Alcohol sales have soared in the US since lockdown, prompting experts to warn of virus risks
Health experts have warned that heavy consumption of alcohol during lockdown could leave people at increased risks from the coronavirus.
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Researchers in the US have warned that turning to heavy drinking during the COVID-19 lockdown could leave you more susceptible to the worst impacts of the virus.
Rising sales of alcohol around the US since lockdown came into effect has led health experts to speak out about the dangers of mixing booze and the coronavirus.
They say while alcohol may help people relax and perhaps deal with feelings of anxiety in the short term, it may also be reducing their ability to resist and cope with the virus.
“People drink because it mellows them,” said Dr Shannon Sovndal, an ER doctor and author of Fragile, a revealing look at life in the emergency room.
“Well, alcohol has a similar effect on the immune system, making it slow and lethargic.”
And the World Health Organisation is also concerned about the broader problems likely to stem from heavy drinking in lock down.
WHO’s regional office for Europe recommended governments restrict access to alcohol and “any relaxation of regulations or their enforcement should be avoided.”
More than 3 million people die every year from alcohol, the WHO said, adding that alcohol consumption during an emergency can “exacerbate health vulnerability, risk-taking behaviours, mental health issues, and violence”.
Alcohol sales in the US were up 22 per cent at the end of March, compared to the same time frame last year.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we should really ask ourselves what risks we are taking in leaving people under lockdown in their homes with a substance that is harmful both in terms of their health and the effects of their behaviour on others, including violence,” said Carina Ferreira-Borges, program manager for WHO Europe’s alcohol and illicit drugs program.
One study showed the immediate impact getting drunk can have on the immune system. Based on the results, the immune system may see a brief boost about 20 minutes after “peak intoxication”.
About two to five hours after getting drunk, however, that boost fades and the immune system significantly slows down.
Researchers noticed a reduction in the white blood cells important to immunity, along with an increase in proteins that reduce the immune system’s effectiveness.
The Mayo Clinic’s findings also indicate that drinking too much alcohol can have a negative impact on the body’s immune system, specifically, that excessive drinking makes it harder for the body to resist disease.
The Mayo Clinic also says that excessive drinking increases the risk of developing pneumonia, which is a common illness developed among people who suffer from severe symptoms due to COVID-19 and can complicate recovery.