Alcohol and Menopause: Do They Mix?

Drinking a nice glass of wine or a cocktail feels natural for many people.

But can alcohol make menopause symptoms worse or better?

The available information about the relationship between alcohol and menopause can be confusing. On the one hand, you often hear that it can make menopause symptoms worse. On the other hand, it’s reported that it can help with hot flashes and heart health. 

So before you draw any conclusions about drinking and menopause, let’s review the evidence. 

Alcohol and Menopause Symptoms

Menopause Weight Gain

It is not a surprise that drinking can add calories to your day, leading to weight gain. But it is not only the calories but the way alcohol is processed in the body.

Calories

Many menopausal women struggle with weight gain during menopause. Drinking can make it more difficult to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. 

Simple math can give clarity to this topic:

One 5-oz glass of wine equals 125 calories If you drink one glass of wine a day, four times a week for a year, you drink approximately 26,000 calories in a year. 3,500 = 1 additional pound 26,000 = 7.4 pounds You would need to walk approximately 130 hours at a moderate intensity to burn those calories.

Alcohol Can Make You Hungry

It’s not a lack of self-control. Alcohol influences the hormones related to satiety and appetite. What’s more, it can impact neurons in the brain, giving you a feeling of intense hunger.

Are you guilty of saying yes to that hamburger or having seconds after having a couple of cocktails?

As if encouraging the feelings of hunger wasn’t enough, alcohol can also lower blood sugar, making you crave sugar and fat. 

Hot Flashes

When it comes to having a few drinks, it’s not all bad news, though. Some studies suggest that alcohol users might have less severe hot flashes.  

For example, a study among 732 women showed that those who regularly imbibed were less likely to have severe hot flashes. However, there has not been enough research to support this conclusion.

Other studies suggest that resveratrol (found in red wine) can help treat hot flashes. It has been suggested that this substance reduces the number of episodes and the severity of hot flashes.  Keep in mind that you can also find resveratrol in grapes and supplements.

In spite of the evidence showing that drinking might be beneficial to hot flashes, it can actually trigger hot flashes in women who have lower amounts of the enzyme that helps break down alcohol.

In addition, alcohol can trigger hot flashes when you take certain medications.

Night Sweats

For some women, a night-time glass of wine or two can cause night sweats because of the effect on the nervous system. Additionally, alcoholic drinks can also affect how the body regulates temperature.

If the drinking is excessive, night sweats could even be the result of withdrawal. 

Sleep

So, for those who fall asleep after drinking, the alcohol prevents them from reaching deep sleep, decreasing sleep quality and quantity.

Furthermore, as discussed earlier,  your favorite tipple can make hot flashes and night sweats worse, making a good night’s sleep impossible.

Another way that alcohol disrupts sleep is by increasing the risk of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder.

Anxiety

Anxiety is common in menopause, and many women drink to cope with these unwanted feelings.  Alcohol disrupts the chemicals in the brain that help you to relax. So you may find that instead of relieving anxiety, the glass of wine that you take to unwind can do the opposite and fuel your anxiety. 

Risks of Drinking Too Much

Drinking in excess can affect women in several ways. In the short term, drinking too much can put you at risk of injuries, accidents, violence, alcohol poisoning, and unsafe sexual behavior.

In the long term, it can result in serious chronic conditions such as cirrhosis, alcoholic fatty liver, heart disease, stroke, cancer, weakened immune systems, memory deficit, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems.

Why are Hangovers Worse as We Age?

As women age, there are have less of the enzyme that helps process alcohol, so it is broken down more slowly.  This makes us more intolerant to alcoholic effects during the menopausal years.

Also, women in their forties and fifties are more likely to take supplements and medications that might interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol.

Benefits

There are a few potential benefits of drinking alcohol.

It has been reported that having some in moderation can help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this finding has recently been challenged by large studies.

Recommendations for Alcohol Intake

The current recommendation is one drink a day for women.

How much is one drink?

• Wine: 5 ounces
• Beer: 12 ounces (1 bottle)
• Spirits: 1.5 ounces

Tips to Drinking Less

Practice Mindful Drinking

The first step is to be mindful about drinking. For many, drinking is a habit, and to break it, you first need to be aware of how much you have and when you have it.

For example, if you notice that you routinely drink at specific times or events, start questioning if you really want to drink at those times or if it is just a repeated habit. 

You might realize that you pour a glass of wine after work without even thinking about it or considering whether or not you really want it. Once you are aware of the habit, you can decide if you really want it or if you could drink tea or water or to go for a walk instead. 

If you decide to have the drink, then enjoy it and drink slowly. 

Choose Mocktails over Cocktails

The variety of mocktails available at bars is expanding as well as the variety of non-alcoholic drinks that are available to buy and enjoy at home. 

There are plenty of alternatives beyond common choices like sparkling water and juices. You can choose to follow one of these great recipes or get creative and make your own combination. 

Create New Routines

It’s difficult to skip a glass of wine if you’re in a bar with your girlfriends. So it can help to start new routines with them instead, like going to the movies or walking as a group. You can get healthier together!

If you drink at home, then creating new routines at home will help break the habit of mentally connecting a time of day or activity with alcohol. 

When to Avoid Drinking

There are times when alcohol should be avoided completely. Avoid consuming it if:

• You have been diagnosed with alcoholism
• You have liver disease
• You have pancreatic disease
• You have heart failure
• You are taking medication that interferes with alcohol (read the labels)
• Your doctor advises you to stop drinking

The Bottom Line

Drinking alcohol is a personal choice that is influenced by how you feel afterward. If you have issues sleeping or have hot flashes or night sweats after a drink, then maybe it’s time to evaluate if it’s worth it.