5 reasons why you should avoid alcohol until your injury heals

It is said that it is better to avoid drinking alcohol while recovering from injuries such as cuts and fractures. John Kiely , a sports science researcher at the University of Lyme and a former Olympic athlete coach, explains five reasons why it is recommended to abstain from alcohol while recovering from an injury.

Five reasons you should give up alcohol if you're recovering from an injury
https://theconversation.com/five-reason-you-should-give-up-alcohol-if-youre-recovering-from-an-injury-257194

Reason 1: It harms the immune system
When tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments are damaged, immune cells work at the damaged site to repair the tissue. However, it has been shown that drinking alcohol has a negative effect on the immune system and slows down tissue repair.

Heavy drinking, such as 4-5 alcoholic drinks in one sitting, can severely affect your immune system and delay post-operative recovery by 3-5 days, while even moderate drinking of 1-3 drinks in one sitting can slow down tissue regeneration.

Reason #2: It Prevents Muscle Regeneration
It is known that even moderate alcohol consumption slows down the rate of muscle protein synthesis for 24 to 48 hours after alcohol consumption, and a study published in 2014 confirmed that muscle protein synthesis slows by 24 to 37% after alcohol consumption. A decrease in the rate of muscle protein synthesis reduces muscle strength and prolongs muscle pain, leading to recurrence of injury.

Reason #3: It slows bone and tissue repair
When bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, etc. are damaged, the damaged tissue sends out a signal to start the repair process. However, alcohol has the effect of inhibiting the signal transmission pathway, slowing down the tissue repair. Research examining the relationship between alcohol and signal transmission has shown that heavy drinking can delay the healing of fractures by 1 to 2 weeks and the recovery of sprains and torn muscles by 2 to 3 weeks.

Reason #4: Hormonal imbalance
Growth hormone and testosterone play a major role in rebuilding tissue after injury, but research has shown that alcohol consumption reduces circulating levels of these hormones.

Alcohol also increases the production of cortisol, a hormone known as the stress hormone. When cortisol levels rise, energy is mobilized to deal with stress, leaving less energy to heal injuries. Cortisol also breaks down healthy muscle.

Reason #5: It increases the chances of relapse
Proper communication between the brain and the body is essential for smooth and precise movement, and alcohol significantly impairs all of your physical abilities, including your balance and reaction time, making it more likely that you will re-injure already-weakened tissues.

◆Don't drink alcohol while you're recovering from an injury
Based on the five reasons above, Kylie says, 'The more you refrain from drinking while treating an injury, the greater the chance of a full recovery. If you want to recover quickly, you should refrain from drinking alcohol, and it's best to not drink at all,' and recommends abstaining from alcohol while treating an injury.