Alcohol, the “friend” of pain
People suffering from pain may resort to inappropriate measures when they are unable to alleviate their symptoms. Faced with the difficulty of finding a permanent cure, or to achieve pain relief in some specific moments, we can go against the advice of our medical professional.
One of these measures is to consume alcohol, and it is more common than we would like. Not only people with physical pain resort to alcohol to alleviate their ailment, but also people with mood or psychological problems. That is why it is a risk that we take into account.
Why drink alcohol if you are in pain
The treatment of chronic pain, as with many other ailments, is not always easy or quick. Living with pain is difficult, and although there are ways to alleviate it, such as with pharmacological medication and other treatments, it can lead some people to make decisions that can be counterproductive to their health.
Comorbidity between alcohol consumption and chronic pain is quite frequent. This type of pain is often accompanied by the appearance of negative emotions, stress, anxiety or even depression in some cases. To minimize the impact of pain, both physical and psychological, some people turn to alcohol as an escape route.
This is strongly discouraged for several reasons. The first is that in order to get a potent calming effect from alcohol, a large amount must be ingested.
The second is that alcohol consumption is never indicated as a treatment for any ailment, nor is a minimum daily dose recommended, as we have sometimes heard. In addition, many people are unaware that alcohol consumption, especially in people who are undergoing treatment, may carry an added risk.
Problems resulting from alcohol consumption
What at a given moment may be a relief from pain or a negative mood, can lead to other health problems. Also, remember that at best it will only be a temporary relief and may even aggravate your problem. The harmful effects of alcohol, both in the short and long term, are well known today:
- Gastric problems such as bleeding from the stomach or esophagus
- Liver and pancreas damage
- Increased risk of several types of cancer such as esophageal, liver, colon…
- Increases the risk of cardiovascular problems and stroke
- Can lead to mental health problems such as addiction, depression or anxiety.
- And others such as neuropathies that may follow neuropathic pain or aggravate pre-existing neuropathic pain.
This is not to mention the immediate effects that appear with alcohol abuse, such as psychomotor and speech impairment, sudden mood changes or even loss of consciousness. And of course, the risk of suffering accidents at work or on the road, putting many more people at risk.
If we are undergoing treatment, alcohol can interfere negatively with it in several ways: it can reduce its effect by decreasing the effectiveness of the treatment, cause drowsiness, nausea, headaches, fainting, internal bleeding or respiratory problems, among others.
If we are receiving pharmacological treatment, it is vital to consult with a medical professional about the possible adverse effects of mixing medication with alcohol.
And above all, if you suffer from chronic pain, you can visit the website of the Aliaga Institute to learn more about our treatments, and if you have any doubts or questions do not hesitate to arrange a visit with us by calling +34 935 952 910.