Binge Drinking Affects the Immune System

Binge drinking can significantly disrupt the immune systems of young and otherwise healthy adults. In a recent study, investigators measured the immune responses of participants before they consumed any alcohol and at both two and five hours following peak intoxication. When alcohol was present in the blood samples, the researchers detected higher levels of cytokines, the proteins that signal the immune system to reduce activity. While drinkers understand how binge drinking can alter their behavior, there is less understanding of alcohol’s harmful effects in other areas, such as the immune system.
Alcohol, December 2014