Alcohol and COPD?

[LWS1948]

Is drinking alcohol safe while fighting COPD?

[peege]

Hi, I suppose it would depend on your medications - study all the leaflets. I dont have copd however I drink very little alcohol (1 unit a month or less) apart from only liking champagne & being a lightweight alcohol lowers the immune system

[LWS1948 in reply to peege]

Hi peege , Thanks for your reply.

[skischool]

You can't fight Copd,it's not exactly a visible enemy except perhaps in your sputum if suffering an exacerbation or infection, more an old adversary that you try to contain and not let it stealthily take over your life by exercising and staying healthy.

As for consuming alcohol whilst having Copd i must have been dicing with death for the last 20 yrs if it is a problem but then of course i can only speak for myself and we are all completely individul as to how it will affect our health and breathing.

Moderation as in all things is probably the key word.

🙃

[Badbessie in reply to skischool]

Must agree Skis, never been a heavy drinker but still enjoy the odd single malt.

[LWS1948 in reply to skischool]

Hi ski . Yes moderation is the answer definitely. I do like a hopless lager.

[Bevvy]

Hope so! I am not a regular drinker but do enjoy the odd tipple especially during the winter when Baileys and hot chocolate is particularly good!!

[LWS1948 in reply to Bevvy]

Hi Bevvy. That sounds yummy! Do you get much snow? We awoke to 15 cm today and a temp of -15 C, brrr.

[Bevvy in reply to LWS1948]

No I’m from UK so would be highly unusual to get that amount of snow or cold weather unless in Highlands of Scotland.The minus temperatures we get are enough for me 😂

[LWS1948 in reply to Bevvy]

The minus temps here in Alberta are quite enough for me too but our snow doesn't melt until April, so we have to put up with it until then. Once a year or so we get -40 C for a 2 week stretch and then we don't see the deep cold until the following year.

[Bevvy in reply to LWS1948]

Main difficulties in UK is becoming we don’t often get snow or extreme low temperatures the country isn’t preparing for it. People complain every year and complain that other countries cope with much lower temperatures. Here it just isn’t cost effective or sensible to prepare for weather we rarely get.

Still cold enough to enjoy hot chocolate with Baileys though!!

[LWS1948 in reply to Bevvy]

I do notice that my lungs seem to phlegm up after shoveling snow for an hour.

[Izb1 in reply to LWS1948]

Oh my word, I could not manage with temperatures that cold and dont know how your lungs cope with shovelling snow for an hour but it sounds like its a way of clearing them out if nothing else lol x

[LWS1948 in reply to Izb1]

Hi lzb1.The cold here is a dry cold, so you can wear layers of clothing and stay warm. For example, wear an undershirt, then put on a shirt with a collar, then put on a sweater, then put on a heavy winter coat. Or start with the bottom half first, put on boxer shorts, then long johns, then long trousers, then winter socks then put on the top half, then winter boots, then a woollen hat that can cover your ears, then two layers of mitts on each hand. Now you are ready to shovel snow and stay warm! Breathe through your nose and the lungs are okay, but you have to pace yourself and don't overdo it. Also, I'm in stage 1 of COPD so I'm able to do more so far.🙂

[Izb1 in reply to LWS1948]

Can understand the need for so many layers and its supposed to be warmer that way. I can imagine with carrying that load if clothes and shovelling snow it must be quite a work out, you woildnt need the gym thats for sure. Stay safe and wwrm x

[LWS1948 in reply to Izb1]

There is usually a cold wind blowing too. If you get too warm, unzip your coat, never take anything off while outside. Have to stay safe at all times. Like taking our medications, they keep us safe. Never skip them and listen to the doctor.Merry Christmas, stay safe and breathe easy.😅

[Dotdashdito]

My dad had COPD for 40years and just recently passed away at 95 years old. He enjoyed a g n t and one or two small glasses of wine each night and on the odd occasion more than that. I hope that helps, best wishes

[Izb1 in reply to Dotdashdito]

Good for him, it probably did him the world of good x

[LWS1948 in reply to Dotdashdito]

Moderation again..... seems that is the answer.

[Fircone]

When I had a review with my respiratory nurses earlier this year I asked about alcohol and emphysema. I said I had always enjoyed a small glass of red wine in the evening after all my duties of looking after my paralysed husband were done. But since reading that alcohol reduces glutathione and lowers the immune system I decided to stop. The nurses said carry on having the glass of wine so I have😁

[LWS1948 in reply to Fircone]

Yes, the glutathione is an enzyme that the alcohol interferes with, but how much interference I don't know. I think we all need to have some guilty pleasures. lol🙂

[Izb1]

I am sure a glass or two does no harm at all, as everyone has said its moderation x

[anng18]

A few glasses of wine seem to be ok, but there are some medications that state do not drink alcohol - Incruse Elipta - contains umeclidinium bromide. Interestingly, this ingredient is in Anora Elipta, which does not mention abstaining from alcohol. The other thing to remember is that alcohol de-hydrates and as such, if you have a lot, can de-hydrate the lungs and make it harder to breathe. Everything in moderation, however having the odd party doesn't seem to have any long lasting effects😃

[LWS1948]

Thanks for all your input. Moderation seems to be the order for the day. Have a good Christmas everyone. Stay safe and breathe easy.🙂

[tonymarl]

No, can increase breathlessness.