Does Alcohol Cause Inflammation? The Damage You’re Doing Without KnowingBy Michaela

Frequent drinkers are well-acquainted with the knowledge that alcohol isn’t good for you. This is well-documented and not really up for debate in the scientific community. However, there are some things that you still probably don’t know about alcohol and one particular property that it has that is slowly and severely harming your body as you continue to consume alcohol: inflammation.

Alcohol is highly inflammatory and it can wreak havoc in your body as it causes a number of health issues. Not only does it cause problems in your everyday life if you are alcohol dependent, but it can also ruin your long-term health, slash years off of your life, and rob you of a graceful older age.

In this post, we are going to talk about what makes alcohol inflammatory, what the health risks of long-term inflammation are, and how you can start to undo the damage done to your body by your alcohol intake.

How Alcohol Causes Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, infection and irritations. It is a complex process that involves the release of specialized proteins and cell responses that are activated to protect the body from threats, such as viruses, bacteria, or toxins. During this process, white blood cells move towards areas of injury and irritation in an attempt to repair tissue damage. The result is pain, swelling, and redness at the site of injury or infection due to the influx of extra fluid and immune system cells. 

Alcohol does indeed cause inflammation in the body both directly through its toxic properties as well as indirectly through its metabolites. Ethanol itself is a toxic substance that can cause acute inflammation when consumed in large quantities. In addition, alcohol’s byproducts — acetaldehyde, acetate and fatty acids — can further contribute to inflammation via their metabolic byproducts as they are broken down by the liver.

The biological process begins with ethanol entering your bloodstream and traveling throughout your body. It then binds with receptors on various organs such as your liver or brain and causes them to release inflammatory molecules called cytokines which signal an inflammatory response in other parts of your body. These molecules activate enzymes and immune system cells which trigger an inflammatory cascade leading to acute swelling and pain in affected areas. Additionally, these cytokines also lead to increased oxidative stress in your body which causes further damage on a cellular level. 

In short-term cases of alcohol dependence, it may take some time for symptoms such as inflammation to appear; however chronic alcohol use can eventually lead to serious health complications due to sustained inflammation throughout the body over time. While moderate alcohol consumption on occasion may not cause too much harm in terms of inflammation; frequent drinking & excessive alcohol consumption can lead to long-term issues that should be avoided if possible for optimal health outcomes overall.

How to Know if You Have Inflammation

It can be difficult to tell if you have an inflammatory response due to alcohol use or inflammatory bowel disease, as many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions. Generally speaking, the signs and symptoms of inflammation include: pain, swelling, redness, heat, loss of function and an increased white blood cell count. Pain is the most common symptom of inflammation; it can be localized or general depending on the cause. Swelling is seen in areas where there has been injury or infection resulting in fluid buildup; this fluid will often appear redder than normal due to increased blood flow. Redness and other alcohol-related medical conditions are a sign that more oxygenated blood has reached an area as a result of inflammation. Heat is also caused by increased blood flow to an area due to inflammation, which then results in increased temperature. Loss of function can occur from damage done by inflammation to tissue and organs and an increase in white blood cells occurs due to activation of the immune system. 

If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis without any known cause, it could be a sign that your body is experiencing inflammation as a result of alcohol use (what some would refer to as alcohol use disorder). Other signs that may indicate you are suffering from chronic inflammation due to alcohol dependence include frequent fatigue, headaches or migraines that last for days at a time with no clear cause, chronic joint pain and digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea. If you think that your health issues could be related to long-term alcohol consumption and dependency, it’s important to consult your doctor so they can properly diagnose and treat whatever underlying issue is causing the symptoms before they become more serious. 

Knowing whether or not your body is inflamed as a result of consuming alcohol is important for managing your health over time and avoiding further complications down the road. The earlier you identify any potential warning signs indicative of chronic alcohol related inflammation due to alcohol dependence, the better chance you have at maintaining good health into older age gracefully.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol-Caused Inflammation

If you are unable to get control of your alcohol dependence or are unable to correctly identify your inflammation that is caused by alcohol, there are some pretty serious long-term effects that could take place.

As mentioned earlier, inflammation can lead to an increase in oxidative stress which damages healthy cells and leads to accelerated aging.

Additionally, chronic inflammation caused by alcohol can damage vital organs such as the liver, kidneys and heart; this damage can have serious implications for your overall health if left untreated. 

Alcohol-induced inflammation also increases your risk of developing certain types of cancer as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis. 

Finally, chronic inflammation can also lead to depression and anxiety due to the negative impact it has on your mood and mental health.

The long-term effects of alcohol-caused inflammation should not be taken lightly and should be addressed as soon as possible.

Alcohol Dependence is Causing Severe Harm to Your Health

By this point, it’s clear that inflammation isn’t the only problem. If you have inflammation and are a frequent drinker, it’s a pretty safe assumption to make that your alcohol use has some role to play in your chronic and painful inflammation. You are putting your body through a lot of stress by drinking so frequently and heavily.

The long-term effects of alcohol can be serious and can lead to severe health complications if not addressed properly. It’s important to remember that it is still possible to get your life back on track and reduce the harm that is being caused by your drinking.

Steps You Can Take to Mitigate Inflammation Caused by Alcohol

To this point, you might be discouraged to hear all of these negative things that alcohol use is causing. However, there is still plenty of time to act. If you have an alcohol dependence and want to work on it, you have many options. These, when combined, can help to restore your health and mitigate the long-term effects of inflammation and heavy alcohol use.

Stop Drinking as Much

Taking this step to reduce inflammation caused by alcohol use is easier said than done. Quitting drinking altogether or reducing consumption to a safe limit can be difficult, especially if there is a dependence on alcohol. However, making small changes such as having beer-free days or weekends can make a difference.

Establishing new coping skills for managing stress and anxiety can help prevent unhealthy drinking patterns from forming in the first place. By taking action now, it is possible to mitigate the long-term effects of heavy alcohol use on health and well-being.

Educate Yourself on What Causes Inflammation & How to Avoid It

One should take the time to educate themselves on what causes inflammation and how to avoid it. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, limiting processed foods, avoiding smoking and alcohol usage, and engaging in stress relief activities are some tips for reducing inflammation.

Part of reversing the effects of inflammation that is caused by excessive drinking is knowing what causes it so that you don’t undo all of your hard work.

Eat Foods That Promote Healing And Reduce Inflammation

Another thing that you can do is to eat a diet that is designed to reduce inflammation. This can include foods that are high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins. Eating a diet that is anti-inflammatory can help to reduce the long-term effects of inflammation on your health.

Get Good Sleep

Sleep is a time for your body to rest, recover, and heal. Getting enough sleep is essential for reducing inflammation and can be an effective way to mitigate the long-term effects of alcohol use on your health.

Concerned About Your Alcohol Consumption? Learn How The Alcohol Coach Can Help

If you are concerned about the inflammation that you are causing with your drinking, then it could be the right choice for you to seek guidance from The Alcohol Coach.

The Alcohol Coach has helped countless individuals reduce the damage that is done from drinking alcohol by helping them put in place strategies and coping mechanisms that prevent further abuse of alcohol.

Join the free 60-minute masterclass to see how The Alcohol Coach can help you gain independence from alcohol and reduce inflammation!