This is from another support group for COPD patients but I don't think they would mind it being posted here; it caught my eye because early on my own pulmonologist suggested that a bit of wine now and then would be alright. However, knowing my past relationship with wine and other "spirituous liquors" I felt I'd contributed enough to the alcohol industry so that I could forego any further involvement. Anyway...., here 'tis:
While research on the effects of alcohol and COPD is ongoing, some facts are available on the effects of the combination of the two. Here are some of the known effects of alcohol consumption with COPD:
Glutathione deficiency: Glutathione is an antioxidant found in the lungs. Drinking alcohol lowers glutathione levels, and can aggravate COPD symptoms, possibly causing flare-ups.
Decreased lung function: Alcohol consumption is associated with decreasing lung function in patients with lung disease. Alcohol can also decrease the ability to clear mucus from the airways, which in turn could pose a serious health risk for COPD sufferers.
Medications: Alcohol interferes with several different COPD medications, including steroids and antibiotics. It can also increase anxiety and alter the effects of pain medications to the point that the heart rate and breathing slow to dangerous, possibly fatal levels.
Hopefully, with more research, the effects of alcohol on COPD will be better understood. If you suffer from COPD, please consult your doctor before choosing to drink alcohol, and if you do so choose, please drink responsibly.
Written by
Dmactds
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
When I started having regular infections and taking regular medication, I decided that alcohol had no place in my life. It wasn't a hard decision to make, as I was never very keen on it to begin with but I do think it has simplified something that could have been a constant problem. I do take a thimble full ( or maybe 2 ) of wine at dinner on special occasions but that's as much to get people off my back about not drinking, as much as anything else. It's amazing how difficult many people find it to accept that someone just doesn't want or need alcohol.
True...., I've even amazed and bamboozled myself since stopping smoking and drinking, two things I did for over 50 of my 74 years. I find I get along fine without either and stay away from those who tend to badger me about such things.
I think people ,like myself who also have asthma are the ones likely too have problems with alcohol ,I was never a big drinker just occasional glass of wine ,now I have to be so careful .20years ago I didn't have copd and alcohol caused me severe problems ,now at the age of75 I am very severe.
Take care
Dorothy
I think this is a bit of a scare story as surely it must depend a lot on what meds you are on, their strength and how much you drink.
I can't believe the odd glass of wine or lager can cause such problems unless you are at the severe stage maybe.
I am miild copd and 2/3 pints of lager twice a week don't cause me any problems whatsoever. After all a little bit of what you fancy is always good and boosts morale etc.
Interesting article but several words missing , it's "binge" drinking and drinking "excessively " where the problem lies. Which is true without a lung condition.
It's seems to a similar article from the lung institution, a scary story followed by a contradiction.
Quote
If you suffer from COPD, please consult your doctor before choosing to drink alcohol, and if you do so choose, please drink responsibly.
There is always something else you enjoy which is bad for you !! I'm sure the academics who come up with those things are occasionally right but also occasionally wrong.
Everything in moderation - get up every day and treat the new dawn as a bonus and having a glass of wine (or two!) in the evening to celebrate the blessings which you have will never harm you.
I am always amazed that other people want to make me drink. As soon as I say I can't drink with the medication I'm taking you can bet your life some smart alec will say, 'Oh, nobody would take any pills if they read the leaflet that comes with them. A drop of wine won't hurt you.' My husband was recently given an inhaler. The leaflet clearly stated, 'No alcohol of any kind.' Still people wanted him to drink.
It would be useful for links to the actual research quoted here? I want to know at what levels of alcohol cause these "known effects" Is it a thible-full...an cc/kg? Don't believe everything I read on the internet. You can find just as many articles that say a glass of wine or shot a day is more beneficial than not.
...and indeed I believe a shot of wine or anything a day is not harmful...,to normal, healthy people; but just as an occasional 'puff' on a ciggie wouldn't be harmful to those same healthy people, it would be murder for me.
There's always a place for cynicism; I'm that way about several things. For me, though, it doesn't matter where I find the research that backs up these claims about alcohol or if the research backs up these claims in this particular page I presented, as long as it's an accredited, worthy source like google.com/search?q=researc... for instance.
In the summary...2) mild alcohol intake may reduce the risks of dying from COPD and developing severe pulmonary function abnormalities in COPD patients;
Of course, "may" is the operative word in that assessment; look, I merely offered a bit of input on the question of alcohol and COPD. I didn't qualify anything as "authoritative"; far from it....
Everyone is free to take the ball and run with it in whatever direction they'd like; as for me, this is the end of my part in this non-discussion.
I only posted this for informational purposes, not to change anyone's behavior or to preach; if someone has an interest in finding links supporting the research on these "alcohol cautions", simply do a search with the appropriate 'terms', something like "research alcohol copd" or some such.
I'm certainly not advising anyone to not drink or saying it's dangerous for people with lung disease. My choice was a personal one, made purely so that there could be one less thing to worry about.
I enjoy the occasional drink, maybe once a month, & would probably "indulge" more often if I could, but I'm very wary of the effect on my liver function. I take the view that the numerous drugs I'm on are enough of a challenge for my poor liver to process, without throwing alcohol at it too.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Big thank you (bottle update)
Pursed Lip Breathing, do you?
Trying to get diagnosis for what you know you have
Recently diagnosed Asthma & COPD overlap…. Struggling with anxiety 
