Why do I always have cold symptoms after drinking?

Dear Reader,  

When your weekends are starting to feel a bit off the rocks, it can be confusing when a couple of drinks leave you feeling sick while everyone else seems fine. There may be a few different reasons why this can happen, like how alcohol and your recent illnesses can affect your immune system. Read on to explore why you might feel sick after drinking, what might be contributing to you getting sick more easily, and what you can do moving forward. 

What are some possible causes of being sick after drinking? 

Getting sick after drinking alcohol can  leave your body feeling a bit out of spirits and can be caused by different reasons. It might help to ask yourself a few questions: What type of alcohol did you drink? Do you feel fully healthy or any sickness before drinking? Were you drinking in a crowded place? 

Even if you only had one or two drinks, a mixed drink or a cocktail can sometimes contain much more alcohol than a standard beer. That said, higher amounts of alcohol can make you feel dehydrated, dizzy, or tired even after what seemed like a small amount to drink. Other reasons you might be getting sick include:  

• Being around more people. Bars, clubs, parties and other crowded spaces can make it easier to pick up viruses. Mono, for example, spreads very easily through coughing, sneezing, or sharing drinks and utensils.  
• Alcohol intolerance or allergic reaction. Some people react to ingredients in drinks such as grains, sugars, food additives or preservatives, yeast, or histamines. They can be found in beer, wine, and mixed drinks and different alcohols can cause different reactions. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance or an allergic reaction can include nausea, vomiting, flushing, stuffy nose, or hives. These symptoms can easily get be confused for the flu or a hangover. 
• Sleep quality. Alcohol can affect your sleep quality, even if you think you slept enough hours. While drinking may make you sleepy at first, it can reduce deep sleep and cause more waking during the night. This can leave you feeling exhausted, foggy, or physically unwell the next day. 

You can also explore this resource on alcohol use to understand the effects and risks of drinking alcohol. 

What are some possible reasons you might get sick more easily? 

Research suggests that heavier or more frequent drinking can weaken parts of the immune system. Frequent drinking can make it more difficult for your body to fight infections. Alcohol can lower the number of certain immune cells, such as T cells and natural killer cells. These cells typically help your body recognize and remove viruses. So, when their numbers are reduced, it can become harder for your immune system to protect you from illness. 

It’s also worth considering whether a health condition has affected your immune system. For example, there’s ongoing research suggesting that COVID-19 can disrupt immune responses and reduce immune cells that help fight infections. Keep in mind, certain medications can also weaken your immune system. Because of this, some people may become more vulnerable to getting sick again. 

At the same time, it’s important to keep in mind that the immune system is complicated. Getting sick more often is not always caused by one factor alone. Stress, diet, and emotional wellbeing can all play a role too. 

What can you do about your concerns? 

A health care provider can help you figure out whether what you’re experiencing is related to alcohol or something else affecting your immune system. It can also help to specifically mention your concerns about your immune system, so they know what to focus on during the appointment.  

Additionally, since you’re already planning to get blood work done, you can ask if the blood test will examine how your immune system is functioning. Certain blood tests can measure infection-fighting proteins and different immune cells that help your body respond to viruses and bacteria. 

Overall, there are a few possible reasons you might be feeling this way. It’s often a mix of factors rather than one cause. Alcohol, recent illnesses, and your immune system function can all affect how often you feel sick. If your symptoms continue, a health care provider can help you sort it out and figure out the next steps. 

Take it easy,