Most of the population of our country strongly believe that during the cold, taking alcoholic beverages can give a considerable help to the body on the path of recovery. But this is a big mistake. Ethanol will not only not help you get up faster, but it can do even more harm. So can you drink alcohol at room temperature while cooling? We will have to fully understand this issue.
Ethyl alcohol and colds
The myth that alcohol helps the body cope with colds is based on a warming effect. But this only seems so, because once it enters the bloodstream, ethanol provokes vasodilation and this leads to blood flow to the skin. A person feels warmth, but such sensations are deceptive because only the skin heats up and the heat energy is released quickly into the environment and causes heat loss.
It is not strictly recommended to take alcohol in the cold. False feeling of warmth is dangerous, the person does not feel the real temperature.
If you drink during a cold, then, surprisingly, viruses and bacteria will not spread to the sides, but will continue to exist. Alcohol only negatively affects the functioning of the immune system, which weakens the body and prevents it from fighting infection. Systematic intake of alcoholic beverages during an illness will increase the number of pathogenic bacteria, so the course of the illness will only worsen.
But there is also an opinion among doctors that a glass of red wine can be an excellent prevention of colds. Given that many do not know how to drink culturally, it is better not to think about such a prevention.
Ethyl alcohol and temperature
An increase in temperature during an illness is not a symptom, but a reaction of the body to an invasion of foreign agents. It is at high rates on the thermometer that the immune system is able to destroy pathogenic organisms. If the temperature does not exceed 38. 5 degrees, then you should not rush to knock it down, let the body fight and form immunity, but you should not interfere. And alcohol can only become a hindrance.
In any case, alcohol intake is undesirable, but even more so in the presence of temperature. If, with readings in the range 37-37, 5 ° C, this is still not so dangerous, then when you are on a 38 thermometer you do not need to risk your health. Alcohol and temperature are not compatible for the following reasons:
- When the temperature rises, the body suffers from a lack of water, so you should drink plenty of fluids and alcohol will only make the situation worse. Ethanol dehydrates the body even more, complicating the course of the disease.
- During an illness, the body begins to work in an emergency, the heart rate increases and if you drink even during this period, the heart experiences tremendous stress. Pulse speeds up, blood pressure rises, the entire cardiovascular system is negatively affected by alcohol.
- Drinking alcohol at high temperatures can provoke sudden reactions of the body. At first it may decrease a little, but then it will increase even more and will provoke a deterioration in well-being.
It should always be remembered that not only a cold can be associated with a rise in temperature, but also more serious illness. And drinking alcohol with them can be even more dangerous.
Why does alcohol provoke a rise in temperature?
The fact that alcohol dilates blood vessels is no secret. But what are the reasons for the rise in temperature when you drink alcohol? Let's try to answer this question:
- Ethanol has dilated blood vessels, which can lead to a rise in temperature.
- The body in some may perceive alcohol as an allergen and react accordingly with an increase in temperature, redness of the skin.
- There are times when there is an innate intolerance to ethanol, which can also raise the temperature.
- Alcohol intolerance can develop throughout life as a result of certain diseases or allergic reactions associated with high fever.
- Remember that alcoholic beverages can contain various impurities that can cause an allergic reaction with a rise in temperature.
- Alcohol can cause stomach pain, problems with the gastrointestinal tract appear, which are associated with fever.
- Poisoning of the body with ethanol and its decay products is another possible reason that after ingestion of alcohol during a cold, the readings on the thermometer will increase.
So it is better not to risk and not to test your body for strength. It is much more logical to call a doctor than to try to improve with alcohol.
Exceptions to drinking alcohol for colds
If the temperature does not exceed 37, 5 ° C, then you can afford to take alcohol, but only special. This applies to boiled wine. The drink is a wine warmed up to 70 ° and combined with cinnamon, ginger and cloves. This drink provides the body with beneficial substances and trace elements, which is important during illness. As for ethyl alcohol, when heated, it practically evaporates, therefore, its content in the finished drink is reduced to zero.
If there is a temperature, then it is better to cool a little boiled wine.
Beer can be used instead of wine, but the drink must also be well heated so that the ethanol molecules evaporate and add spices. Beer contains vitamin B, vitamin C. But do not be discouraged, just a glass of boiled wine or beer.
Basal temperature and alcohol
The basal temperature chart is often compiled by women trying to conceive. It is easy to trace the moment of maturation of egg cells, which increases the chances of fertilization. For accuracy, such a graph is fixed for a long time so that all deviations can be traced.
A woman should remember that drinking alcohol can drastically affect basal temperature. Indicators 37. 1-37. 3 already symbolize that a new life is being born in a woman's body. Drinking alcohol can provoke a false rise in temperature and the indicators can not be considered reliable.
Is it possible to combine antipyretic drugs and alcohol
A reasonable person understands that no medication should be taken at the same time as drinking alcohol. This also applies to antipyretic drugs. What if you take alcohol and a fever pill? The following complications are possible:
- The possibility of side effects increases many times. If they may not appear in a sober person, then in combination with ethanol, the risk increases several times.
- Ethyl alcohol enhances the toxic effect of drugs on the liver, believe me, this organ will not thank you for such a gift.
- Even drinking beer during colds and antipyretic therapy is fraught with nausea and vomiting.
How long can you take the pill after taking alcohol? The answer may be as follows: no earlier than in 4-6 hours, if a glass of wine is taken. Of course, with a large amount of alcohol consumed, the time period should increase even more.
Complications and consequences of fever after alcohol
As it turned out, alcohol does not lower the temperature, but rather raises it. This can lead to the following catastrophic consequences:
- There is a risk of damage to the nervous system.
- Risk of severe dehydration, which is life threatening.
- Blood circulation is impaired.
- Blood pressure jumps.
- The blood becomes viscous and there is a risk of blood clotting.
Do not delay calling the doctor if the temperature has not dropped for several days and is kept at high levels. This situation becomes dangerous for the work of the whole organism. It is urgently necessary to lower the temperature if:
- Convulsions are observed.
- The patient has chronic pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- There are lung diseases in the diagnosis.
- There are pathologies of the nervous system and mental abnormalities.
- The patient suffers from diabetes mellitus.
It should be borne in mind that harm can be caused not only by alcohol taken internally, but also in the form of friction, and this is also often practiced. It is better to entrust cold treatment to specialists or proven medicines and not to subject your body to even more tests.