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The gastrointestinal system is typically the first point of contact for alcohol as it passes through the body and is where alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the most significant immediate effects of alcohol is that it affects the structure and integrity of the GI tract. For example, alcohol alters the numbers and relative abundances of microbes in the gut microbiome , an extensive community of microorganisms in the intestine that aid in normal gut function. These organisms affect the maturation and function of the immune system.
- While the way that alcohol affects the immune system is complex, its effects on the body’s microbiome and inflammatory response have been observed.
- An immune deficiency is a chronic impairment of the immune system’s functions, leading to an increased vulnerability to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
- It raises, um, I’m not even going to say what these are chemicals that can actually suppress our immune system just as we’re thinking about how to take care of ourselves.
- Alcohol use, especially chronic use, raises pneumonia and inflammation risks.
- And, uh, I’m going to ask questions and they’re going to provide the expert feedback.
Um, Mayo clinic came out with a thing a while back that said, I’m choosing to focus on the positive was the, was one of the overarching ways to be healthy. They said that positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and serious illness and relief pain as well as laughter relieving pain. And, um, uh, causing the body to be healthier and more physically able to respond and fight off difficult situations. So we have this, this, uh, I guess there’s kind of a couple of factors. If we’re home, we have, we have a higher level of stress cause everything else going on, but then we also have access, you know, potentially increased access. So instead of walking by the, the kitchen a few times a day or the, or the liquor cabinet any couple of times a day, we walked past it 50 times a day.
Gut Complications
However, the design of this study could be questioned since the duration may have been insufficient to affect the immune system; probably it would take up to six weeks to see changes and differences in the immune system. Heavy drinking and chronic alcohol use can significantly impact the immune system and decrease immune function. An inflammatory response is typically the body’s first line of defense against excessive alcohol consumption, but unfortunately, that inflammation often causes damage to the body’s immune cells. The regular consumption of alcohol can easily cause a case of chronic inflammation, and chronic inflammation is linked to impaired immune system function. Repeated triggering of the body’s inflammatory response will eventually modulate the immune system’s capabilities and lead to dysregulation of the immune system. When this happens, the immune system loses its ability to control its own immune responses, causing either an underreaction or overreaction when a new immune threat presents itself.
Heavy drinkers often report more frequent cases of pneumonia due to the immune system’s inability to fight off infections within the lungs. The correlation between alcohol and the immune system has long been studied by clinicians to understand the effects that alcohol has on the immune system. Ultimately, studies have shown that alcohol is known to impair the body’s ability to fight infection, contribute to a greater likelihood of cancer, and more. With COVID-19 coming into play it’s more important than ever to keep your immune system strong.
How alcohol affects the innate immune system
A specific type of pneumonia, called aspiration pneumonia, occurs when someone accidentally breathes in food or fluid that contains bacteria. Alcohol makes people vomit, and it is very easy to accidentally inhale some of this vomit. Vomit that does alcohol weaken your immune system is inhaled into the lungs often contains bacteria. When combined with a suppressed immune system, this can be the perfect storm for a bad case of pneumonia. If possible, it is always better to stay away from public spaces as much as possible.
