Alcohol and COVID-19: How dangerous is the combination? – Naturopathy Naturopathy Specialist Portal

WHO warns of the dangers of alcohol during the Corona-pandemic

The current Corona pandemic presents us with difficult new challenges. This can lead to the fact that we are more often confronted with feelings such as loneliness, boredom, Stress, powerlessness, Overwork or anxiety.

The temptation is great, this press, with unhealthy strategies, such as increased alcohol consumption to under. This is, however, not more than a short term remedy. In the long term, new problems arise. In the worst case, you slip into an alcohol dependence.

In addition, messages about alcohol to help against Corona are circulating, particularly online wrong. The world health organization (World Health Organization, in short, WHO) is defined, therefore, now in a Fact Sheet the most important questions about COVID-19, and alcohol.

Myths and facts about alcohol and COVID-19

The WHO warns against messages that claim alcohol could protect against COVID-19, by destroy the Virus SARS-CoV-2 in the inhaled air or in the body or the immune system in fighting off the Virus support. The opposite is the case.

Whilst it was true that alcohol could kill with an alcohol content of at least 60% of the Virus SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19) on the skin. Within the body that is not functioning, but.

An intake of alcohol, as a preventative measure or to treat an infection, is not according to the WHO only unnecessary, but even dangerous. Because alcohol weakens the immune system and has many other negative effects on our body.

The WHO indicates in this context also to the fact that there is basically no “safe limit”, so no amount of alcohol, which is medically proven to be safe: “alcohol, both short – term and long-term impact on almost every single Organ of your body. Overall, the evidence suggests that there is no safe limit‘ – in fact, the risk of damage to health increases with each consumed alcoholic drink.“

The most important tips on handling alcohol during the COVID-19-pandemic

The World Health Organization gives concrete tips on how to should be currently the best alcohol deal. The most important, we have compiled the following for you:

• Don’t give up completely on alcohol to weaken your immune system and not compromise your health and the health of others.
• In order to remain alert and to be able to quickly clear decisions for yourself, your family and your environment meet, stay sober.
• If you drink alcohol, limit the consumption to a minimum. Avoid a rush.
• You shall ensure that children and young people do not have access to alcohol.
• You consume alcohol in the presence of children and young people: Be a good role model.
• Taking alcohol with drugs, not even herbal or over-the-counter products (the effect might be strengthened or weakened). This is particularly true for drugs that act on the Central nervous system (such as sleeping pills, antidepressants, painkillers).

Alcohol and social distancing

The WHO indicates that the currently required social distancing in relation to the consumption of alcohol also has its benefits. As Bars, Restaurants, Clubs and other places where often alcohol is consumed, are currently closed, could help social distancing is also in the alcohol waiver:

“Physical distancing reduces the availability of alcohol, so that it provides a great opportunity to reduce your alcohol consumption and to be healthier,” says the WHO.

Dealing with alcohol in quarantine/self-isolation

The clear recommendation of the World Health Organization on the subject of quarantine or precautionary self-isolation is: No alcohol. “It is important to understand that alcohol health and safety risks and, therefore, during times of home Isolation or quarantine should be avoided.”

In addition, the WHO provides concrete tips. Here are the most important can be summarized as:

• Also for the work in the Home Office you should keep to the strict rule to consume during the working alcohol. This also applies to the breaks.
• Alcohol is not part of a healthy diet and should take on the shopping list, therefore, no preferred place. Also, no inventories should be created, since this could increase the alcohol consumption of you and other people in your household.
• You invest your money in healthy food that strengthens your immune system.
• Even if you think that alcohol reduces Stress: He does not do it. Alcohol may even increase the symptoms of panic or anxiety.
• A good healthy Alternative can be a sports program, in addition to strengthening the immune system.
• Do not encourage children and young people to alcohol consumption and drink with them in their presence.
• Keep medical alcohol (such as disinfectants) is inaccessible for children and young people.
• Social isolation and alcohol can even increase suicide tendencies. If you notice in yourself or others, thoughts of suicide, call the telephone assistance number 112.
• Alcohol and violence often go Hand-in-Hand. If you are affected by domestic violence, create contingency plans where you can escape, if the Situation escalates. This can be family, friends or a professional point of contact. Editors ‘ note: All the emergency numbers you will find in our article “Corona: increase in domestic violence fears – Here you will find help”.

The complete Overview is available in the Fact Sheet of WHO (in English), or in the case of the Federal centre for health education (BZgA) in the German language.

Alcohol problems during the pandemic,

For people who already suffer from an alcohol addiction, has compiled the WHO are also a number of tips that can help you now.

First of all, the WHO stresses that the pandemic may well be a positive turning point: “The current Situation is a unique opportunity to stop Drinking or to drink much less, because different social incentives and situations of group pressure, such as parties, Meeting with friends, Restaurants, and Clubs, (out of necessity) are preventable.”

In addition, the threshold to get online advice was, for many of the Affected low: “Online interventions for disorders of alcohol use by professionals and self-help groups may be less stigmatising, as they provide more anonymity and privacy, so you can check what help you can get online.” Editors ‘ note: the offers there are, among other things, from alcoholics Anonymous to https://www.anonyme-alkoholiker.de/.

The WHO advises Affected also, to get support from trusted persons in their own environment and, if necessary, additionally from the outside. In addition, one should keep in spite of the social distancing necessarily existing social contacts, through phone calls or other contact. Advertising for alcohol on TV or Internet should be avoided to do it.

The daily Routine you should comply with as well as possible more: “Try to make your daily Routine as far as possible to maintain focus on things you can control, and try to stay on the bottom of the facts – for example, through daily exercise, Hobbies, or mental relaxation techniques.”

In the case of an infection with COVID-19 the WHO recommends, to discuss your alcohol consumption with the health personnel, so that the for your overall health at the most appropriate decisions can be made.

Conclusion

In conclusion: alcohol does not protect against COVID-19. Instead, he only brings additional health and even mental problems.

If you want to make a good decision for your health and your social environment, consume at the best no alcohol, (more) or reduce your consumption of alcohol, at least to the absolute Minimum.

Further thoughts for dealing with alcohol

In addition to the information of the WHO, we gathered a few ideas for you. The crisis can be a good opportunity to make peace of thoughts for one’s own use of alcohol. As you could observe, for example, just a few days, asking the following questions:

• How do I keep it up to date with the consumption of alcohol? He is higher or lower than usual?
• In which situations I feel the Craving for a Drink?
• I use alcohol, to feelings, to suppress? If Yes, what feelings are? What healthier Alternatives there might be, with these feelings, for example, relaxation methods, Meditation, creativity, movement, conflict resolution) to deal (?
• How do I want to deal now and in the future with alcohol?
• What setting on the subject of alcohol, I want to teach my children?

Maybe more questions come to you yet. Also an exchange about it with people in their own environment can be exciting and helpful.

For More Information

The complete Fact Sheet of the WHO in English, see “Alcohol and COVID-19:what-you-need-to-know”. In the German language the information about the Federal centre for health education (BZgA) are available under “alcohol and COVID-19: What you should know”.

For more information on the topic of domestic violence and Corona, see our article “Corona: increase in fear of domestic violence – Here you will find help”.

Tips for healthy, dealing with Stress, see our article “stress relief: de-Stress made easy”.

How you can strengthen your immune system, we can tell you here is: “to strengthen the immune system – The best tips for a strong defense”. (kh)