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Overview Alcohol consumption is a widespread issue globally, with over 280 million people suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 3 million deaths annually attributed to excessive alcohol use. In addition, alcohol use is the leading cause of death and disability among those between the ages of 20 and 39, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Alcohol overconsumption is poisoning people. In many countries, heavy drinking and binge drinking is prevalent. It results in serious adverse effects on health, including liver disease, cancer, mental health problems, and an increased risk of accidents and violence. Also, alcohol use during pregnancy can cause serious harm to the fetus, leading to lifelong physical and cognitive disabilities. The cost of healthcare, the burden on families, and the human toll make alcohol a significant public health concern. In this context, governments, public health organizations, and individuals are working to address the problem and reduce the impact caused by excessive alcohol use. Fortunately, there is one strategy that every individual can implement and make lives better without alcohol – exercise. So what is the connection between exercise and alcohol consumption? This article discusses how you can curb your alcohol cravings and stay fit.   Fit or Tipsy: Start Exercising Now Can Help You Curb Your Alcohol Cravings Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Health Fitness and Performance Alcohol consumption can have a significant impact on fitness and performance levels. Firstly, alcohol is an “empty calorie” drink, providing no nutritional value and only adding to weight gain. In addition, consuming large amounts of alcohol over a long time can increase body fat and negatively impact overall body composition. Secondly, alcohol also impairs muscle growth and recovery. When alcohol is consumed, it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients and repair muscle tissue, which is crucial for the development of muscles. This phenomenon can lead to decreased muscle mass, reduced strength, and slower recovery after exercise. Finally, alcohol can impair the liver’s ability to process and eliminate toxins, including those produced by intense physical activity like lactic acid, which can contribute to muscle damage and increased risk of injury. Heavy drinking can also lead to dehydration, reducing athletic performance and impacting physical endurance.   Alcohol-related Diseases Heavy alcohol consumption can profoundly impact the development of alcohol-related diseases. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified alcohol as a significant risk factor for over 200 conditions, including liver disease, pancreatitis, certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and various mental health problems. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver. Over time, repeated exposure to high levels of alcohol can cause damage to the liver cells, leading to a range of liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatitis. Furthermore, alcohol increases the risk of certain cancers, including liver and colon cancer, through its damaging effect on DNA and cancer-causing substances. Heavy drinking is also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. The onset of these diseases is often the result of long-term exposure to high levels of alcohol and the development of cardiomyopathy. This disorder damages the heart muscle, leading to life-threatening consequences.   How Does Exercise Reduce Alcohol Consumption? Physically Exercise has a significant impact on reducing alcohol consumption by altering brain chemistry. Specifically, regular exercise has been linked to releasing hormones that improve mood and overall physical health while reducing cravings for alcohol. For example, endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good hormones, are released during exercise, providing a sense of euphoria. By providing an alternative, natural source of mood enhancement, exercise can reduce the need for alcohol as a coping mechanism. Exercise also increases other mood-enhancing neurochemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin, which can help reduce the need for alcohol to cope with stress. Regular exercise can also improve sleep, contributing to decreased alcohol consumption. When individuals are sleep-deprived, they often feel more stressed, which can lead to excessive alcohol use to cope with negative emotions. Sleep deprivation can also alter the body’s regulation of hormones, including cortisol and insulin, which regulate mood and hunger. These hormonal changes can contribute to poor decision-making abilities, causing individuals to make impulsive decisions, such as drinking excessively.   Psychologically Exercise can also positively impact reducing alcohol consumption by changing addictive behaviors. Specifically, regular exercise has been linked to increased mental health while decreasing the likelihood of alcohol cravings. For example, exercise acts as a psychological distraction from alcohol cravings. It can help reduce anxiety and depression, which are common triggers for excessive alcohol consumption. Exercise can also improve self-esteem and mental health, making individuals less likely to use alcohol to cope with negative feelings or stress. In particular, improving self-esteem and mental health through regular exercise can help address the underlying psychological and emotional factors that contribute to excessive drinking. Usually, individuals who have experienced abuse are more likely to turn to alcohol as a relief to cope with the resulting trauma. Addressing these underlying factors through regular exercise can help individuals overcome past trauma and abuse to control their excessive drinking and improve their overall well-being.   Research on Exercise and Alcohol Consumption A study on exercise and alcohol consumption showed that exercise was effective in reducing alcohol intake and improving fitness in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). All types of exercise were included, such as aerobic exercise, yoga, and resistance training. In particular, the exercise treatments lasted between 8 and 24 weeks (mean = 14.6 ± 6.5 weeks). In addition, the weekly exercise duration ranged from 90 to 150 minutes (mean = 127 ± 20 minutes). The study found a significant reduction in alcohol consumption and an improvement in physical fitness due to exercise. Thus, it highlights the potential benefits of exercise and suggests that exercise should be an adjunctive tool in treating AUD. However, exercise treatments did not affect binge drinking episodes, although they lowered alcohol intake. Furthermore, little is yet understood about the ideal type, frequency, length, and intensity of exercise required to treat AUDs, reduce their elevated cardiometabolic

Overview Over the past 50 years, progress has been made in the fight against cardiovascular disease by adopting lifestyle interventions and evidence-based medical treatments. However, despite the effectiveness of this strategy, problems with cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment have yet to be solved since every patient is unique, and each requires a personalized intervention, which traditional approaches fail to fulfill. The magnitude of the issue continues to be significant. Research shows that there are currently 92.1 million adults in the United States alone. By 2030, at least 44% of the adult population will have cardiovascular disease. In addition, the disease remains the leading cause of death globally, accounting for about 32% of all deaths. By 2030, this number will increase to more than 23.6 million deaths annually. This article discusses precision cardiovascular medicine as a new strategy for heart disease prevention, the role of genetics and genomics in heart disease, why the traditional approach to heart disease is not optimal, and the significance of the interactome networks.   Precision Cardiovascular Medicine: A New Strategy for Heart Disease Prevention That Considers Individual Differences The Role of Genetics and Genomics in Heart Disease Every patient is unique, and each requires a personalized intervention. Because our genetics and genomics play a massive role in determining how we respond to medical intervention, we are in a different boat regarding treatment outcomes, even when we show the same signs and symptoms of the disease.   Genetics in Heart Disease Genetics plays a significant role in the development and treatment of heart disease. For example, genes mutated from birth can lead to certain heart conditions, such as congenital heart defects. Genetic factors may also increase a person’s risk of heart disease by impacting factors like inflammatory markers, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Genetic information can help identify people at the highest risk for developing heart disease and aid in diagnosing and treating the condition. The use of statins to lower cholesterol levels in people at high risk is one example of how this data can help develop personalized approaches to heart disease prevention and treatment.   Genomics in Heart Disease Genomics describes the study of the entire array of genetic material (the genome) in a cell or organism. For example, in heart disease, genomics is essential for understanding the underlying genetic causes of the condition and identifying potential treatment targets, making it a crucial area of research in cardiovascular medicine. Thanks to genomics, scientists can better understand the genetic variations that increase a person’s risk of heart disease. For example, genetic testing can identify people at high risk for heart disease and develop preventive and therapeutic interventions. This data can also help design new diagnostic tools and treatment approaches.   Understanding Precision Cardiovascular Medicine In the context of a personalized approach being in higher demand to increase the efficacy of cardiovascular disease treatment and aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention, precision medicine emerges as the number one strategy.   What Is It? Precision cardiovascular medicine is an integrative approach to preventing and treating cardiovascular disease that considers a person’s genetics, lifestyle, and environmental exposures as determinants of cardiovascular health and disease characteristics. Precision cardiovascular medicine eliminates the drawbacks of reductionism. As a conventional medical strategy, reductionism assumes that all patients with the same signs and symptoms of disease share a prognosis and should be treated similarly. Although reductionism can lessen symptoms and influence how the disease develops, its outcomes are uncertain, especially in complex illnesses with multiple underlying causes. Therefore, we must understand the full scope of a condition at an individual level.   How Does It Work? Precision cardiovascular medicine uses the combined analysis of multi-dimensional data to combine clinical and personal health record data, including: Genomics Transcriptomics Epigenomics Proteomics Metabolomics Microbiomics   Scientists can then examine these multi-dimensional data within molecular interaction (interactome) networks to identify potential drug-drug interactions, previously unknown disease characteristics, and disease-disease relationships. Drug-drug interactions can affect the efficacy and safety of medications in cardiovascular diseases, making them a crucial factor in precision medicine. First, genetic testing determines each patient’s particular metabolic pathways, which helps anticipate possible drug interactions. This information can allow doctors to make informed decisions about selecting medications and dosing to reduce the risk of adverse reactions. Meanwhile, disease-disease relationships are the complex interplay between different conditions and the underlying factors, like genetics. This understanding is vital as many patients may have multiple conditions requiring coordinated management. By considering these connections, doctors can provide patients with a better approach to their care, improving health outcomes and reducing the risk of side effects.   What Is Its Goal? Precision cardiovascular medicine aims to determine the best treatment for a specific patient based on their profile rather than the general population. Its power lies in the data, which requires synthesizing rapidly evolving datasets from traditional clinical testing to next-generation studies and historical health record data. Data from these sources may also be examined using cutting-edge systems biology and network analysis techniques to find new and unbiased relationships between factors affecting health and disease. The ideal data will also be flexible enough to help prevent, diagnose, and treat various cardiovascular diseases.   What Are the Molecular Interaction (Interactome) Networks? Interactome networks describe how proteins and other biological molecules interact within a cell. Protein-protein interactions are an example of a direct physical association between molecules. However, indirect interactions can also occur when small molecules or other proteins control a protein’s activity. In precision cardiovascular medicine, interactome networks refer to the mapping of interactions between different biological molecules related to cardiovascular diseases and how these interactions affect the onset and course of these diseases. This network-based approach aims to pinpoint important molecules and interactions that play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis and help prompt the development of new treatments. For example, more individualized therapies are being developed for patients with cardiovascular diseases using the data from interactome networks.   Advantages of Precision Cardiovascular Medicine Early Detection and Diagnosis Precision cardiovascular

Overview Time is an irreversible process. No matter what we do or how we advance in medical science, the power of time has long been a massive hindrance that restrains us from reaching increased lifespan and longevity. But what if it could be different? Recently, the scientific community’s interest in intervening with time has bloomed, potentially expanding human health and assisting research in various pathologies. As a result, human hibernation becomes a new target. This article reviews the emerging concept of human hibernation as a possible approach to longevity. It explains how humans could use a strategy that was once beyond the bounds of possibility to extend life expectancy. RELATED: The Use of ‘Cold’ Tech to Improve Your Deep Sleep   Human Hibernation Can Open a New Door to Longevity Understanding Hibernation A State of Downregulated Physiological Processes Hibernation is a state of prolonged downregulation of all the physiological processes inside the body of an animal. This state is characterized by reduced body temperature, breathing, heart rate, and metabolism, collectively known as “torpor,” to the point they only function enough to sustain the survival of the organs. Hibernation most commonly happens during winter months in smaller animals like rodents or birds and some bigger animals like bears. Surprisingly, contrary to general belief, hibernation is not a continuous process but consists of multiple interspersed bouts of arousal and lethargy, with torpor lasting days or weeks. A typical hibernator would emerge from its hibernation several times to restore its physiological activity before it resumes the hibernation process.   Is Hibernation a Long Sleep or Something More? So is hibernation simply another term for prolonged sleep, or is it something beyond the normal resting process that occurs in all animals? First, before we regard hibernation as identical to sleep, we need to determine how much hibernation can change the physiological processes inside an animal’s body. Bears, for example, may hibernate for as much as seven months a year in the colder parts of Alaska, which lowers their average body temperature from 38°C to around 30°C. This body temperature reduction decreases the energy requirement needed to generate heat and compensates for heat loss during hibernation. Still, heat reduction is not the most extreme change in hibernating bears. This animal’s metabolic rates are comparable to those of other, smaller, and better-recognized hibernators. For example, their heart rate can drop to around 4 bpm, allowing them to breathe only 1-2 times every 60 seconds. At the same time, oxygen consumption can go down to 25% of its average level. Can a typical night’s sleep allow animals to alter their body temperature and metabolism like that? Absolutely no. Even during deep sleep, the heart rate of a sleeping bear is around 33 bpm. It is because organs and the associated processes remain remarkably active to facilitate normal physical development.   Why Would Hibernation Be Important to Humans? So now we understand hibernation and how it is different from normal sleep. But how would hibernation matter to humans? Can we make use of this process?   Conserve Energy by Slowing Metabolism The most noticeable importance of hibernation in humans would be energy conservation. Although saving energy is not necessary for humans as food sources are now generally available, this can be useful in some unfriendly conditions. Metabolism is the rate by which the body burns energy from food for growth and functioning. So the more the metabolic rate is reduced, the more energy is conserved during hibernation. For example, suppose we could lower our metabolism like the bears by up to 75%; we could survive food scarcity by up to 4 days by consuming enough food only for one day. Reduced body temperature would also help humans survive longer in harsh conditions. As endothermic organisms, humans depend more on the ability to generate heat internally rather than on the environmental temperature. This intrinsic heat generation requires energy converted from food. So less heat generated means less energy from food needed.   Manipulate the Body for Medical Purposes Hibernation also offers humans the unprecedented possibility of manipulating the body so that we can correct detrimental behaviors, like addiction, or get rid of the health conditions related to the brain, heart, and body composition. Let’s regard human hibernation as a long-lasting and superior anesthetic. Do anesthetics decrease the heart rate? Yes, adults under general anesthesia typically have heart rates between 40-60 bpm, which is lower than the awake rate of 60-100 bpm at rest. But can anesthetics lower the body temperature and other metabolic parameters to the extreme minimum? Unfortunately, the answer is no, or at least not yet. Hibernation, if deployed by humans as a replacement for traditional anesthetics, would allow patients in urgent need of organ transplantation or those with a terminal illness to have more time to survive while waiting for treatment. This would open a new door to various medical applications in lifespan and longevity. RELATED: Can Spermidine Help Slow Down Aging?   Can Humans Hibernate? Karolina Olsson: Waking Up Young After 32 Years Although hibernation in humans is still far-fetched, this has happened before. Karolina Olsson, who lived from 1861 to 1950 in Sweden, was believed to be the only human who could live through 32 years of hibernation (1876-1908) and then awoke without residual symptoms. But Olsson’s hibernation was not entirely natural, as before she went down into her year-long “sleep,” she had suffered a head wound and a toothache, none of which were adequately treated by a medical professional. Despite numerous medical interventions, including electroconvulsive therapy, while remaining unconscious in the following years, Olsson only awoke 32 years and 42 days after falling asleep. So how was Karolina Olsson’s fitness state after she emerged from hibernation? She was frail and pale and displayed sensitivity to light in the first few days after awakening. She also had trouble speaking and recognizing people in her family. Yet, she was still able to read and write, and she was able to recall everything she had