For example, antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression in some people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people may experience higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. This may cause some people to consume more alcohol than they usually would. While hand sanitizer containing alcohol may kill the virus on surfaces, drinking alcohol doesn’t cure or prevent a COVID-19 infection.
For example, some research suggests that poor sleep can make long COVID worse, and difficulty sleeping is a common side effect of drinking alcohol. Some evidence suggests that post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome may share characteristics with ME/CFS, a condition where approximately 4 out of 5 people exhibit alcohol intolerance. Severe illness, grief, isolation, disrupted schooling, job loss, economic hardship, shortages of food and supplies, mental health problems, and limited access to health care — these are just some of the sources of stress people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The last but not the least is the reverse analysis – how alcohol use disorder may influence the way of dealing with the pandemic from the personal safety perspective. Considering the scale of its consequences and the huge stress-related burden, COVID-19 pandemic can be considered as a mass trauma, which can lead to psychological problems, health behavior changes, and addictive issues, including alcohol consumption [16,17].
He is a national leader in efforts to prevent and treat AUD and to educate people about risky alcohol use. There are claims that drinking alcohol can help protect people from SARS-CoV-2, which is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. However, if you’re physically dependent on alcohol or drink heavily, stopping drinking without medical supervision may be dangerous. If you’re ready to does alcohol cause dry eyes seek treatment, do so after your infection has cleared. Anecdotally, some people with long COVID develop an alcohol intolerance.
Alcohol consumed for long time acts as a stressor on the body and makes it difficult to maintain homeostasis [28,29]. The immediate benefit of alcohol consumption can mask the long-term harmful effect [30,31]. Most often, adults who drink alcohol constantly justify consumption by claiming reducing mental stress, maintaining a state of physical and mental relaxation, but also improving their social behavior [32]. However, due to the action of ethanol on the central nervous system, at high doses of alcohol, there is an inhibitory effect that involves reduced discernment and weakened attention and memory [33]. Thus, it becomes a risk factor for altering behavior and decision-making.
Do some people have a higher risk for AUD triggered by events like the pandemic?
Further research is needed to establish a clearer understanding of this phenomenon. According to several anecdotal reports, alcohol intolerance, which is characterized by reactions like nausea, low blood pressure, fatigue, and dizziness when consuming alcohol, may be a unique symptom of long COVID. The main effects of increasing alcohol consumption on health during Covid-19 pandemic. 1 we summarized the most important effects of increasing alcohol consumption on health during COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from the intensively and analyzed trends and motivations of adults’ alcohol consumption, there are several sensitive and less discussed issues, with potential long-term consequences, that would deserve more attention. Another important factor is malnutrition secondary to excessive alcohol intake [62].
Initially, social distancing, along with increasing population testing, are the only effective measures to control the pandemic but with several consequences on long-term [[12], [13], [14]]. Public health measures include non-pharmacological interventions that can be used to reduce and delay community transmission [4]. The goal is to slow down the pace of new cases and reduce the peak of cases in the community, as well as the burden on health systems. In fact, it is possible that excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing COVID-19-induced illness, as this can affect the immune system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines excessive alcohol use as binge drinking, heavy drinking, alcohol use by people under the minimum legal drinking age, and alcohol use by pregnant women. AUD is a clinical diagnosis that indicates someone’s drinking is causing distress and harm.
- One theory suggests that the virus causing COVID-19 acts as a severe stressor, possibly affecting a part of the brain called the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).
- Further research is needed to establish a clearer understanding of this phenomenon.
- It’s typically related to an inability to properly process or metabolize alcohol.
- NIH-funded study identifies managing maternal stress as a possible way to lessen impacts of prenatal infection on infant socioemotional and cognitive development.
- While hand sanitizers containing 60-95% ethyl alcohol can help destroy the coronavirus on surfaces, drinking alcohol—including beverages with high percentages of alcohol—offers no protection from the virus.
- Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa.
NIAAA Director, Dr. George Koob, discusses what we know about how alcohol affects our immune and stress systems, along with issues related to treatment access during the pandemic. These symptoms can occur when mixing alcohol with many common over-the-counter pain relievers, as well as certain cold and allergy medications. For example, getting regular exercise and practicing stress reduction techniques can help reduce symptoms. It is also important to prevent feelings of isolation by reaching out to friends and family when possible.
Alcohol can cause digestive upset, difficulty sleeping, trouble with concentration, and other unpleasant side effects that may worsen your symptoms. This connection could provide insights into how long COVID might contribute to alcohol intolerance. But after her infection, she found herself unable to tolerate even small amounts of alcohol, experiencing unpleasant sensations like lightheadedness, sluggishness, and queasiness after just a few sips. Long COVID refers to persistent symptoms that occur more than three weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection. Learn how NIH has improved basic understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and sped up the development of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and testing. NIAAA supports a wide range of research on alcohol use and its effects on health and wellbeing.
What are some healthier options for coping with stressful events and avoiding risky drinking behaviors?
NIH-funded study identifies managing maternal stress as a possible way to lessen impacts of prenatal infection on infant socioemotional and cognitive development. It can also interact with several common medications, such as ibuprofen, to cause further symptoms. There are a variety of myths regarding alcohol consumption and SARS-CoV-2. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ethyl alcohol (ethanol or alcohol) is part of the cultural traditions of most societies, since the beginning of central nervous system (cns) depressants civilization. Evidence of obtaining alcohol by distillation dates from the year 1100 BCE. Although the history of alcohol abuse is as old as its production, alcohol consumption has become a public health problem since the 18th and 19th centuries, with the impoverishment of industrial workers.
Drinking alcohol does not prevent or treat coronavirus infection and may impair immune function
Psychotherapies use different methods to help a person understand and change their patterns of thinking and behavior. It is possible for high concentrations of alcohol, such as enabling vs helping 60–90%, to kill some forms of bacteria and viruses. There’s no consensus on whether alcohol affects the antiviral medications used to treat COVID-19.
Treatment for long COVID, including symptoms like alcohol intolerance, typically involves a multidisciplinary approach aimed at managing specific symptoms and improving overall well-being. While research on alcohol intolerance post-COVID-19 is limited, numerous anecdotal reports suggest that alcohol intolerance could be a symptom of long COVID for some individuals. There’s growing evidence that it may be a unique symptom of long COVID, particularly the post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS) type.
How concerned should we be about people drinking to deal with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s a good idea to avoid alcohol if you’re currently ill with COVID-19. Some research suggests that alcohol intolerance is common for people with long COVID. While not widely recognized as a symptom of long COVID due to limited research, alcohol intolerance has been reported by some individuals.
For example, beta-blockers can help control the physical responses to anxiety, such as increased heart rate. Although some people turn to alcohol, there are many other ways of coping with feelings of depression and anxiety. According to a 2015 article in the journal Alcohol Research, alcohol can prevent immune cells from working properly. It can also cause inflammation to occur, further weakening the immune system. It can also increase the risk of certain infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. No research suggests that you’ll develop long COVID if you drink alcohol while you have a COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 pandemic and alcohol consumption: Impacts and interconnections
She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. However, these medications can cause unpleasant side effects, like headaches, which may be worsened with alcohol use. If you’re ready to enter treatment and stop drinking, you’ll likely have to wait until your COVID-19 infection is no longer transmissible before you enter a detox program. Going “cold turkey” when you have a physical dependence on alcohol can be dangerous.