Every day in Ireland, 3 people die from alcohol. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of over 200 different diseases, and for many diseases including cancer, even low amounts of alcohol use increase our risk. To mark European Alcohol Awareness Week, the HSE Alcohol Programme engaged in a range of activities highlighting the impact alcohol has on our health and wellbeing, and the importance of public health measures such as Minimum Unit Pricing which will be introduced in Ireland on the 4th January.
As we continue to live with the realities of COVID-19, concerning trends are emerging about the use of alcohol. The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted much of people’s drinking from pubs and restaurants to their own homes, with some people reporting an increase in both the amount and frequency of their alcohol use. Increased alcohol use during this time is associated with poorer mental health, suggesting that people are using alcohol to cope with feelings of anxiety, loneliness and isolation.
On the 18th November, the HSE Alcohol Programme hosted exploring how alcohol effects the brain and the immune system. Professor Cliona O’Farrelly, Professor of Comparative Immunology at TCD, presented on how drinking more than 14 standard drinks of alcohol a week has a wide range of effects on the immune system, including increased susceptibility to lung infections such as COVID-19, acute respiratory stress syndromes (ARDS), sepsis, alcohol liver disease (ALC), certain cancers, higher incidence of postoperative complications, slower and less complete recovery from infection, and poor wound healing. She outlined how each organ has its own system and that alcohol can effect the immune systems everywhere, including the gut, liver, fat and brain.
Professor O’Farrelly had some tips for people on how to reduce their alcohol use and protect their immune systems:
- Avoid excess and hangovers
- Have several alcohol-free days/weeks
- Have a glass of water for every glass of alcohol
- Stop drinking alcohol earlier in the night – have a herbal tea!
- If you’re a beer drinker, try non-alcohol beer occasionally
- Eat healthily
- Get good sleep
- Take regular exercise outside
The webinar also focused on the effects of alcohol on the brain. Dr Dara Canon, Senior Lecturer and Neuroanatomy Director at the Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory at NUI Galway shed light on the most recent evidence from neuroimaging studies. She outlined the recent discovery that just 1 to 2 standard drinks a day can have negative effects on the brain, and reduce the volume of grey and white matter. The greater the alcohol intake, the greater the negative impact, with binge drinking contributing to even more damage.
The following infographic was produced to coincide with the event and further outlines how alcohol effects the brain. It highlights the recent evidence presented by Dr Cannon on how no alcohol use protects and preserves our brains, and even low amounts of alcohol use can have negative effects.
