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Forbes
07-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Here's What Binge Drinking Does To Your Brain And Body
Binge drinking may start as fun—but it increases the risk of injury, blackouts and long-term health ... More problems. From celebrity tequila brands to viral TikTok 'drunk girl' videos, social media glamorizes binge drinking as fun and carefree. But behind the curated posts and party culture lies a real issue — binge drinking can come with serious health risks. Binge drinking is surprisingly common. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17% of U.S. adults report regularly binge drinking, with an average of four episodes per month — about once a weekend. What Is Binge Drinking? The CDC defines binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks for men, or four or more for women, within about two hours. A standard drink contains 14 grams (0.6 fluid ounces) of pure alcohol — equivalent to 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (12%) or 1.5 ounces of spirits (40%). Women tend to reach higher blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) than men after consuming the same amount. This is due to their lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (the stomach enzyme that breaks down alcohol), less total body water and hormonal influences on alcohol metabolism. From Buzz to Blackout: Progression From A Few Drinks To A Binge A binge begins with a couple drinks. At one to two drinks, many feel relaxed or euphoric due to increased dopamine levels in the brain. However, even low doses begin to impair judgment and lower inhibitions. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and suppressing the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Collectively these effects reduce motor coordination and mental clarity in a dose-dependent manner. With three to four drinks, alcohol's effects become more pronounced as most surpass a BAC of 0.08%, the legal limit for driving. At this stage, speech slurs in some people. Motor skills have declined further, reaction times have slowed and decision-making has deteriorated. Emotional regulation also changes. Alcohol may amplify underlying moods including happiness. However, in some people anxiety, sadness or irritability may be increased. It may lead to outbursts of aggression. The liver typically metabolizes about one drink per hour. Chronic drinkers may metabolize slightly faster due to increased activity of liver enzymes like CYP2E1. But the increase is modest. Alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde, a toxic, carcinogenic compound, which is then converted to acetate and finally into water and carbon dioxide. The accumulation of acetaldehyde is responsible for many of alcohol's harmful effects. Some individuals have a tolerance to alcohol. This means they may appear less intoxicated at the same BAC. Yet tolerance is a result of a brain adaptation to higher BACs and not faster metabolism. Therefore, a higher tolerance leads to increased consumption, raising the risk of alcohol-related health harms. What Happens When Binge Drinking Once alcohol consumption crosses the binge threshold — four drinks or more for women, five or more for men — both drunkenness increases and does the risk of acute health toxicity. Higher levels of alcohol depress the brainstem, which controls breathing as well as affecting heart rate and body temperature. Very intoxicated individuals may experience vomiting, loss of consciousness or even dangerously slowed breathing. Vomiting can sometimes lead to aspiration. This is where stomach contents go into the lungs, sometimes leading to choking. Blackouts are also a risk where the brain can't form new long-term memories despite the person being awake and active. Blackouts are more likely to occur when women drink more than 8 drinks and men more than 10 in an occasion. Blackouts are linked to increased risk of injury, poor decision-making as well as cognitive issues, like memory lapses and everyday thinking problems, even in young people. The Health Risks of Binge Drinking The most immediate consequence of a binge is the hangover, a collection of symptoms including headache, nausea, fatigue, muscle aches and irritability. These effects stem from dehydration, low blood sugar, immune system activation, inflammation, poor sleep quality and the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism. But hangovers are only one risk. Serious binges can be immediately life-threatening. The Dubowski stages of alcohol influence defines 'stupor' as occurring at BACs of 0.30–0.40%. This is characterized by marked confusion, inability to stand or walk, vomiting and incontinence. At BACs above 0.40%, risks of coma and death increase, primarily due to respiratory depression and loss of airway protective reflexes. Drinking markedly increases the risk of injury as motor coordination is diminished and risk taking behavior increases. Yet beyond injury, long-term, repeated binge drinking adversely affects nearly every major organ system. In the liver, it can cause fatty liver (steatosis), inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis), and permanent scarring (cirrhosis). The pancreas may also become inflamed, leading to painful and dangerous pancreatitis. The heart also is vulnerable. Binge drinking is linked to elevated blood pressure, arrhythmias, stroke and sudden cardiac death. In the brain, repeated exposure to high alcohol levels can cause structural shrinkage in young adult brains, especially in areas responsible for memory and decision-making. Binge drinking is also linked with higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior. Over time, repeated binge drinking can progress to alcohol use disorder (AUD), a chronic relapsing condition marked by a loss of control over drinking and physical dependence. Binge drinking also increases cancer risk. Alcohol and its byproduct acetaldehyde are both classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). Binge drinking is linked to cancers of the breast, liver, colon, mouth, esophagus, and throat. According to the WHO, no level of alcohol consumption is considered safe, challenging long-held beliefs about the supposed benefits of moderate drinking. These risks add up. A recent study in JAMA Network Open estimated that that there were over 140,000 deaths annually in the U.S. in people age 20 to 64 due to excessive alcohol use, accounting for 15% of deaths in men and 10% in women. How to Reduce Risks Associated With Drinking Of course, abstaining from alcohol eliminates the risks. Yet those who choose to drink can take steps to reduce harm. Eating a meal rich in fat and protein before drinking slows alcohol's absorption. Hydrating before, during and after alcohol use can mitigate dehydration and help reduce hangover severity. Pacing alcohol consumption to ideally no more than one drink per hour allows the liver to keep up. Drinking earlier in the day to allow the body to completely metabolize the alcohol before sleep can help mitigate some alcohol-related sleep disruption. Avoiding high-proof liquors and shots lowers the likelihood of rapid intoxication. Sticking to one type of alcoholic beverage may help reduce overconsumption, although research on this is mixed. Additional protective strategies include setting a drink limit and planning transportation in advance. Avoid mixing alcohol with medications or other substances is also important, as combinations can increase overdose risks of overdose, blackouts or severe medical complications. Finally, tracking alcohol use through a journal or app can help identify patterns. Taking regular breaks from alcohol — such as dry weeks or alcohol-free months — gives the body time to recover and can recalibrate tolerance. Some opt for a 'Dry January' as December tends to be the month with the highest alcohol consumption. Self-awareness and environmental control, such as avoiding high-risk settings or peer pressure, can also preventing binging. Ultimately, binge drinking has become a socially accepted if not a central part of American culture, particularly in young people and on college campuses. But it is far from a harmless activity. It increases the risk of injury, cognitive decline, organ damage, cancer and death — even among those who only binge occasionally. Understanding how alcohol affects the body can help inform choices. Whether through moderation or abstinence, reducing binge drinking is a step toward better long-term health.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Molly Sims's Skin-Care Brand for Busy Women Debuts at Sephora: 'The Cheat Sheet I Wish I Had'
Welcome to Behind the Beauty, a recurring series spotlighting the power players driving the beauty world forward. In it, these leaders muse on every facet of their journey, from where they draw inspiration to the breakthrough advice that has transformed their careers. When it comes to skin care—and just about everything else—Molly Sims tells it like it is. 'I was doing Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen with Lisa Barlow, and she was like, 'I'm getting this CO2 laser.' I said, 'Oh no, you're not. Listen to me,'' the 51-year-old model and actress tells InStyle. 'I've interviewed 10 surgeons. That's one of the worst things you can do for your skin barrier—you're literally taking 17 layers of skin off. If you strip the barrier every day, you will look older. I've seen it a million times.' They don't call Sims the barrier queen for nothing. Protecting it, nourishing it, and strengthening it is the core of her skin-care brand, YSE Beauty, created specifically for women in their late 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. Launched in 2023, the line has skyrocketed to success, and it's headed to Sephora next month. Sims understands the skepticism around celebrity beauty brands, but she's firm: The results of her science-backed formulas (like YSE's best-selling Your Favorite Ex exfoliating pads and Morning Cocktail vitamin C serum) speak for themselves. Another reason it has the beauty editor's stamp of approval? She insisted on clinical trials from the very beginning. Skin care has been a lifelong passion. ('Being a model is the single best education you can have in beauty—because I've fucking tried it all,' she says with a laugh.) But the idea for YSE came from personal need. In her 40s, she struggled with adult acne and melasma, finding few products that were accessible, effective without overstripping or irritating her skin, and elevated in their look and feel. 'That white space is why my brand is doing so well—because we're meeting [that customer] where she is,' says Sims. 'I'm on this journey. I don't want to talk about beauty during menopause or being someone's grandmother. I want to talk about beauty where I am. You want results-driven skincare that can also exist in a fun, inclusive, cool community. It doesn't have to be so harsh and so strong.' Each of YSE's 'cocktails,' as Sims likes to call them, is designed to take the guesswork out of using active ingredients and cut down on unnecessary steps. 'I want to make women's lives easier,' she says. But YSE is more than just skin care. The brand's ethos is amplified by her hit podcast, Lipstick on the Rim, in which she and co-host Emese Gormley interview beauty and health experts and get to the bottom of pressing beauty questions like: Is Botox a good idea? or What's the difference between chemical and physical exfoliation? 'It's about giving women who feel underserved and overlooked the tools,' says Sims. 'We've built a loyal community. It's really intentional, and we do it with a sense of humor.' That community drives the brand forward. 'Our eye cream, Wide Awake, sold out in a week because I asked women for three years, 'What do you want me to do?' They said an eye cream. But when I asked, 'Do you actually use one?' They said, 'I forget. It smells. It's icky.' So I made one you actually use—something that brightens, helps with dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and is a little tinted.' Now, as YSE Beauty prepares for the tidal wave that is the Sephora effect, Sims sits down with InStyle to reflect on launching her own brand, carving out space in a saturated market, and what she's learned as a founder and working mother of three. What first ignited your passion for beauty? I've always been a lover of beauty. My mother was a lover of beauty, and I would watch her. Being in the modeling industry for so long, getting to live in different countries—I got to live in France, I got to live in England, I got to live in Italy—and I never met a French pharmacy that I did not love. I was very privy to all these amazing derms, experts, and people in my world of fashion. I got to learn so much about beauty early on. I had cystic acne in my mid-to-late 20s and early 30s. I was living in Europe, and I had a dermatologist over there. It's how I learned about the skin barrier and all of the things. How did you break into the beauty industry? What motivated you to found YSE Beauty? Honestly, a problem. I felt like I was kind of forgotten. It's almost like I got to my 40s and felt like I was going to have acne my whole life. Then, when I had my babies, I had hyperpigmentation—melasma. I really struggled trying to treat it because I was doing everything too strong, too harsh. We used to think the more it burns, the better. The redder you are, the better. But more doesn't mean better—it can actually thin your skin and cause damage. There wasn't smart, accessible, and cool skin care. I needed efficacy. Everything was really harsh in [dermatologist-created skin-care products] and not to my aesthetic. On the other hand, there are fun, cool Gen Z brands, but they are not efficacious for someone my age. What are the core values that guide YSE Beauty and your approach to creating skin care? YSE is the cheat sheet I wish I had. If you told me I had to use 15 products every day, I wouldn't do it. Consistency, with really good actives, is the magic. I'm a hero-driven, SKU-driven brand. That's how I buy. So when I develop products, I think about efficiency. How do I use it? Can I use it daily? What's the system? You need to wear vitamin C, niacinamide, ectoin, gluconolactone (PHA)—all those things. If you cocktail them right, you can do less and get better results. There's a perception that celebrity brands can lack authenticity. How did you want your brand to challenge that? It was intimidating because all the other girls launching brands bring so much to the table. But I knew what my products had done for me for three years. I was in a place of desperation, and I just wanted to share the knowledge. Plus, I didn't just slap my name on it. I developed every single piece of that product, from the componentry to the colors, working with Aruliden, the best branding team. I wanted effective skincare. We can all play in the same sandbox, but it's why I fought so hard—even with my husband and myself—to do the clinical [trials]. I want you to believe me, but the proof is in the pudding. Here are the clinicals for Ex Pads, Wide Awake, Morning Cocktail, etc.. With Morning Cocktail, I wanted something that wouldn't peel, smell, or feel tacky. It needed to work. That's what made it so successful—it's weightless, and you don't even feel like you're wearing it. When I was doing Skin Glow, I needed more of an adult glow. I can't have anything that gives me acne. So, I created Skin Glow to give me that blurring, a little bit of glow. It has niacinamide and protects me. That's how I think about product. I think about it in a very hero-driven way. I just wanted age-inclusive beauty. How does your podcast serve as a way for fans and customers to get to know you better as a brand founder? I started Lipstick on the Rim because I'd ask people, 'Here's what I do—I've done shots in my ass in Paris, mesotherapy, everything. What do you do?' Then I'd get answers like, 'Oh, I just drink a lot of water,' or 'I sleep a lot.' On our podcast, our goal is not to gate-keep. We try to answer the questions we didn't know before, so we come out wiser and better for it. I think the podcast also helped when I launched the brand. The celebrity part of it was softened because I'd interviewed over 150 experts. It helped me, and it helped my community. What are your top pieces of advice for other founders? So, first of all: Pray. Be passionate. Know your white space. Know your 'why'—why are you doing it? You need to be able to answer that immediately. I read a book by Emily Heyward—Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One. It was a really good book. You have to believe more than anyone else in your brand, in your company. You need a strong point of view. You have to go with your gut. And you need to put smarter people around you—and actually listen to them. But in the end, you've got to buckle up. Put your oxygen mask on and prepare for the ride. Because it is a ride. It's dealing with loans, walking into rooms. You have to bet—go to Vegas and bet on black, bet on red, just bet. That's the best advice. How does it feel to have YSE Beauty launching at Sephora? It's a little bit of a pinch-me moment. I also think that for my community—who we are—we've just built such loyal women, and I think it's the perfect foray into the next chapter. For me, in terms of brand awareness... I've grown up with Sephora. Even though I'm 51 years old, I feel like I've been living there off and on for 20-plus years. I just like what they stand for. I like how they help brands. They've been instrumental in getting us there. Our partnership has just started, but they have been incredible partners so far. It's really exciting. As a mother of three, what approaches have you found most fruitful in thriving both as a parent and a professional? Being a mother really helps you. You will learn patience. Patience from my kids helps me be a founder, because you've got to meet someone where they are. I meet my 12-year-old differently than where I meet my 8-year-old. So, meeting people where they are. It is developmental, right? That's kind of how we deal with products. I'm growing with my own products. What does the future of YSE Beauty look like? We're going to crush it! Every month just keeps getting bigger and better. And I think we're going for it with Sephora. We're going big, baby! I know that we have something that no one has. People want results that fit their daily lifestyle. We always say YSE is for women too busy for skin care. We're taking the hard parts out, giving you that cheat sheet I wish I had. Read the original article on InStyle
