. \u201cAfter menopause, women\u2019s bones naturally become thinner,\u201d explained McMichael. \u201cDrinking too much alcohol can make this worse, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Alcohol use in midlife is also linked to higher risks of heart disease and certain cancers, including breast cancer.\u201d\r\n
Women and alcohol: why the difference matters<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nAlcohol affects women differently than men. Women tend to be smaller and have less of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach, meaning their blood alcohol levels rise more quickly. Because women generally have more body fat and less body water, the alcohol becomes more concentrated in the bloodstream.\r\n\r\n\u201cThese biological differences mean women can be more affected by alcohol than men, even when drinking the same amount,\u201d McMichael added. \u201cUnderstanding that is key to making informed choices about drinking.\u201d\r\n
Making small changes can make a big difference<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nThe UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week<\/strong>, spread evenly over three or more days. ASCERT advises simple, practical steps to help reduce alcohol intake:\r\n
\r\n \t
Is it time for a change?<\/strong><\/h5>\r\nASCERT\u2019s Rethink Your Drink<\/em> campaign i<\/a>nvites women to reflect on their relationship with alcohol using the steps AWARE, PREPARE, ENGAGE<\/strong>, a practical framework for making sustainable lifestyle changes.\r\n\r\n\u201cMenopause is a time of transition,\u201d McMichael said. \u201cBy becoming more aware and making small, positive changes, women can protect their health, improve their wellbeing, and feel more in control.\u201d\r\n\r\nFor more information, self-help tools, or confidential support, visit www.ascert.biz<\/strong><\/a> or contact ASCERT<\/strong> at info@ascert.biz<\/strong> or 0800 2545 123<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nMedia:\r\n\r\nASCERT urges women to \u2018Rethink Your Drink\u2019 during Menopause Awareness Month | CommunityNI<\/a>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[443],"class_list":["post-77241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-menopause-awareness-month"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4915"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/devserva.inicodigital.com\/maina\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}