Can Alcohol Affect the Immune System?

“The oxidative metabolism of alcohol generates molecules that inhibit fat oxidation in the liver and, subsequently, can lead to a condition known as fatty liver,” says Dr. Menon. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. As with most things in life, the arrow points to “moderation” (unless you are in a high-risk group due to poor health or pregnancy).

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• The largest contributor to alcohol-induced suppression is binge drinking.
• Two of the biggest complications with COVID-19 include pneumonia and a cytokine storm, a type of inflammatory condition.
• Some research suggests that using light amounts of alcohol may have positive effects on immune health; however, this research is controversial and has not been well proven.
• Frequent and heavy alcohol consumption can suppress the immune system, making the body vulnerable to viruses and infections.
• This can be attributed to women’s high levels of oestrogens that help to stimulate immunity and fight diseaseReference Wilder37–Reference Liu, Loo, Palaszynski, Ashouri, Lubahn and Voskuhl40.
• Once a wound has healed, excess alcohol can impair the ability of your immune system’s macrophages, also known as “scavenger” cells, to remove excess scar tissue.

Infection with viral hepatitis accelerates the progression of ALD, and end-stage liver disease from viral hepatitis, together with ALD, is the main reason for liver transplantations in the United States. The article by Dolganiuc in this issue explores the synergistic effects of alcohol and hepatitis viruses on the progression of liver disease as well as alcohol consumption’s injurious effect on liver antiviral immunity. Alcohol’s widespread effects on immune function also are underscored in the article by Gauthier, which examines how in utero alcohol exposure interferes with the developing immune system in the fetus.

How To Repair and Support the Immune System After Drinking

If a person regularly drinks alcohol, their injuries, cuts, and surgical site wounds may heal slower than someone who avoids alcohol. They are also more vulnerable to developing cellulitis and surgical site infections. At New Directions for Women, we recognize the connection between alcohol and immune system function. Our trained staff provides support and therapies that help patients gain long-term sobriety. Our safe and supportive environment in California makes it easier to complete treatment.

Two of the most serious diseases that can strike an individual are HIV and hepatitis C. There are several negative health problems that could arise due to frequent drinking. Since there is a link between alcohol and the immune system, things only escalate as heavy drinking continues. As a result, an individual’s body takes longer to identify and respond to infection.

Alcohol and the Immune System — What You Should Know

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 88,000 people pass away in the country each year as a result of alcohol-related causes. In addition, alcohol remains one of the most avoidable causes of death in the country, right behind tobacco, a bad diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. People can develop a lung abscess when bacteria from the throat or mouth enter the lungs and create a pus-filled cavity surrounded by swollen tissue. A secondary lung abscess can develop from a lung obstruction or infection that begins in another body part. A lung abscess can lead to cough, chest pain, fever, fatigue, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, sputum, and, empyema.

Alcohol negatively affects the immune system through its effect on the liver. An important component of the innate immune system, the liver produces a wide variety of antibacterial proteins. If the liver is severely damaged by alcohol, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it is less capable of producing these proteins, thereby increasing our susceptibility to bacterial infection. Indeed, a bacterial infection is one of the most common complications of severe alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis.

How Long Does It Take Your Immune System To Heal After Alcohol Abuse?

While this list highlights several medical conditions, it is only a partial list. There are many other conditions that alcohol can cause, such as lung and kidney problems and an increased risk of injury. Alcohol consumption has also been shown to alter immunoglobulin (Ig) levels.

In fact, prolonged use of alcohol causes many problems throughout the body. Besides effects on the liver and other organs, an alcoholic experiences long-term immunity issues. To explain, alcohol has negative effects on the immune system on chemical and cellular levels. For example, it heightens the chance of developing an infection that a normal person would not catch. Much progress has been made in elucidating the relationship between alcohol consumption and immune function and how this interaction affects human health. Normal immune function hinges on bidirectional communication of immune cells with nonimmune cells at the local level, as well as crosstalk between the brain and the periphery.

Moderate or infrequent drinking does not appear to pose the same risks to your overall health as excessive drinking, which is defined as 14 or more drinks per week. Your body’s white blood cells protect you from invading bacteria and viruses. As part of this process, they release chemicals that create inflammation. This inflammation does alcohol weaken your immune system is essential because it causes your body to fight infection. As you can see, alcohol does affect the body’s ability to fight off infections such as COVID-19 and reduce the efficacy of the vaccine itself. The facts are worrying, but you can make a positive change in your drinking habits if you know the consequences.

At the least, you should work towards minimizing your intake to the recommended number of units a week and sticking to drinks that are proven to have health benefits. The risk of developing heart problems is also an issue for those who drink to excess. Alcohol raises triglycerides in the blood, which can block arteries and cause problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Once a wound has healed, excess alcohol can impair the ability of your immune system’s macrophages, also known as “scavenger” cells, to remove excess scar tissue. This process means that any injuries or cuts will heal at a slower rate. It will help you navigate the complicated process of alcohol withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug abuse.

Many tend to think that alcohol-induced damage to the immune system only occurs in people who use large amounts of alcohol for a long time. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) warns that a single episode of drinking can suppress the immune system for up to 24 hours. Additional studies continue to show that drinking, even once, can suppress the immune system afterward for a short time. Past research shows alcohol consumption leads to more severe lung diseases, like adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other pulmonary diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and respiratory syncytial virus.

When ALD reaches its final stage, known as alcoholic liver cirrhosis, the damage is irreversible and leads to complications. The damage is irreversible because scar tissues build up and replace the liver’s regenerative cells, preventing the organ from healing. When the balance is disrupted, it becomes difficult for the good bacteria in the gut to overcome the bad bacteria. Also, excess alcohol weakens the stomach’s lining, which allows dangerous microorganisms to enter other parts of the body.