Alcohol and Inflammation

Can Drinking Alcohol Cause Inflammation?

While moderate drinking is generally considered OK, excessive drinking can take a toll on your health. For example, excessive alcohol consumption can cause inflammation.

Gut microflora-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one cause of inflammation. And alcohol can significantly increase the body’s translocation of LPS from the gut.⁸  In healthy individuals, the liver plays a key role in detoxifying LPS. But alcohol can damage the liver, as well as the central nervous system, which also plays a role in preventing inflammation.

Basically, alcohol can not only cause inflammation, but it can also impair your body’s ability to regulate that inflammation. And then that inflammation can further damage your body’s organs. So it’s a vicious cycle that affects your long-term health.

The body’s inflammatory response to alcohol will vary from person to person, depending on how much they drink. Other factors like underlying health conditions will also play a role. For example, if you already struggle with a liver condition or have a weak immune system, your body may have even more difficulty fighting inflammation.

Can Alcohol Contribute to Chronic Inflammation?

Alcohol can contribute to chronic inflammation. In fact, chronic inflammation is often linked to alcohol-related health conditions.⁴ 

When your body metabolizes alcohol in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, it can disrupt tissue homeostasis. This can cause a chronic state of inflammation in the intestines.⁴ Alcohol can also cause inflammation in the joints, which is known as arthritis.¹

However, alcohol may have some anti-inflammatory benefits. This is because alcohol consumption reduces certain biomarkers of inflammation like the TNF-alpha receptor 2,  interleukin-6, and c-reactive protein (CRP).¹ So moderate alcohol consumption may ultimately reduce your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

But the keyword is moderate. Drinking in moderation refers to consuming no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink maximum per day for women.⁵

Can Alcohol Cause Joint and Muscle Pain?

Because alcohol can cause inflammation, it can also be the root cause of joint and muscle pain. Alcohol intake can bring on or trigger existing joint and muscle pain.

Joint and muscle pain can be very painful. The more alcohol you consume and the longer you abuse alcohol, the worse this pain can feel. This is especially true if you suffer from gout, which is a common and painful type of inflammatory arthritis.¹

What Health Conditions Can Develop From Alcohol Inflammation?

Alcohol inflammation can cause a number of health conditions. For example, alcohol inflammation can cause fatty liver disease, which refers to a buildup of fats in the liver. Not everyone who has fatty liver disease has alcohol-induced fatty liver disease, but it is common with prolonged alcohol abuse.

Alcohol inflammation can also worsen arthritis, particularly if you suffer from gout, which is painful inflammatory arthritis.¹ Alcohol can bring on gout attacks because it may be rich in purine.

If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you may also be affected by alcohol inflammation. Alcohol consumption can trigger a flare-up in IBD because of its pro-oxidant effects and damage to gut barrier functioning.⁶ After all, chronic alcohol intake can cause intestinal inflammation, alter the intestinal microbiota composition, and affect its immune homeostasis.⁴

Tips for Reducing Alcohol-Induced Inflammation

Alcohol-induced inflammation can cause health complications. These may range from mild to severe depending on how much alcohol you consume and for how long. Other health conditions will also influence the way alcohol affects you.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce alcohol-induced inflammation. The best way is to cut back on alcohol consumption and only drink in moderation (if at all).

If you have trouble cutting back on drinking or quitting altogether, seek professional help. You may be dealing with alcohol use disorder, and giving up alcohol alone can be both challenging and dangerous.

Another way to fight alcohol-induced inflammation is by staying hydrated. Because alcohol dehydrates you, and dehydration can exacerbate inflammation, drink water while and after you drink alcohol. Staying hydrated can also help to prevent a hangover the next day.

If you are suffering from health complications as a result of alcohol-induced inflammation, consult your healthcare provider. Your doctor can prescribe you a treatment plan or medications for conditions like fatty liver disease, arthritis, and IBD.

Do You Have a Drinking Problem?

If you are worried you have a drinking problem, you are not alone. In fact, about 18 million adults in the United States struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD).² AUD refers to drinking that causes distress or harm.

The symptoms of AUD vary depending on severity. However, generally, AUD symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following:²

• Having cravings for alcohol
• Drinking alone often
• Using alcohol as a coping mechanism
• Needing to drink more and more alcohol to achieve the same drunk effect
• Drinking despite the physical, mental, emotional, and/or financial consequences
• Allowing alcohol use to disrupt day-to-day activities
• Letting alcohol interfere with personal and professional relationships
• Developing alcohol-related medical conditions
• Having a weakened immune system

If you or someone you know are struggling with a drinking problem, seek professional help. Detoxing from alcohol or cutting it out cold turkey can lead to alcohol withdrawal, which can be dangerous and even deadly.

Alcohol withdrawal can happen when heavy and prolonged alcohol use is stopped suddenly or consumption is significantly reduced.³ It can happen within just a few hours or occur within a few days. 

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Sleeping problems
• Hand tremors
• Mood changes
• Irritation
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Unconsciousness
• Death

Treatment for Alcohol Misuse & Addiction

Treatment for alcohol use disorder is available, and there are plenty of options out there. For example, you may choose to visit an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation center. Rehab provides you with professional partners along your road to recovery. You will work with trusted medical professionals and psychologists, as well as alongside others in your shoes.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can also help you unpack triggers that drive you to drink and find healthier coping mechanisms. Therapy can also help you address depression and/or anxiety, which is often linked to alcohol abuse.

Other types of holistic therapies are also available. You may decide to combine various forms of therapy and spiritual or religious practices to support your recovery journey.

In some cases, medications are used to treat alcohol addiction. These include disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate.⁷ They are currently the only medications that are approved by the United States Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help people stop or reduce alcohol intake and prevent relapse.

None of the above medications are addictive. They all may be used alone or in conjunction with other types of treatment.

If you or someone you know is curious about treatment for alcohol misuse and addiction, do not hesitate to reach out to a trusted professional. Waiting too long can be fatal. Seek help before it is too late.