For decades, studies suggested that moderate alcohol intake could protect the heart, reduce diabetes risk or even help you live longer. Understanding the chronic effects of alcohol on the lungs highlights the importance of moderation when it comes to alcohol consumption. If you or Alcohol and Lung Disease someone you know is struggling with problematic alcohol use, it is essential to seek help and support.
Chronic alcohol ingestion downregulates the expression of GM-CSF receptors on the cell surface of the alveolar macrophages, thereby impairing their immune function (Joshi et al. 2005). Experimental models demonstrate that restoration of GM-CSF signaling reverses this alcohol-induced dysfunction (Joshi et al. 2005), suggesting that this might be a potential therapeutic approach. Also, as mentioned earlier, recent evidence suggests that interactions exist between Nrf2 and the GM-CSF pathway, with Nrf2 regulating the expression and activity of the transcription factor PU.1, which controls GM-CSF expression (Staitieh et al. 2015). Understanding the complex interplay between all of these systems in the alcoholic lung will become exceedingly important in the search for new and effective treatments.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Lungs
- Bacterial pneumonia is not the only infectious disease with an increased risk among people with AUD.
- To understand how alcohol affects the lungs, it’s important to first understand how it travels through the body.
- The infection can remain latent for years while the host’s immune system is able to combat it.
From there, it circulates throughout the body, reaching every organ, including the lungs. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses are excessive immune reactions that occur only a few days after the body has been exposed to the pathogen. These responses are not mediated by immune molecules produced by B cells (i.e., antibodies) but by T cells. Additionally, chronic use of alcohol makes people more vulnerable to other viral infections, not just RSV.
This defense system propels inhaled particles, microbes, toxins, and debris out of the lungs and airways with the help of the fine hairs (i.e., cilia) on the cells that line the respiratory tract. Interestingly, Nrf2 also regulates the expression of PU.1, a master transcription factor that mediates GM-CSF–dependent signaling (Staitieh et al. 2015). Accordingly, alcohol-induced reduction of Nrf2 also inhibits binding of PU.1 to its nuclear targets, which can be improved by zinc treatment (Mehta et al. 2011). Thus, alcohol impairs epithelial barrier function in the lung through a complex set of mechanisms with several cycles and feedback mechanisms (see figure 2); however, future studies will almost certainly elucidate further details. ARDS is a severe form of lung injury characterized by fluid accumulation in the lung that is not related to heart problems (i.e., noncardiogenic pulmonary edema) as well as by flooding of the alveolar airspaces with protein-like (i.e., proteinaceous) fluid (Ware 2006; Ware and Matthay 2000).
Health Conditions
Alcohol is ingested by millions of people worldwide and has the potential to affect every organ in the body. While numerous alcohol research studies have focused on the brain and liver, the lung has largely been disregarded as a key effector organ of alcohol use. This Alcohol Special Issue on “Alcohol in Pulmonary Injury and Immune Defense” provides a much-needed perspective into the decades of research surrounding alcohol-lung interactions and highlights current cutting-edge studies that delve into the effects of alcohol use on the lung. This includes reduced lung capacity, impaired oxygen exchange, and difficulty breathing. In this article, we’ll explore the science behind how alcohol damages the lungs, the short- and long-term consequences of alcohol consumption on respiratory health, and practical steps you can take to protect your lungs.
- These findings highlight that alcohol intoxication impairs neutrophil recruitment into infected tissues and the lung and also hinders neutrophil clearance from the lung.
- Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems.
- Although the fluid balance in the lungs is regulated by the concerted actions of both epithelial and endothelial barriers (Mehta et al. 2004), it is the alveolar epithelium which primarily prevents protein and fluid flow into airspaces (Mutlu and Sznajder 2005).
- The release of cytokines and chemokines by these cells, in turn, mediates the influx of neutrophils into the lungs that occurs in response to infection.
- Moreover, chronic alcohol ingestion dampens the expression of GM-CSF receptors in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages (Joshi et al. 2006).
The potential influence of alcohol consumption on airway health and disease has been documented for a long time. Chronic alcohol ingestion constantly subjects the drinker’s airways to high concentrations of alcohol vapor, as best evidenced by the use of alcohol breath tests (i.e., Breathalyzer). The volatile nature of alcohol is exploited in this common field sobriety test, which is reliably used as a surrogate to quantify blood alcohol concentrations. Interestingly, the alcohol vapor found in the airways is not caused by inhalation but is a result of the ready diffusion of alcohol from the airway blood supply across the airway epithelium and into the airways themselves (George et al. 1996). This process explains why alcohol vapor in the breath may be used to determine blood alcohol concentration. This process leads to the formation of reactive aldehydes (e.g., acetaldehyde), which in turn can interact and form harmful adducts with proteins and DNA (Sapkota and Wyatt 2015).
Pneumoniae in vitro and a complete absence of killing of other bacterial strains in alcohol-exposed animals. In human studies, BACs as low as 0.2 percent (i.e., approximately 2.5 times the legal intoxication level) impaired neutrophil degranulation and bactericidal activity (Tamura et al. 1998). In patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), alterations occur in the tight junctions between alveolar epithelial cells so that protein-rich fluid from the blood can more easily traverse the interstitial tissue and enter the lumen of the alveoli that is normally dry. These and other changes in alveolar epithelial cells predispose people with AUD to developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that is characterized by pulmonary edema. Research has shown a clear association between alcohol consumption and negative effects on lung health. Alcohol abuse or excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of developing various lung conditions and diseases.
Reduced Antioxidant Levels
By being aware of the potential risks and taking proactive steps towards maintaining lung health, individuals can make informed decisions and prioritize their overall well-being. By practicing moderation in alcohol consumption, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and seeking professional help if needed, individuals can actively promote their lung health. Remember, knowledge is power, and understanding the effects of alcohol on the lungs is the first step towards making informed decisions. If you have asthma, it’s important to be aware of the potential effects of alcohol on your respiratory health. Monitoring your alcohol intake and identifying any patterns of worsening symptoms can help you make informed decisions.
Although these animal models provide convincing evidence implicating glutathione depletion as a mediator of alveolar epithelial barrier dysfunction, additional studies in humans are necessary to confirm these findings. This review first will discuss key aspects of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of AUD and lung health, before focusing more in-depth on lung infections and acute lung injury, which comprise the majority of alcohol-related lung diseases. The article also will briefly review some of the experimental therapies that hold promise for decreasing the enormous morbidity and mortality caused by the “alcoholic lung” in our society.
Young people and nicotine: 5 things to know
Recent research has also shown that adults over the age of 50 or 60 show signs of impairment at lower blood alcohol concentrations than younger people. They are also more likely to already be living with chronic diseases, and to be taking prescription medications that might interact poorly with alcohol. Because women metabolize alcohol differently than men, and tend to have smaller bodies, the same amount of alcohol can have a stronger effect for them. While ALDH2 is the most common inherited variation to affect how well someone can handle alcohol — and its’ long-term risks — it is not the only factor.
AICD likely results from decreased HSP90/eNOS association, which in turn attenuates the NO-stimulated cGMP/cAMP-dependent kinase activation pathway (Simet et al. 2013a; Wyatt and Sisson 2001). Alternatively, AICD may be related to oxidant-driven eNOS uncoupling, because AICD can be prevented in alcohol-drinking mice by concurrently feeding the animals dietary antioxidants, such as Procysteine™ or N-acetylcysteine (Simet et al. 2013a). Pretreatment with G-CSF ameliorates alcohol-induced neutrophil dysfunction, including impairments in neutrophil recruitment and bacterial killing. In addition to moderate alcohol consumption, adopting a healthy lifestyle can contribute to better lung health.
However, this process also means that alcohol comes into direct contact with lung tissue, where it can cause damage over time. To understand how alcohol affects the lungs, it’s important to first understand how it travels through the body. When you consume alcohol, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine.
Alcohol-Related Mechanisms of Lung Injury
Excessive alcohol consumption can also worsen asthma and increase the risk of choking and aspiration pneumonia. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), AUD is a medical condition in which a person has difficulty controlling their alcohol intake despite negative effects on their health, work life, and social life. The initial contact points — mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach — are most vulnerable, which is why these areas show some of the strongest links to alcohol-related cancers. But acetaldehyde and alcohol’s other metabolic effects also impact the liver, where it contributes to inflammation and fatty liver disease, and the brain, where it disrupts signaling related to mood, memory and decision making. A 2024 report from the American Association for Cancer Research concluded that more than 5% of all cancers in the U.S. are attributable to alcohol use. The more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of cancer, but the risks start with any alcohol consumption.
What is alcohol-related lung disease?
This protein is a master transcription factor that binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) in the regulatory (i.e., promoter) region of hundreds of antioxidant and immune-response genes (Jensen et al. 2013). One of the central features of ARDS is an impaired barrier function of the alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells.3 Studies on the effect of alcohol alone on alveolar barrier function have revealed that chronic alcohol intake alters physical barrier properties within alveoli (Guidot et al. 2000). Interestingly, alveolar cells from ethanol-fed rats had increased expression of sodium channels in the membrane facing the interior of the alveoli (i.e., the apical membrane). However, these alcohol-fed rats had diminished airway clearance when challenged with saline, even in the absence of an inflammatory challenge (Guidot et al. 2000). These data suggest that the alveolar epithelium actually is dysfunctional after alcohol exposure, even though it seems normal and is able to regulate the normal air–liquid interface by enhancing sodium channels at the apical surface. In the presence of an inflammatory reaction, the compensatory mechanism likely becomes overwhelmed, resulting in greater susceptibility to barrier disruption and flooding of the alveolar space with protein-containing fluid.
By understanding these risks and taking steps to protect your lungs, you can make informed decisions about your health. Whether you choose to cut back on alcohol or eliminate it entirely, your lungs will thank you. After all, there’s no drink, no party, and no fleeting buzz worth compromising your ability to breathe freely.
