Most of the population in our country firmly believes that during colds, drinking alcoholic beverages can provide significant help to the body on the road to recovery. But that's a big mistake. Ethanol not only won't help you recover faster, it can cause even more damage. So, can you drink alcohol at a temperature during colds? We will have to fully understand this problem.
Ethyl alcohol and colds
The myth that alcohol helps the body deal with colds is based on a warming effect. But it seems so, because after entering the bloodstream, ethanol causes vasodilation, and this leads to blood flow to the skin. The person feels heat, but these sensations are misleading because only the skin is heated and the thermal energy is quickly released into the environment and causes heat loss.
It is not highly recommended to drink alcohol in the cold. The false sensation of emerging heat is dangerous, the person does not feel the real temperature.
If you drink during a cold, then, strangely, viruses and bacteria will not spread sideways, but will continue to exist. Alcohol negatively affects the functioning of the immune system, which weakens the body and prevents it from fighting infections. The systematic intake of alcoholic beverages during an illness will increase the number of pathogenic bacteria, so the course of the illness will only worsen.
But among doctors there is also the opinion that a glass of red wine can be an excellent prevention of colds. Considering that many do not know how to drink culturally, it is better not to think about this prevention.
Ethyl alcohol and temperature
A rise in temperature during an illness is not a symptom, but a reaction of the body to an invasion of foreign agents. It is at high rates on the thermometer that the immune system is able to destroy pathogenic organisms. If the temperature doesn't go above 38. 5 degrees, then you shouldn't rush to bring it down, let the body fight and build immunity, but you shouldn't interfere. And alcohol can become that same obstacle.
In any condition, drinking alcohol is undesirable, but even more so in the presence of temperature. If, with readings in the range of 37-37, 5°C, this still isn't that dangerous, then when on a 38 thermometer you don't need to risk your health. Alcohol and temperature are not compatible for the following reasons:
- When the temperature rises, the body suffers from a lack of water, so you need to drink plenty of fluids, and alcohol will only make the situation worse. Ethanol further dehydrates the body, complicating the course of the disease.
- During an illness, the body starts functioning in an emergency mode, the heart rate increases, and if you drink, even during this period, the heart goes through a great deal of stress. The pulse quickens, blood pressure rises, the entire cardiovascular system is adversely affected by alcohol.
- Drinking alcohol at high temperatures can cause unexpected bodily reactions. At first, it may even decrease a little, but later it will rise even more and cause a worsening in well-being.
It is always necessary to remember that not only can a cold be accompanied by a jump in temperature, but also more serious illnesses. And drinking alcohol with them can be even more dangerous.
Why does alcohol cause a rise in temperature?
The fact that alcohol dilates blood vessels is no secret. But what are the reasons for the increase in temperature when drinking alcohol? Let's try to answer this question:
- Ethanol has dilated blood vessels, which can lead to an increase in temperature.
- The body in some may perceive alcohol as an allergen and react accordingly with rising temperature, skin rashes.
- There are times when there is a congenital intolerance to ethanol, which can also increase the temperature.
- Alcohol intolerance can develop throughout life as a result of certain illnesses or allergic reactions accompanied by a high fever.
- Don't forget that alcoholic beverages can contain various impurities that can cause an allergic reaction with an increase in temperature.
- Alcohol can cause stomach pain, problems appear in the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by fever.
- Poisoning the body with ethanol and its breakdown products is another likely reason that after drinking alcohol during a cold, thermometer readings increase.
So it's best not to take risks and not test your body's strength. It is much more logical to call a doctor than to try to get better with alcohol.
Exceptions for drinking alcohol for colds
If the temperature does not exceed 37, 5 ° C, then you can afford to take alcohol, but only special. This applies to mulled wine. The drink is a wine heated to 70 ° and combined with cinnamon, ginger and cloves. This drink provides the body with useful substances and trace elements, which are important during illness. Ethyl alcohol, when heated, practically evaporates, so its content in the finished drink is reduced to zero.
If there is a temperature, it is better to cool the mulled wine a little.
Beer can be used in place of wine, but the drink must also be heated well so that the ethanol molecules evaporate and add spices. Beer contains B vitamins, vitamin C. But don't get carried away, a glass of mulled wine or beer will do.
Basal temperature and alcohol
The basal temperature graph is often compiled by women who are trying to get pregnant. It is easy to follow when the eggs mature, which increases the chances of fertilization. For accuracy purposes, this graph is fixed for a long time so that all deviations can be tracked.
A woman must remember that alcohol consumption can drastically affect basal temperature. Indicators 37. 1-37. 3 already symbolize that a new life is being born in the woman's body. Alcohol consumption can cause a false rise in temperature and the indicators cannot be considered reliable.
It is possible to combine antipyretic drugs and alcohol
A sane person understands that no medication should be taken at the same time as drinking alcohol. This also applies to antipyretic medications. What happens if you take alcohol and a fever pill? The following complications are possible:
- The probability of side effects increases many times. If they do not appear in a sober person, in combination with ethanol, the risk increases several times.
- Ethyl alcohol increases the toxic effect of drugs on the liver, believe me, this organ will not thank you for such a gift.
- Even drinking beer during colds and antipyretic therapy can cause nausea and vomiting.
How long can you take pills after drinking alcohol? The answer may be: not earlier than 4-6 hours if a glass of wine has been drunk. Naturally, with a large amount of alcohol consumed, the time period should be increased even further.
Complications and consequences of fever after alcohol
In the end, alcohol does not lower the temperature, on the contrary, it raises it. This can lead to the following disastrous consequences:
- There is a risk of damage to the nervous system.
- Danger of severe, life-threatening dehydration.
- Blood circulation is impaired.
- Blood pressure rises.
- The blood becomes sticky and there is a risk of blood clots.
Do not delay visiting the doctor if the temperature does not drop for several days and is maintained at high levels. This situation becomes dangerous for the work of the entire organism. It is necessary to urgently lower the temperature if:
- Seizures are noted.
- The patient has chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
- There are lung diseases at diagnosis.
- There are nervous system pathologies and mental abnormalities.
- The patient suffers from diabetes mellitus.
It should be borne in mind that damage can be caused not only by the alcohol ingested, but also in the form of friction, and this too is often practiced. It's better to entrust treatment of colds to specialists or proven remedies and not subject your body to further testing.