Moreover, bone-marrow neutrophil production is significantly increased 24 to 48 hours after a systemic bacterial infection (Melvan et al. 2011). Alcohol exposure suppresses neutrophil production by the bone marrow and other blood cell–producing (i.e., hematopoietic) tissues (Melvan et al. 2011; Raasch et al. 2010; Siggins et al. 2011). This decreased neutrophil proliferation may account for the decreased number of neutrophils found in the lungs during the host response to pneumonia following alcohol consumption. Thus, G-CSF levels rise significantly within 3 hours of pulmonary bacterial infections, peaking at 12 hours, and plateauing around 18 hours post-infection within the lung and systemic circulation.
Alcohol-related lung damage is most common among those who are heavy drinkers or have been abusing alcohol for an extended amount of time. One way heavy drinking does this is by altering the airways over time, which can disrupt the inhalation process, decrease saliva production, and increase the risk for bacteria in the mouth. Although TB is treatable with antibiotics, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) is on the rise and has been reported worldwide (WHO 2014). One of the main factors increasing the prevalence of MDRTB is noncompliance by patients who do not complete their normal 6-month treatment regimen, leading to the emergence of drug-resistant M. A recent study of MDRTB in South Africa reports that of 225 patients diagnosed with MDRTB, only 50 percent were cured or completed treatment. Other countries also report similar TB treatment defaults in individuals with AUD, resulting in poorer treatment outcomes and increased mortality rates (Bumburidi et al. 2006; Jakubowiak et al. 2007).
Alcohol interferes with the normal functioning of the immune system, compromising its ability to defend against infections and maintain optimal lung health. Chronic alcohol use can disrupt the balance of immune cells and weaken the body’s defense mechanisms. This impaired immune function contributes to the increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
The Lungs: A Brief Tour
People may have a harder time coughing after consuming alcohol, which means they may not be able to clear their lungs appropriately. But as COPD gets worse, it might be time to take another look at your drinking habits. This can include taking medication, getting a flu shot every year, and getting a pneumonia shot regularly, Schachter says. As a result, they eventually need to drink more to notice the same effects they once did.
- Moreover, some alcohol-exposed mice showed severe inflammation with hemorrhage and edema.
- Neutrophils are the earliest immune effector cells recruited to the site of inflammation during a bacteria-triggered inflammatory response.
- While this study was small, it demonstrated the modest bronchodilator properties of IV ethanol.
- However, since the gag reflex does not work as well when someone is drunk, they might inhale these items into the lungs.
- Both clinical and experimental studies have detected increased oxidative stress in the alveolar space after alcohol exposure (Moss et al. 2000; Velasquez et al. 2002).
Tuberculosis and AUD
Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to fight off pathogens and viruses, leaving the lungs vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Understanding how alcohol affects the lungs is the first step towards making informed choices about alcohol consumption. In the following sections, we will explore the specific respiratory conditions that can arise from alcohol use, as well as tips for protecting lung health. Stay tuned to learn more about the long-term effects of alcohol on lung health, including conditions such as alcohol-induced lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Zuskin exposed healthy volunteers to a nebulized solution of 25% alcohol in water and measured flow rates and spirometry (Zuskin et al., 1981).
Figure 2. Effects of alcohol and related molecules on bronchial motor tone.
People who are having chemo are usually advised to limit their drinking, McCullough says. The main message McCullough and the American Cancer Society aim to share is that for lung cancer prevention, it’s best not to smoke. Ecstasy Withdrawal and Detox Despite the many screening methods, “there are lots of things that aren’t easily detected,” McCullough says.
The Long-Term Respiratory Effects of Drinking
Additional studies have demonstrated that alcohol-consuming animals are more likely to succumb to S. Pneumoniae within 2 to 4 days following infection compared with their nondrinking counterparts (Boe et al. 2001). Alcohol-induced suppression of G-CSF–driven neutrophil production combined with impaired bacterial clearance likely account for the high severity and mortality of bacterial infections among the alcohol-fed mice observed in these studies. Another fundamental mechanism that appears to drive many of the pathophysiological manifestations of the alcoholic lung phenotype is a severe depletion of glutathione stores within the alveolar space. In both experimental animal models and humans, chronic alcohol ingestion causes a profound decrease of up to 80 percent to 90 percent in alveolar glutathione levels (Holguin et al. 1998; Moss et al. 2000).
Emory University pulmonologist David Guidot has made it his life’s work to study the effects of AUD on the lungs. As he explains in an Emory Medicine press release, “The lungs are especially vulnerable because chronic drinking depletes them of glutathione, and the alveoli and small airways are very dependent on it. Chronic alcoholics have extremely low levels of glutathione in the lungs.” While the alcohol itself isn’t the direct cause of the changes, the oxidative stress that it causes leads to glutathione depletion. As a consequence, the expression and function of transporters that regulate zinc import and export across the epithelium are disrupted, further inhibiting these zinc-dependent pathways and exacerbating TGFβ1 expression.
Although air pollutants and chemical fumes can and do lead to COPD, it’s usually a lifelong smoking habit that causes COPD. COPD also develops in some people who were exposed to secondhand smoke for many years. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of conditions that make it hard for air to pass through the lungs.