Canada
A 39-year-old male asked:
Does alcohol use weaken the immune system? i am not talking about being an alcoholic but rather a casual drinker or even one drink per day.
4 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Internal Medicine 38 years experience
No.: You do not have more or different infections from a drink a day.
Getting totally drunk and vomiting and having the vomit go into the lungs can go around immune protection. Living on alcohol and not getting any food weakens the immune system. That's very different than 1 drink a day.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. John Munshoweranswered
Family Medicine 32 years experience
See answer: Over time, and with other underlying medical conditions, it may make you feel run down and weaken you, but generally, a glass of wine for example, as evidenced by several European studies, may provide some cardiac benefit, and has not revealed any immune system issues.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Stanley Linganswered
Specializes in Internal Medicine
Probably not: Alcohol should not cause immune problems unless you over do it and have alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcohol ingestion about 5to 10oz should be fine.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ismail Penukondaanswered
Family Medicine 23 years experience
Moderate use - No: According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days. Moderate drinking doesn't affect immunity negatively but chronic drinking can have a negative impact.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A Verified Doctor commented
A US doctor answered Learn more
Jul 27, 2014
Last updated Feb 10, 2017
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