Discover how alcohol impairs immune alcohol and immune system response and increases susceptibility to infections. Alcohol can weaken the immune system by reducing the number and function of certain immune cells, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases. Alcohol also interferes with the function of regulatory T cells, whose role is to prevent the immune system from mistakenly attacking the body’s own cells. Alcohol impairs the immune system by suppressing cell-mediated immunity, weakening the body’s ability to defend against infections in the respiratory system. This immunosuppression allows viruses and bacteria to more easily invade the lungs, leading to respiratory infections. For instance, studies indicate that consuming five to six drinks in a single session can suppress immune function for up to 24 hours.
Common Immune-Related Health Risks Linked to Alcohol Use
- Our immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- When your immune system is compromised, it’s like leaving the front door wide open for germs.
Understanding the immune system and how it functions is essential when considering the impact of alcohol consumption on immune system function. The problem is that your HPA axis views alcohol as a stressful event and elevates your stress hormone levels when you drink (hi, cortisol). Chronic exposure to alcohol can lead to HPA axis dysfunction and blunt your body’s response to other stressors.1 That means your body has a harder time keeping healthy.
Alcohol’s Effects on Immune Cells
One study found that people who got less than 7 hours of sleep were nearly three times more likely to develop a cold compared with those who got 8 or more hours of sleep. Drinking also makes it harder for your body to properly tend to its other critical functions, like fighting off a https://samar4rec.com/50-best-drug-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-kentucky/ disease. “With COVID-19, alcohol is likely to interfere with an individual’s ability to clear SARS-CoV-2 and cause people to suffer worse outcomes, including ARDS, which commonly results in death,” Edelman said. The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey.
Understanding the Effects of Alcohol on Immune System Function
- Moderate drinking is generally defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
- From what I understand, alcohol disrupts the body’s ability to fight off infections by impairing the function of immune cells and promoting inflammation.
- On the other hand, alcohol can also inhibit the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, like interleukin-10 (IL-10), which are essential for regulating the immune response and resolving inflammation.
- That’s because alcohol can weaken your immune system, slow healing and make your body more susceptible to infection.
Drinking water alongside alcoholic beverages and ensuring adequate hydration can support overall health and immune function. As we’ve seen, alcohol can hinder the work of our innate and adaptive immunity. Booze doesn’t stop at just hampering our immune response — it alcoholism symptoms can even misdirect it.