The Immune System and Alcohol: Why Drinkers Get Sick

Many people enjoy alcohol socially, but few understand its effect on the immune system. While occasional drinking may not cause immediate harm, regular and heavy alcohol use can weaken the body’s natural defenses.

How the Immune System Works

The immune system protects the body from harmful invaders like viruses, bacteria, and toxins. It includes white blood cells, antibodies, and other mechanisms that detect and destroy threats. A healthy immune system responds rapidly to threats. It creates immune memory, which helps your body recover faster after exposure to infections. However, alcohol interferes with nearly every part of this process.  

How Alcohol Affects Immunity

Alcohol affects the immune system in many ways, including:

Disruption of White Blood Cells

White blood cells play a major role in fighting infections. They destroy harmful bacteria and produce substances that neutralize viruses. However, research has shown that alcohol impairs the activity of neutrophils and macrophages—cells that are essential in the early immune response. 

When these cells become sluggish or fewer in number, your body cannot stop infections early. This increases your risk of severe illness.

Impaired Function of Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are white blood cells that create antibodies and kill infected cells. According to research, alcohol reduces both the number and function of lymphocytes, which lowers your resistance to disease.

With a reduced immune memory, your body responds poorly to vaccines and struggles to fight familiar viruses. This leads to more frequent and severe infections.

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Alcohol and the Gut Barrier

Your gut plays a hidden but vital role in immune health. It acts as a barrier, stopping harmful microbes from entering the bloodstream. Alcohol weakens this barrier by damaging the cells lining the intestinal wall.

According to research from the NIAAA, alcohol increases gut permeability, which allows bacteria and toxins to leak into the bloodstream. This condition, often called “leaky gut,” triggers widespread inflammation.

Inflammation drains immune resources and distracts your body from responding to real infections. Over time, this weakens your overall immune defense.

The Lung–Alcohol Connection

Your lungs rely on immune defenses to prevent infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. Cells in the lung lining trap and remove inhaled pathogens. But alcohol damages these cells and disrupts this defense system.

According to research, alcohol impairs the lungs’ first-line immune responses, making infections like pneumonia more likely in drinkers. Chronic drinkers often suffer more severe respiratory infections and slower recovery.

Alcohol’s Impact on the Liver and Immunity

The liver plays a crucial role in filtering toxins and supporting immunity. It produces proteins that help regulate inflammation and remove bacteria from the blood. Alcohol damages the liver over time, leading to fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis.

Research has shown that liver damage from alcohol weakens the body’s ability to fight infection, increasing risk of sepsis and chronic illness.

COVID-19 and Alcohol Use

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many health agencies warned against heavy drinking. Research has shown that alcohol weakens the immune response to respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses.

People who drank frequently had a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. This was especially true for individuals with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or lung disease.

Alcohol, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease

Alcohol not only lowers immune function but also increases inflammation. It causes immune cells to release cytokines, which are chemicals involved in inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammation stresses the immune system, reduces its efficiency, and contributes to chronic diseases.

Inflammation can also worsen conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. This means regular drinkers often face a combination of poor immunity and increased risk of systemic illness.

Why Drinkers Get Sick More Often

Drinkers, especially those who consume alcohol frequently or in large amounts, are more likely to catch infections. Studies show that people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are more vulnerable to pneumonia, tuberculosis, and respiratory illnesses. Alcohol weakens the lung’s natural barrier and makes it easier for pathogens to enter.

Chronic alcohol use also reduces the number and effectiveness of lymphocytes, which help the body remember and fight off previous infections. With fewer resources available, the body cannot respond as strongly to vaccines or illnesses

Protect Your Immunity

The immune system is your body’s defense shield. Regular alcohol use chips away at this shield, leaving you more vulnerable to illness. Even moderate alcohol use may have an effect, especially during flu season or outbreaks.

If you want to support your immune health, reducing or avoiding alcohol is one of the most effective steps. Your body will thank you with more energy, better resilience, and fewer sick days.

Herbal Detoxification 

For drinkers who are not yet ready to quit, regularly cleansing the body is a practical way to reduce alcohol-related harm. Alcohol can accumulate toxins in the liver, weaken immunity, and disrupt gut balance over time. Supporting the body’s natural detoxification process helps maintain better immune health and organ function. Using a herbal detox regularly may assist in clearing these toxins and reducing inflammation. Fekomi Alcohol Cleanser, a specially formulated herbal tea, offers a natural way to support the body’s defense system while continuing to drink.

Your Wellness Is Our Concern At Fekomi Wellness

Our team of highly qualified and certified healthcare consultants at Fekomi wellness are always ready and happy to help you with your health concerns. Visit Fekomiwellness today to  book an appointment and get started on your health journey. Kindly call our desk line on +2349074197154 for more enquiries.

References

1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) – “Alcohol and the Immune System”
   https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/   
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – “Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Health”
   https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/
3. Mayo Clinic – “Alcohol Use Disorder: Symptoms and Causes”
   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
4. NIH MedlinePlus Magazine – “The Immune System and Alcohol”
   https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/    alcohol-and-the-immune-system
5. American Addiction Centers – “How Alcohol Affects the Immune System”
   https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/