5 Signs Alcohol Is Exacerbating Your Menopause Symptoms
From hot flashes and mood swings to interrupted sleep, menopause symptoms are exacerbated by drinking alcohol. In perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, hormone levels change dramatically and so do the enzymes that process everything we eat and drink.
As we age, women have smaller amounts of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol in the stomach. That means women absorb more alcohol (than men) into their bloodstream. Symptoms of menopause are then exacerbated like hot flashes, mood swings and insomnia. Even bone density.
Here are five signs that alcohol is making your menopause symptoms worse.
1. Increased Hot Flashes
Hot flashes, characterized by sudden feelings of heat and sweating, are a common symptom of menopause. However, alcohol can act as a trigger, making hot flashes more frequent and intense. That’s because alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to a sudden rush of warmth to the skin.
Many mid-life women notice a red rash on their chests and neck when they drink wine… That’s because alcohol is triggering temperature fluctuations. Alcohol can also disrupt the body's ability to regulate temperature, making it harder to cool down during a hot flash.
2. Sleep Disturbances
Many women experience disruptions in their sleep patterns during menopause, often due to night sweats or insomnia. While alcohol may initially help us fall asleep faster, it can disrupt the quality of our sleep later in the night. Alcohol is known to interfere with REM sleep, the restorative stage of the sleep cycle, leading to fragmented sleep and increased wakefulness.
If you're finding that alcohol is causing you to wake up frequently through the night or you feel unrested in the morning, drinking is exacerbating the already-present menopause sleep disturbances.
3. Mood Swings and Anxiety
Menopause can bring about hormonal fluctuations that may contribute to mood swings and feelings of anxiety or depression. Unfortunately, alcohol can exacerbate these symptoms by disrupting neurotransmitter levels in the brain. While alcohol may provide temporary relief from stress or anxiety, it ultimately worsens mood instability and increase feelings of depression.
If you notice that your mood swings or anxiety are more pronounced after drinking alcohol, it may be a sign that alcohol is impacting your mental wellbeing during menopause.
4. Weight Gain
Many women experience changes in their weight and body composition during menopause, often due to shifts in hormone levels and metabolism. Alcohol can contribute to weight gain in several ways, including its high calorie content and its impact on appetite regulation. Additionally, alcohol can disrupt hormone levels, leading to increased fat storage, particularly around the tummy.
5. Bone Health
Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakened bones, is a common concern for women during and after menopause. Drinking alcohol can negatively impact bone health by interfering with the body's ability to absorb calcium, a crucial nutrient for bone strength. Additionally, alcohol can increase the risk of falls and fractures, particularly in older women.
Alcohol is used overwhelmingly as a temporary escape from the challenges of menopause. It quickly takes the edge off stress and helps ease anxiety (before it makes it worse) at a time in women’s lives when they are often busy and stressed. Midlife women are managing more roles than ever before and putting their own wellbeing last. A recent study showed one in five middle aged women is drinking at “binge drinking” levels.
If you’re worried about your drinking during menopause and would like help to change your relationship with alcohol, check out my coaching programs here. My book Beyond Booze: How to Create A Life You Love Alcohol-Free helps you break the cycle of drinking during menopause. You can order a copy here.