According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 10 to 35% of people who drink heavily develop inflammation of the liver. In Florida, 16.3% of people participated in frequent binge drinking in 2022. That same year, Florida had a population of 22,244,823. This means approximately 3,625,906 regularly drank heavily. At the lowest range, 362,590 of them developed inflammation of the liver. This is more people than the population of Orlando alone.
Inflammation of the liver is preventable and, most of the time, reversible. The best way to accomplish this is by stopping alcohol consumption. At Tranquil Shores, we are here to provide you with individualized care that will help make that process easier. Today, we will answer, “Does alcohol cause inflammation?”
What Is the Connection Between Alcohol and Inflammation?
Inflammation is the natural reaction your body has when it needs to heal. It can be due to an injury, illness, or something else. This reaction is part of your immune system, as it begins the process of trapping toxins and healing tissue. Typically, you may see inflammation as swelling or discoloration. You may feel pain, but inflammation can also impact internal organs you can’t see or feel.
One thing that can result in inflammation is alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, and it can have an impact on several areas of your body. Naturally, your body will want to heal those impacted areas. The best way it knows how to is through inflammation.
Inflammation vs Swelling: Are They the Same Thing?
Inflammation is a part of the immune system and is your body’s way of attending to different areas when triggered. It can be measured through biomarkers like the C-reactive protein (CRP), which a doctor can test for. When higher levels of inflammation exist in the body, there can be a higher risk of developing different disorders.
Swelling, on the other hand, is usually a temporary fluid buildup. Swelling can be a part of the inflammation process and may occur inside or outside the body. You may experience it if you are sick, bitten by an insect, or injured. Certain medications may also result in swelling. If you are experiencing external swelling, you can notice it. If it isn’t visible, doctors can see it with an imaging scan, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scan (CT scan).
When someone is drinking alcohol, both can occur. This substance can result in dehydration, which may result in some swelling and redness with short-term use. However, when someone is regularly consuming it over several years, it may result in the development of long-term inflammation.
Why Does Alcohol Cause Inflammation?
As mentioned above, your body uses inflammation to eliminate threats and promote healing. Alcohol, and specifically its byproducts, is a threat. Your liver can break down alcohol using two enzymes known as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ADH breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, an extremely toxic substance. Your liver will quickly break that into acetate, which breaks down into water and carbon dioxide before leaving the body. Your liver can exclusively break down 1 drink an hour, and it cannot speed up this process if there is too much. For reference, one drink is 12 oz of beer, 1.5 oz of liquor, and 5 oz of wine.
While acetaldehyde exists in the body for a short time after consuming alcohol, it is still enough time to damage several organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. As described, your immune system will send inflammation to attempt to heal and repair the damaged organs.
The Most Common Areas Where Alcohol Can Cause Inflammation
The main areas where alcohol causes inflammation are the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. It can also impact other surrounding organs. Specifically, it can damage the intestines, which results in the body using inflammatory cells to heal those tissues.
The development of hepatitis may occur, which is swelling in the liver. If you have been drinking alcohol for several years, the act can harm your liver cells. As your body tries to heal itself, inflammation will begin to occur.
What Are the Ways That Alcohol Causes Inflammation?
One way alcohol causes inflammation is through disruption of the gut microbiome. This microbiome is the collection of good and bad bacteria in your body. Usually, your body can maintain this balance in a symbiotic relationship. What you consume can impact this balance. When it is out of balance, this is known as dysbiosis. In the case of alcohol, it can result in harmful bacteria growing into an abundance. This might damage the gut and gastrointestinal systems with time, leading to inflammation.
It may also make your intestines more permeable. This allows toxins to transfer from the intestines to the liver and circulatory system. When these toxins are introduced to those body areas, damage can occur to many organs. As mentioned before, injuries result in inflammation.
Alcohol can also cause impairment to the immune system by weakening it. Your immune system is responsible for regulating inflammation. If this system does not work correctly, it may not react to infections as quickly or require more effort to fight one off. It can also result in symptoms lasting longer. As a result, if your immune system has been damaged by alcohol, you might have inflammation that lasts longer than it usually would.
How to Spot the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol-Induced Inflammation
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of inflammation caused by alcohol include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Frequent or recurrent infections
- Tiredness
- Bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
- Yellowing skin or eyes
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Weight gain or loss
In severe circumstances, it may lead to kidney or liver failure. This often occurs when someone has been heavy drinking for several years. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical care. With proper treatment and recovery from an alcohol use disorder, the effects of alcohol-induced inflammation can be reversed.
What Is the Impact of Chronic Inflammation on Your Health?
Inflammation can either be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Most inflammations your body experiences are acute. If you fall and get a cut on your hand, you will experience swelling, warmth, redness, and pain in that area. When it comes to alcohol use, this inflammation is often chronic. It can significantly impact your body, and many organs will experience a long-term inflammatory response as healthy cells become damaged. This may lead to the development of several health conditions. Some of these may include:
- Stroke and other cardiovascular diseases
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Fatty liver disease
- Liver cancer
Are There Ways to Easily Reduce Inflammation from Alcohol at Home?
Reducing inflammation from alcohol involves many lifestyle changes. The most significant change will be to stop consuming alcohol. This will let your body heal properly from the damage caused by the substance. If you have an alcohol use disorder, this might seem like an impossible ask. Suppose you have tried to stop taking this substance in the past and found yourself unable to resist the cravings for it. In that case, alcohol treatment can provide you with support and guidance in your journey to a healthier life.
Other lifestyle changes may help improve inflammation from long-term alcohol use. One is eating a nutrient-dense diet. This involves avoiding processed foods with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients. Regular exercise can also reduce inflammation. Obtaining at least 150 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity exercise can help your body regain control over inflammation. Managing your stress can also help you reduce inflammation in your body.
Find Healing From Alcohol and Inflammation Today in Florida
If an alcohol use disorder and inflammation have made it challenging to run your company, finding treatment that will work for your unique needs is vital to you living a healthier life. With your busy life, you will want a rehab facility that provides direct and individualized care.
At Tranquil Shores, our 3:1 client-counselor ratio gives us the freedom to give you the utmost attention as you build the foundation for your recovery. During treatment, you will learn techniques to make leaving alcohol behind easier, and they can also be applied to help improve other areas of your life, reducing overall inflammation.
Your company doesn’t stop moving just because you need to attend treatment for an alcohol use disorder. At Tranquil Shores, we understand this, so we allow you to keep and use your electronic devices. You can access your work remotely while staying at our facility for treatment. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 727-391-7001 for the peaceful and private treatment you deserve.
FAQs About Alcohol and Inflammation
How long does inflammation from alcohol last?
This can vary based on several factors. If the inflammation from alcohol is acute, it may only last a few hours or days. On the other hand, if it is chronic, it will continue to last after the immediate effects of alcohol have worn off. With chronic inflammation, stopping alcohol use will result in decreased inflammation with time and treatment.
Does quitting alcohol reduce inflammation?
Yes. When you are no longer drinking alcohol and with proper treatment, inflammation can be reduced in time.
