What kind of alcohol can you drink with a cold. Can you drink alcohol when you are sick? Features of treating colds with beer

Unfortunately, the climate most of us live in is far from ideal. Severe cold and snowy winter, windy spring, rainy autumn and such a short summer. Therefore, colds, or rather acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections, are the most frequent companions of our body during the change of season.

From year to year, people are looking for the most effective cure for colds that can quickly cure the patient. In addition, I want the drug to have a low cost, and there were no chemical impurities in it. Sometimes, in search of a panacea, humanity goes so far that the money spent on treatment with such means is only the smallest problem. The main threat unapproved therapies pose is primarily to the body.

However, the dismissal did not last in court. The employee was on sick leave due to problems with his arm. The interview visit did not affect his recovery - and therefore did not cause the cancellation. The fact that the employee applied a different job does not justify any dismissal. The Basic Law gives the employee free choice of work.

Cold prevention and treatment with alcohol

In one case, the boss announced the termination without notice because he noticed his bad employee in a local newspaper in a photograph - at a folk festival with a glass of Kölsch in hand. However, the Cologne Labor Court did not consider this a sufficient reason for dismissal: fresh air and a glass of Kölsch did not hold back the healing process from the very beginning.

People who do not have a medical education, completely not understanding the nuances of the structure of the human body and the processes occurring in it, attribute the healing power to absolutely inexplicable drugs, which often have only a placebo effect. But often there are cases when, due to their ignorance in the treatment of non-standard methods, people can harm the body, and in the most critical cases, bring the patient's condition even to death.

Cold treatment with alcohol, or what is the secret of "drink therapy"

Drinking a lot of alcohol and having it all night is generally not helpful. “Depending on the nature of the illness, it is possible that, for example, visiting a bar or pub at night could destroy or invalidate the evidentiary value of a medical certificate,” says Dr. Christian Salzbrunn, a lawyer in Düsseldorf.

Broken leg, severe flu, or mental illness: Those who are incapable of illness receive sickness benefits. Sick leave should be supplemented by more prolonged illness. “Otherwise, the right to sickness benefit will be lost,” explains Zelka Pintarik of the Independent Patient Advice Service in Landshut. A one-day break is enough. "In this case, with a few exceptions, there is no sick pay."

The processes occurring in the body when taking alcohol

With a cold, a person who has taken alcohol paralyzes the work of the skin vessels, then they tend to expand. This means that blood is supplied to these vessels in greater quantities, which gives a feeling of a false warming effect, since heating occurs only in the skin, the rest of the body at the moment maintains its own temperature. In the future, the body temperature gradually drops, and the body gives off heat much faster than with abstinence from alcohol. On the street, this effect is enhanced by the fact that the human body does not so sharply feel the effects of cold ambient air and a slight hypothermia can be achieved.

Yellow glow the next day. Patients should always keep in mind: “A follow-up prescription must have already been issued before the statute of limitations expires,” says Pintaric. Because, in principle, sick leave always applies only one day after the show. For example, if you are on sick leave until Wednesday, you must pick up your new sick leave no later than that day. "Because it will only apply from Thursday." Another example: sick leave is issued until Friday, the patient, but only goes to the doctor on Monday. It's too late, says Pintarich. "Because even weekends are included in the calculation."

But not all folk remedies drinking alcohol for colds are misconceptions. So, for example, in small doses, strong alcohol is recommended for use by a person who has spent a long time in the cold (it does not matter whether it is outside or in the water), and then got into a warm living room.

Alcohol will help in this case to get rid of the feeling of cold inside the body, although this is also false rewarming.

In this case, the patient would have to extend the sick leave no later than Friday. This may interest you. Home remedies abound that recommend using rum, wine, whiskey, and even beer to treat the disease. However, while it might be tempting to drink to forget about your problems, pharyngitis is a medical condition that certainly cannot be treated with beer. It is advisable to avoid all types of alcohol when you have a bacterial infection, and especially if you are taking specific drugs for pharyngitis, which can form a dangerous cocktail when mixed with beer.

It is also erroneous to believe that strong alcohol destroys viruses inside a person and thereby helps in the fight against colds. In fact, alcohol is powerless against viruses and infections, but it can cause complications in the body when consumed in acute respiratory disease pretty easy. In addition to the fact that all the protective functions of the body are practically disabled, the immune system fights primarily with the consequences of drinking alcohol, but the resources to fight the disease are no longer enough. Therefore, as a rule, further development of the disease occurs, which is dangerous for its complications.

Always check with your doctor for any restrictions you must follow when you are sick and taking medication. Pharyngitis comes from a bacterial infection. Symptoms are sore throat, fever, nausea, fatigue, and unpleasant swallowing.

Penicillin is usually prescribed to fight pharyngitis, and ibuprofen and acetaminophen to treat fever and sore throat. Some people have bad reactions when mixing antibiotics with alcohol. Potential concerns include reducing the effect of penicillin or antibiotic alternatives on killing the bacteria that cause your pharyngitis, and an increased likelihood of getting side effectssuch as dizziness, drowsiness, and upset stomach. When taking ibuprofen, beer is definitely a bad idea, as alcohol increases the chances of treatment for internal bleeding.

In order to neutralize the effect of alcohol on the human body, it is recommended to drink a mug of hot tea after taking alcohol, it is permissible to use tea with honey, raspberries or sea buckthorn. This is probably why in other countries there have long been recipes that combine a strong drink and tea in one cocktail:

Acetaminophen has a risk of liver damage, which is also increased if you drink alcohol while taking this pill. Water, broth, juice, and Eskimos are good for hydration, but beer is not because it has a dehydrating effect. Alcoholic drinks drain your body of fluids, stimulate sweat, and increase the need to urinate. For this reason, it is best to avoid beer and other alcoholic liquids, as well as caffeinated beverages, to stay hydrated.

If left untreated, pharyngitis can spread to other parts of your body, including your kidneys and tonsils. If you develop kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, it is even more important that you follow a healthy regimen that can recover from a bacterial infection and its complications. It is likely that your doctor's advice on the best foods and liquids for you during your illness includes beer.

  1. At the first sign of a cold, it is recommended to drink tea mixed with a glass of dry red wine and a spoonful of honey.
  2. According to Russian traditions, it is worth placing a pod of red hot pepper in a glass of vodka and heating it. After taking, immediately wrap yourself in a warm blanket. This will expand blood vessels and restore blood supply.
  3. A recipe for cooking grog has come down to us from Foggy Albion. It is necessary to mix 150 milliliters of strong tea with 50 milliliters of brandy, a few tablespoons of honey and a slice of lemon.
  4. Punch is also an effective recipe: add red table wine and cognac in a ratio of 2 to 1 to a mug of tea with a few tablespoons of sugar. Then add freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice and put on low heat, bringing to a boil.
  5. German mulled wine is a very effective drink during illness. This recipe is recommended for use during colds and for severe colds:
  • 0.75 liters of dry red wine;
  • 250-400 milliliters of clean water;
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar;
  • a few tablespoons of honey;
  • spices (cloves, ginger, cinnamon, orange or lemon peel, nutmeg, ginger, and half a green sweet apple, cut into cubes).

In Russia and some other CIS countries, many people believe that colds can be cured with the help of strong alcoholic drinks. At the same time, there are a considerable number of different folk recipes on the preparation of such "miracle remedies" based on vodka, skate, wine and even alcohol. But is alcohol really that effective for colds? Will it do more harm than good?

According to various medical publications on alcohol and cancer, chronic alcohol use is one of the recognized causes of certain types of cancer. These include cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum, breast, and pancreas. Especially when alcohol is consumed chronically along with tobacco, the risk of developing cancer increases significantly.

More than the type of alcoholic beverage, it is the amount of alcohol that matters. The active ingredient found in alcohol is ethanol. When used chronically, ethanol can lead to inflammation or tissue destruction. This inflammation can be the first step towards cancer.

The harm of alcohol

It is assumed that vodka, once it enters the human body, kills pathogenic bacteria and helps to quickly get rid of the infection. But many doctors have a completely different opinion. They argue that alcohol with a cold can only further irritate the inflamed mucous membranes, increase the swelling and lead to a worsening of the patient's condition.

Most alcohol-related cancer deaths in women were attributed to breast cancer, and cancer deaths related to upper respiratory tract and esophageal cancer are more common in men, according to a study recently published by the American Journal of Public Health.

While there is a link between alcohol consumption and the risk of certain types of cancer, the link between alcohol consumption and cancer survival is less clear. It should be noted that several studies on breast cancer have shown that moderate drinkers experience better cardiovascular health and improved overall survival than those who do not drink alcohol; This can seem confusing when compared to data gleaned from previous research. Other studies have not concluded any association between moderate alcohol consumption and breast cancer recurrence.

One more point concerns the use of cognac. It is known to have diuretic properties. Consequently, in a dehydrated body, the mucous membrane will also dry out, which will only contribute to the rapid reproduction of bacteria.

It is contraindicated to drink vodka and other alcoholic beverages also if present high temperature... During this symptom the body suffers from intoxication, and alcohol will only intensify its manifestation. Similar treatment is not recommended for the flu.

The same studies conclude that the fact of drinking alcohol in moderation after knowing the diagnosis of breast cancer is unlikely to have a noticeable negative impact on the survival rate of women suffering from this disease. On the other hand, there is a study on alcohol and cancer that says consumption of folate may reduce the risk of alcohol-related breast cancer. Despite this, more research and new findings are needed to uncover the true link between folate loss and alcohol consumption.

When deciding on the treatment with alcoholic beverages, it must be borne in mind that they can provoke a fever.

One should not overlook the fact that even small doses of alcohol can affect the functionality of all organs of not only a sick person, but also a healthy person. Once in the liver, it quickly spreads throughout the body. The brain also suffers.

Alcohol and Cancer: Interaction with Treatment

Generally, and considering the health effects of alcohol, it is recommended to interrupt or reduce alcohol consumption during cancer treatment. Alcohol can interact with some chemotherapy treatments in the same way that other medicines can interact with each other. Always check with your doctor before drinking alcohol if you are taking any type of cancer treatment.

There are and are some known chemotherapy drugs that have interactions with alcohol, so in these cases it is important not to consume alcohol while you are taking any of these medications. This applies to Procarbazine and Lomustin. Procarbazine is a drug often used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma in children and young adults, some types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and some types of brain tumors.

It must also be remembered that people who drink alcohol are characterized by reduced immunity. Often during illness, their bodies are unable to produce enough interferon or raise their body temperature to fight the virus. As a result, the healing process takes much longer.


Some chemotherapy drugs can make you feel sick and can reduce your appetite. Drinking small amounts of alcohol can increase your appetite again and help you relax, but before you start drinking alcohol during treatment, you should consult your doctor. Also keep in mind that due to chemotherapy and the subsequent change in taste, the taste of alcohol may be completely different from what it used to be. Also, if you have mouth pain, you may experience discomfort when you drink alcohol.

What is the use then?

As you know, any drug can not only benefit, but also harm. In this matter, it all depends on the correctness of the selected dose. And although alcoholic beverages do not belong to the group of medicines, in this case the basic meaning will remain the same.

So why can drinking alcohol be beneficial for a cold? This is primarily due to the level of acidity in blood plasma. It rises when there are foci of inflammation in the body and this is a completely normal reaction. This process contributes to the active production of interferon and an increase in the permeability of the walls of small vessels and cell membranes. As a result, they receive more oxygen and are able to actively get rid of the infection.

Alcohol and cancer: recommendations

Based on numerous studies on alcohol and chemotherapy, the American Cancer Society recommends not drinking alcohol during treatment unless your doctor agrees with it. After cancer treatment, general guidelines recommend not drinking more than one drink of alcohol per day for women and no more than two for men.

Alcohol-related deaths and potential life years lost in the United States. Alcohol and dietary folate consumption and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Japan. Female Breast Cancer and Alcohol: A Literature Review. ... Oral anticoagulants make the blood draw longer.

From all this, we can conclude that cognac for colds is really capable of having a positive effect. This is achieved by increasing blood acidity.

A positive result can be achieved only if you drink alcohol in the first days of the disease. It is even better to use it not for treatment, but as a prophylactic agent when symptoms preceding a cold appear (chills, sore throat, and so on).

Sintrom® is an anticoagulant synthesized from dicoumarin or dicumarol and one of the most used in clinical practice. Apixaban. ... In order to achieve the best possible results and to prevent bleeding caused by anticoagulants, we recommend a number of indications.

Monitor anticoagulant treatment

The dose is adjusted for each person using a blood test. It should be monitored every 4 or 5 weeks maximum.

Take the exact dose as directed by your doctor

You should never change the dose yourself. Keep in mind that the drug must be taken at the same time.


Contraindications

Each person decides for himself whether to drink alcoholic beverages with a cold or not. But in some situations, a similar method of therapy or prevention colds is categorically contraindicated. In particular, this applies to:

Do not take any new medications without consulting your doctor

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as possible if it is on the same day. If the day has passed and you have not taken it, under no circumstances should you take a double dose. In principle, you will not be able to take antiplatelet or anti-inflammatory drugs because they potentiate the anticoagulant effect.

In case of fever, catarrh or any other change, see your doctor

You can take paracetamol or dipyrone to relieve fever or pain. In the case of a bacterial infection, your family doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics, preferably amoxicillin or another antibiotic specified for the process.

  • children;
  • pregnant and lactating;
  • patients who have problems with the liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and other organs;
  • patients with diabetes.

Despite the fact that in some cases alcohol can help get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of a cold, drinking it is not compatible with taking certain medications. For example, these include sleeping pills, antihypertensives, antihistamines, antibiotics, and many others.


Alcohol prophylaxis

So, does vodka help you recover faster? The answer to this question is "No." Drinking alcoholic beverages is recommended solely for prophylactic purposes, while adhering to the permitted doses. But you shouldn't practice yourself!

By drinking even a few sips of strong alcoholic beverages, you can achieve the effect of disinfection and destruction of pathogens. But this result is achieved only in the absence of cough and sore throat!

During the consumption of alcohol (including colds), the vessels expand and, as a result, the blood supply to the internal organs is normalized. But it must be borne in mind that with increasing dose, heat transfer through the skin increases. And this process can negatively affect overall well-being and health.

Whether you can drink alcoholic beverages for colds depends on many factors. If such a method of treatment caused the occurrence of unexpected reactions of the body or deterioration of the patient's condition, it should be stopped immediately!

To treat colds with alcohol, or more precisely, to prevent the disease, is best before bedtime. In this case, the cold will be provided not only by the elimination of viruses, but also by sound sleep, which is simply necessary to increase immunity.


Folk recipes

Before making a final decision about whether to treat with alcoholic beverages, it is necessary to weigh all the possible pros and cons. If the answer is yes, use one of the recipes below.

  1. Mulled wine. This drink is considered the most effective. To prepare it, you need to mix in an enamel bowl a glass of water, a bottle of dry red wine, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), 2 tablespoons of honey, and zest or lemon slices. Heat all this over low heat, without bringing to a boil. Let the finished mulled wine stand for about 10 minutes. Consume hot.
  2. A drink with dry red wine. To prepare it, you need to brew a cup of regular tea. Then add a spoonful of honey and 50-70 ml of wine to it. It is best to use the drink after freezing or when chills appear.
  3. A grotto with honey. In order not to get sick, you can prepare another simple drink. For him you will need 50 ml of brandy, a cup of black tea, a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey.
  4. "Pepper". This recipe is preferred mainly by men, although women are also allowed such a drink. To prepare it, you need to mix 100 ml of vodka with red pepper (on the tip of a knife) and heat the resulting mixture. It is best to take this remedy before going to bed. The drink additionally has warming properties and is able to cure a cold at the moment of its inception.