Everyone likes to unwind after a long day of work in different ways
 |  | By Paola de Varona, News Editor | | Everyone likes to unwind after a long day of work in different ways. Some curl up with a good book. Others—like me—dissociate from reality by scrolling through TikTok. All are equally valid ways to rest and relax.
But if you're settling down with a glass of wine every night, I've got some bad news. | | | Today's Top Story | | Even One Glass of Alcohol a Day May Shrink the Brain |  | In a new study, researchers found that drinking alcohol is linked to a reduction in brain size. People who drank heavily each day were at the greatest risk for shrinkage. But, notably, people who only had one drink a day also experienced a decrease in brain volume.
It's important to not mix up brain volume and brain function, though. A reduction in brain volume doesn't necessarily equate to a decrease in how well your brain works. Still, previous research has shown that changes in brain volume may be linked with poorer cognition.
For the study, one to two drinks a day was considered light drinking, and over four drinks were considered heavy drinking. But this was all based on self-reported data. Researchers weren't able to capture differences between types of drinks and the amount of alcohol in each one. They also didn't know much about participants' past relationships with alcohol. | | Know More | | While these results sound alarming, remember that the damaging effects of alcohol exist on a spectrum. Having one or two drinks a week will likely have a drastically lower impact on your health than drinking every day. | | Feel Better | | If you're drinking most nights, you should probably cut back. It's best to make gradual changes like swapping a few drinks a week with a non-alcoholic beverage or creating a plan on how much alcohol you'll be drinking a week. | | |  | | People drank more during the pandemic, and we may be dealing with the repercussions for years to come. |  |  | | It's Too Soon to End COVID State of Emergency | | Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of ending the COVID-19 national state of emergency, which was declared in March 2020. The Biden administration has already vowed to veto the decision if it reaches the President's desk. Experts say ending the federal declaration is premature—it would affect a slew of COVID policies and funding. | | | | Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home for Most Accurate Results | | A new study confirms what many medical professionals already suspected to be true: Measuring your blood pressure at-home yields the most accurate reading. People who were at high risk of developing high blood pressure received readings at a clinic, at home, or at pharmacy kiosks. Healthcare providers at clinics often missed high blood pressure diagnoses and kiosks often over-diagnosed participants. People's comfort at home likely led to more accurate results. | | | | | |  | | In an interview with Verywell, Jennifer Rose, a certified life coach who works with women on identifying and shifting away from gray area drinking habits, shared why participating in an alcohol-free month challenge can be a good idea. |  | | Taking a break is really important to get a feel for where you are. Because if you can take a break and feel really good on that break, then the question becomes 'why not just continue feeling good?' | |  |  | Jennifer Rose
Certified life coach
| | | Keep Reading | | | ■ | As Virus Data Mounts, the J&J Vaccine Holds Its Own. The New York Times | | | | | ■ | The War in Ukraine Is a Reproductive Health Crisis for Millions. Wired | | | | | ■ | How This Third Pandemic Spring Will Be Different. NPR | | | | | | | |  |     | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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