German scientists: Drinking alcohol during coronavirus increases the risk of lung damage

A group of scientists from the University of Heidelberg found that drinking strong drinks when infected with COVID-19 increases the ability of the virus to enter the lungs. According to their findings, writes Dr. Peter, alcohol provokes the risk of developing severe forms of coronavirus.

So, experts advise giving up alcohol, as well as coffee, black tea, packaged juice and soda during the recovery from coronavirus.

The scientists conducted experiments involving rodents that were injected with doses of alcohol into the body in three different schemes, each of which corresponds to different types of alcohol abuse. Some of the mice received small injections of alcohol from time to time. The second group of subjects spent seven weeks under the influence of alcohol vapours. And rodents from the third group were periodically left without alcohol in order to simulate an abstinence syndrome.

Then, the level of expression of genes that are involved in the mechanism of penetration of COVID-19 pathogens into the patient’s cells was checked in the body of the experimental subjects. This indicator affects how efficiently genes can perform their task.

It turned out that alcohol affected gene expression in all three groups – its level became higher. Also, according to the results of the study, strong drinks help the virus to enter the lungs.

The researchers also found that alcohol affects the Mas receptor on the cell membrane. This receptor is responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect in the event of a pathogen entering the cell. Thus, the love of drinking prevents the body from forming an anti-inflammatory response.