The majority of the population of our country firmly believes that the consumption of alcohol during a cold can significantly help the body to recover. But this is a big mistake. Ethanol will not only help you get up faster, but it can do more harm than good. So, is it possible to drink alcohol at room temperature during a cold? We must fully understand this issue.
Ethyl alcohol and colds
The myth that alcohol helps the body cope with colds is based on the warming effect. However, this only seems to be the case, because once ethanol enters the bloodstream, it causes vasodilatation, which in turn causes blood flow to the skin. Humans feel heat, but such feelings are deceptive, because only the skin is heated and heat energy is quickly released into the environment, causing heat loss.
It is not recommended to drink alcohol in the cold. The resulting false sense of heat is dangerous, the person does not feel the real temperature.
Strange as it may seem, if you drink during a cold, viruses and bacteria will not spread to the sides, but will continue to exist. Alcohol only affects the immune system, which weakens the body and prevents it from fighting infection. Systematic intake of alcohol during the disease will increase the number of pathogenic bacteria, so the course of the disease will only get worse.
However, there is an opinion among doctors that a glass of red wine can be an excellent prevention of colds. Given that many people do not know how to drink culturally, it is better not to think about such prevention.
Ethyl alcohol and temperature
An increase in temperature during the disease is not a symptom, but a reaction of the body to the invasion of foreign agents. At high speeds on the thermometer, the immune system is able to destroy pathogens. If the temperature is not more than 38. 5 degrees, then you should not rush to knock it down, do not allow the body to fight and build immunity, but do not interfere. And alcohol can be such a barrier.
In any case, alcohol intake is undesirable, but even more so in the presence of temperature. If it's still not that dangerous with readings in the 37-37, 5 ° C range, you don't need to risk your health when you're on the 38 thermometer. Alcohol and temperature are not compatible for the following reasons:
- When the temperature rises, the body suffers from dehydration, so it is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, and alcohol will aggravate the condition. Ethanol further dehydrates the body, complicating the course of the disease.
- During the disease, the body begins to work in an emergency mode, the heart rate increases, and even if you drink during this period, the heart experiences great stress. The pulse speeds up, blood pressure rises, and the entire cardiovascular system is negatively affected by alcohol.
- Drinking alcohol at high temperatures can cause unexpected body reactions. At first, it may even decrease a little, but then it will rise further and lead to a deterioration in well-being.
It should always be borne in mind that a cold can be accompanied not only by a rise in temperature, but also by more serious diseases. Drinking alcohol with them can be even more dangerous.
Why does alcohol cause a rise in temperature?
It is no secret that alcohol dilates blood vessels. What are the causes of fever when drinking alcohol? Try to answer this question:
- Ethanol has dilated blood vessels, which can cause a rise in temperature.
- In some cases, the body may perceive alcohol as an allergen, and the corresponding increase in temperature may react with rashes on the skin.
- There are times when there is a congenital intolerance to ethanol, which can increase the temperature.
- Alcohol intolerance can develop throughout life as a result of certain diseases or allergic reactions accompanied by high fever.
- Keep in mind that alcohol can contain various contaminants that can cause an allergic reaction with an increase in temperature.
- Alcohol can cause stomach pain, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by fever.
- Poisoning the body with ethanol and its decay products is another reason for the increase in thermometer readings after drinking alcohol during a cold.
Therefore, it is better not to take risks and not to test your body for strength. It makes more sense to consult a doctor than to try to recover from alcoholism.
Exceptions to drinking alcohol for colds
If the temperature does not exceed 37, 5 ° C, then you can take alcohol, but special. This applies to hot wines. The drink is a wine heated to 70 ° and combined with cinnamon, ginger and cloves. This drink provides the body with nutrients and trace elements that are important during the disease. As for ethyl alcohol, it practically evaporates when heated, so the content in the finished drink is reduced to zero.
If there is a temperature, it is better to cool the hot wine a little.
Beer can be used instead of wine, but the drink must also be heated well so that the ethanol molecules evaporate and spices are added. Beer contains B vitamins, vitamin C. But do not take yourself, a glass of hot wine or beer will suffice.
Basal temperature and alcohol
The basal temperature chart is often compiled by women trying to conceive. It is easy to monitor the maturation of the egg, which increases the chances of fertilization. For accuracy, such a graph is fixed for a long time so that it is possible to track all deviations.
A woman should remember that drinking alcohol can dramatically affect the basal temperature. 37. 1-37. The 3 indicators now symbolize the birth of new life in a woman's body. Alcohol can cause an incorrect rise in temperature, and the indicators can not be considered reliable.
Is it possible to combine antipyretic drugs and alcohol?
A sane person understands that no medication should be taken at the same time as alcohol. This also applies to antipyretic drugs. What happens if you take pills for alcohol and fever? The following complications are possible:
- The probability of side effects increases many times. If they are not seen in a sober person, the risk increases several times with ethanol.
- Ethyl alcohol enhances the toxic effects of drugs on the liver, believe me, this body will not thank you for such a gift.
- Even drinking beer during cold and antipyretic therapy is fraught with nausea and vomiting.
How long can I take the pills after drinking alcohol? The answer may be: if you buy a glass of wine, no later than 4-6 hours. Of course, when consuming large amounts of alcohol, the period should be extended.
Complications and consequences of fever after alcohol
It turned out that alcohol does not lower the temperature, but raises it. This can lead to the following catastrophic consequences:
- There is a risk of damage to the nervous system.
- Danger of severe dehydration, which is life-threatening.
- Blood circulation is disturbed.
- Blood pressure jumps.
- The blood becomes viscous and there is a risk of blood clotting.
If the temperature does not fall for several days and remains high, do not delay calling a doctor. This situation is dangerous for the whole organism. The temperature should be lowered immediately in the following cases:
- Convulsions are observed.
- The patient has chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
- Diagnosed with lung disease.
- There are pathologies of the nervous system and mental disorders.
- The patient suffers from diabetes.
It should be borne in mind that the damage can occur not only with ingested alcohol, but also in the form of friction, and this is often the case. It is better to entrust the treatment of colds to specialists or proven means and not to test your body further.