Moreover, while alcohol might be anti-inflammatory, it can also cause dehydration which might exacerbate RA symptoms. Even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that you can purchase over the counter, like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve) can lead to dangerous bleeding when mixed with alcohol. If you need help making healthy food choices, talk with your doctor — they can refer you to a registered dietician (a doctor who specializes in nutrition). Because lupus can cause a lot of different digestive problems, there are many different medicines that can treat them. A special doctor called a gastroenterologist can work with your rheumatologist to find a treatment plan that works for you.
What To Know About Lupus Flares
- An autoimmune disease causes those cells and organs to attack your body accidentally.
- Some research even suggests that alcohol abuse may increase the risk of developing autoimmune connective tissue diseases in the first place.
- The main concern is that alcohol can interact negatively with medications that are often prescribed to treat lupus, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antimalarials, and corticosteroids.
- Changes in drinking habits should be closely monitored in relation to lupus symptoms and potential risks.
- Most Autoimmune patients have been prescribed some or another anti-inflammatory drug and it is scientifically known that these two elements do not interact well.
It’s also important to remember that many autoimmune diseases have organ-specific effects. For example, in autoimmune liver disease, consuming alcohol can cause more harm, accelerating liver damage. Similarly, autoimmune diseases that affect the digestive system — such as Crohn’s or celiac disease — don’t mix well with alcohol, which can irritate the digestive tract. Echinacea is often used as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system against colds and other illnesses. Alcohol Intolerance However, because Echinacea boosts your immune system, it may cause flares in people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
How does your body react to alcohol?
It’s like a group of bad guys that join forces to cause chaos in your body. But even if you down a bevy of sugary beverages and wake up with a raging headache and another unhinged Instagram story — remember — you’re allowed to make mistakes, too. Though I think this type of language only serves to shame those who haven’t achieved remission into thinking it’s their fault, there is merit in functional medicine. Values are means (SD) or percentages and are age-standardized to the age distribution of the study population. If you find yourself hiding how much you drink from your rheumatologist, or ignoring their recommendation to cut down, it may be a sign that alcohol has more control over you than you’d like to admit. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience.
The No BS Guide to Drinking with an Autoimmune Disease
Practical steps to mitigate this risk include limiting alcohol intake to recommended guidelines (1 drink/day for women, 2 for men) and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). For those in high-pollution areas, using air purifiers indoors and wearing masks outdoors can reduce exposure to particulate matter, another environmental lupus trigger. Additionally, pairing alcohol with antioxidant-rich foods (e.g., berries, nuts) may partially offset its oxidative effects, though abstinence remains the safest option for high-risk individuals. There is no conclusive evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing lupus.
- It surprises some lupus patients to learn that no official diet exists to help reduce and manage symptoms.
- Pancreatitis can also be a side effect of azathioprine or steroids you take for lupus.
- Some studies suggest a link between alcohol consumption and increased lupus disease activity.
- Thus, alcohol’s modulation of immune cell function can exacerbate the autoimmune processes underlying lupus.
For individuals with lupus, whose immune systems are already overactive, this additional stress can lead to increased disease activity. Symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, and skin rashes may worsen after drinking alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns, which is particularly problematic for lupus patients, as poor sleep can further weaken the immune system and trigger flare-ups. Another critical factor is alcohol’s interaction with medications commonly prescribed for lupus. Many lupus patients take immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage their condition. Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of these medications or increase their side effects.
Alcohol and lupus medications: Unwanted interactions
Chronic alcohol use leads to liver damage, such as fatty liver disease or cirrhosis, which impairs the liver’s ability to filter toxins and regulate immune responses. A compromised liver may fail to clear immune complexes efficiently, allowing them to accumulate and deposit in tissues, a common feature in lupus that contributes to inflammation and tissue injury. While alcohol may not directly cause lupus, its multifaceted impact on the immune system can create an environment conducive to triggering or worsening the condition in genetically susceptible individuals. The intricate dance between lupus and alcohol is exceptionally complex, particularly when medications are involved. Persons with lupus must be acutely aware of the potential hazards of alcohol consumption, especially regarding their treatment regimen.
The body’s antioxidant defenses, such as glutathione, are depleted by chronic alcohol consumption, leaving cells vulnerable to oxidative damage. This imbalance can trigger inflammation and cellular stress, both of which are linked to the development and progression of lupus. Furthermore, oxidative stress can lead to the modification of self-proteins, making them targets for autoimmune attacks. Time-varying data on covariates were assessed by self-report on biennial questionnaires. We selected potential confounders based on prior studies in NHS cohorts, or other studies showing associations between diet or lifestyle and alcohol intake. We included age, race and questionnaire cycle, in addition to the total daily energy intake (total kilocalories per day), measured by the FFQ.