Let’s be honest, any of us who have had a bit of a heavy night out have said at least once: “I’m never drinking again.”
And there’s a big emphasis on that ‘at least’ because if we’re being real, we’ve said it multiple times at this point.
But yet we just bounce back and pretend we never made that bold claim. However, there’s a side effect of drinking that once you hear, might just be the thing that makes you go sober after all.
Plenty of us might be battling our way through Dry January at the moment anyway, or just making ‘better choices’ and only drinking alcohol on specific occasions or less times a week.
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Although that might just be where this impact on your health comes into play – ‘booze butt’.
What is ‘booze butt’?
If you can’t quite figure out what this nickname might mean, here’s a hint: you’re firmly glued to the toilet.
US-based gastroenterologist, Andrew Black, explained to Men’s Health that hangovers can occasionally cause some serious diarrhoea.
As we all, unfortunately, know all too well, this is the passage of loose, watery or more frequent poo than is normal for you, often with some urgency.
While it can be distressing and rather unpleasant, diarrhoea isn’t usually something to worry about.
Why does ‘booze butt’ happen?
And Black explains it can happen after drinking because alcohol irritates the lining of the intestines, making muscle contractions more frequent and stronger.
With them in overdrive, poop may be pushed out faster, cutting the chance to absorb extra water and nutrients.
The intestines may also have a harder time doing their usual job of absorbing fluid. So, the more you drink, the more likely your insides will be impacted.
"Thus there is a triple whammy - too much fluid exiting, too little being absorbed, and the gut working overtime to push things out the door," Black said.
How to prevent ‘booze butt’
If you want to cut down your chances of this side effect while still drinking, it’s advised to not drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day.
The NHS recommends that men shouldn’t regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day, with it standing at 2-3 for women.
The NHS also recommends spreading out your hard tipples across the week, but it’s fair to say lots of people ignore this and just go all in one.
While you might not feel like it’s the case, this technically is binge drinking and, shock, will land you with a whopper of a hangover the next day - or, the aptly named ‘booze butt’.
Always seek advice from a medical professional if you have any concerns.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Alcohol, Health, Dry January
Jess Battison