Does Alcohol Affect Your Lungs?

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluids leak from small blood vessels and fill the air sacs of the lungs, impairing breathing. ARDS is usually secondary to another condition or injury, such as smoke inhalation, pneumonia, COVID-19, or sepsis.

Although ARDS occurs primarily in hospital patients, it is a medical emergency that requires prompt intervention. Because ARDS hinders the lungs from drawing oxygen from the air, it can cause hypoxia, brain damage, coma, and death. Unfortunately, chronic alcohol misuse is associated with a significantly heightened risk of developing ARDS in a hospital setting.

ARDS develops in response to severe inflammation and other lung damage that can be induced by heavy alcohol use. In fact, research findings indicate that ARDS is more likely to occur in individuals who use alcohol than in those who do not. (3)

Aspiration Asphyxia

When a person rapidly consumes large quantities of alcohol, they are at risk for developing alcohol poisoning. (4) Alcohol is a toxin, and if there is too much for the liver to break down, the body will seek to expel it through vomiting. However, because alcohol is a CNS depressant, it can cause unconsciousness and suppresses the gag reflex, which prevents choking.

When all these factors coincide, alcohol can cause an unconscious person to aspirate (breathe in) and asphyxiate (choke) on their vomit. Aspiration asphyxia is most often seen in settings where binge drinking is commonplace, such as college campuses.

Asthma

Although there is considerable debate about alcohol’s potential effects on asthma, research has shown that asthma symptoms worsen in some people with the condition. According to one study, “prolonged and heavy exposure to alcohol…may complicate asthma management.” (5) Also, in another study, alcoholic drinks were “perceived by a large number of asthmatic subjects to trigger their asthma.” (6)

Tuberculosis

Chronic alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) or worsening existing disease. According to a meta-analysis, “alcohol use, alcohol dosage and alcohol-related problems were all associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis…” (7)

All studies analyzed found that heavy alcohol use increased the risk of contracting TB by 35%. A BMC Public Health study reported that subjects who drank more than one standard drink (40 grams of alcohol) per day substantially increased their risk of contracting tuberculosis. (8) Studies in the United States and several other countries examining the concurrence of TB among people with AUD found overlap rates ranging from 10-50%.

Sepsis

Sepsis is a potentially severe condition that can be life-threatening if left untreated. It’s caused by the body’s response to infection when it attacks its own tissues. Specifically, an infection of the lung can result in breathing difficulties, and an individual suffering from this may require temporary assistance to breathe correctly. Indeed, the lung is the most frequently identified organ to fail in sepsis and is also the most frequent primary site of infection. (9) As a result, the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is commonly seen in these cases.

Extensive research also confirms that individuals with AUD are more likely to contract pulmonary infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. (10) Mechanisms by which infections in those with AUD can result in sepsis include an increased risk of aspiration and malnutrition. More importantly, alcohol use can significantly impair immunity.