Being sick and lousy is one of the most frustrating experiences. Not only does it make you dull, but it also drains all your motivation. In such a scenario, a glass of beer might seem like an energy booster to you. Those calm and soothing effects are just temporary. Alcohol actually delays your recovery and worsens the symptoms.
You might have heard that drinking alcohol when sick kills pathogens and helps in restoration. That’s just a nasty myth. Diseases weaken your immune system, and alcohol consumption further impairs the body’s defense mechanism. In addition, prolonged alcohol addiction can lead to severe conditions and organ damage.
Check out the top reasons why you should not drink beer when sick and promote a healthy lifestyle
1. Slows Down Recovery
One of the major drawbacks of alcohol consumption is that it prolongs sickness. Excessive drinking can suppress your immune system and make an illness last longer. In addition, alcohol addicts are more likely at risk of pneumonia, alcoholic liver diseases, and respiratory disorders.
Not just heavy drinkers but casual alcohol consumers will also experience more intense illness. Moreover, it also slows down the healing of infections and wounds. Besides putting you at higher risk for many diseases, it has an adverse impact on your gastrointestinal system and lungs.
2. Messes up Your Sleep Cycle
What else can lead to a satisfying sleep than a chilled glass of beer before bed? Alcohol indeed lets you sleep faster, but later, you will end up with restlessness and frequent awakenings.
As soon as alcohol enters your bloodstream, it starts messing up with the sleep hormones and chemicals. The standard production of melatonin and serotonin is altered, resulting in irregular sleeping patterns.
During sickness, your body heals itself while sleeping. The deep sleep or slow-wave stage helps in restoration and regeneration. At the same time, it strengthens the immune system. You might have slept the whole night, but alcohol interrupts the deep sleep stage. As a result, you wake up feeling tired in the morning.
3. Diuretic Effect
What makes Alcohol consumption worse during sickness is its dehydration properties. A single glass of beer can remove fluids from your body more quickly than any other beverage.
It is so because our body produces the Vasopressin hormone, which helps in urine regulation. Alcohol consumption suppresses the hormone level, causing the body to release excessive water.
Drinking on an empty stomach lets the alcohol enter your bloodstream immediately, making you feel loopy. In addition to this, dehydration by alcohol can cause:
- Stiff or cramped muscles.
- Changes in hormone levels result in skin acne.
- Processing alcohol components can damage your kidneys.
- You may face difficulties in performing some cognitive functions, like making choices.
4. Loss of Appetite
The immune system needs the best help when you are sick. Your body could go under malnutrition if not adequately nourished. Having beer under such circumstances can alter the blood sugar levels that lead to loss of hunger.
Also, the taste and smell can be adversely affected due to the draining of zinc compounds from the body. This compound regulates the senses of smell and taste, which is eventually drained off due to frequent urination caused by drinking alcohol.
5. Harmful Interactions with Medicines
You might have noticed the warning about mixing alcohol with medicines. Drinking while taking medications can lead to many harmful interactions. Cold and flu medicinal ingredients can interact with alcohol, making you drowsy and lightheaded.
Sometimes, alcohol consumption limits the functions of medications, making them less effective or useless. Not only this, nausea, vomiting, or headaches are also reported. However, the danger is sometimes real, resulting in severe heart problems, internal bleeding, or breathing difficulties.
Women are more liable to alcohol-medication interactions than men. At the same time, older people are at the highest risk. You might be thinking about altering the timings of taking alcohol and medicines. It won’t help. Even then, both will interact harmfully.
6. Worsens your Drowsiness
Fatigue and drowsiness are some of the prominent consequences of illness. It is so because your body gets weak, making you feel dull and less motivated. In such a scenario, alcohol may seem like a short burst of energy, but its sedative effects can make you more tired.
You have probably noticed that we feel more sleepy while sick. It is so because the human body incorporates a self-healing mechanism. It heals itself when asleep, but alcohol raises the level of stress hormones in your body. As a result, one may experience disrupted sleep or frequent awakenings. Sometimes, it also leads to persistent insomnia.
As soon as alcohol enters the bloodstream, it affects your central nervous system. The brain cells can no longer fire properly, causing more tiredness.
7. Slow down your Metabolism
Did you know a healthy immune system can only metabolize a single drink an hour? Now, think the other way around. The body drains away all its nutrients and energy to metabolize the alcoholic compounds in the first place, making the condition even worse.
When you take alcohol, there is no way your body can digest it except to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The body starts to process it to eliminate it from the system since the components, unlike protein and fats, cannot be stored. This diverts all your liver’s energy, fats, and proteins towards processing alcohol, depriving your body of what it needs the most.
Instant elimination of alcohol causes the removal of many beneficial vitamins. In addition, drinking also damages the stomach cells and reduces their ability to absorb nutrients.
Conclusion
Now you know why you should avoid beer when sick. Even the most minor diseases like cold or flu weaken your immune system. Having alcohol in such conditions is never a good option. Therefore, try to reduce your beer consumption and include more electrolytes and healthy food in your diet.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
