Can you drink alcohol if you have a cold?

Ah, the age-old question that has puzzled humanity for centuries: can you stumble to the bar with a runny nose and cough up phlegm into your cocktail, or should you stick to honey lemon tea and Netflix?

Let’s dive headfirst into this snot-filled topic.

What Happens When You Mix Booze and Germs?

When we’re sick, our immune system is already working overtime to fight off the nasty germs invading our body. Adding alcohol into the mix can put additional strain on our defenses, making it harder for us to recover quickly (but hey, beer goggles might make that puffy face look better).

Drinking alcohol while sick can also dehydrate us further, worsen symptoms like headache and nausea (we all know how lovely hangovers feel), and even delay healing time by suppressing our immune system.

So yeah, maybe not such a great idea after all. But wait…

The Surprising Benefits of Drinking When Sick

Hold up – before you pour out your bottle of tequila in despair, there may be some silver linings when it comes to boozing while diseased.

For one thing,alcohol has been shown to have antimicrobial properties that could help kill off some bacteria or viruses causing your cold (although bear in mind drinking bleach would probably do the same thing).

It’s also possible that having a drink or two could relax you enough to help ease symptoms like congestion or sore throat (just don’t get carried away until you think wearing garlic cloves as earrings looks fashionable).

Lastly,a study from Austria found that people who drank moderate amounts of wine reported fewer colds than those who didn’t drink at all (#winewinewine)!

Okay, so now we’re back where we started – confusion plagues us just like our runny nose. Let’s break it down and say cheers – or not – to some common scenarios.

Scenario 1: You Have a Mild Cold

If you’re dealing with typical cold symptoms like mild cough, stuffy nose, and low fever, having a drink probably won’t do too much harm (unless you count inhaling vodka fumes as an inhaler).

However,it’s important to monitor your alcohol intake so that you don’t end up getting drunk while still under the weather (let’s face it – green vomit is never sexy).

Stick to light beers or wine spritzers if you want to have something alcoholic, and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water alongside it.

For those overachievers who can even manage more than one glass despite feeling sick,avoid sugary drinks like cocktails, which could worsen dehydration and inflammation in your already ticklish throat (choking on maraschino cherries is so embarrassing anyway.)

Scenario 2: You Have a Fever

Rule of thumb here: if your temperature is higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), it’s best to steer clear of alcohol altogether until the fever breaks.

Not only does booze dehydrate us (which we mentioned earlier), but it can also exacerbate fevers by raising our core body temperature and making us feel even hotter (we’re all melting enough from sweat as it is).

Grab yourself a cold compress instead along with lots of fluids (nonalcoholic ones!)

Scenario 3: You Need Medication

Okay okay, let’s be real now – most people will reach for various remedies when they start sneezing up their lungs out…

But combining medication with alcohol isn’t always safe! Certain medicines may interact negatively with booze and cause unwanted side effects such as dizziness or nausea(even worse since that might not be due to just the cold anymore.)

Be sure to check with your doctor first before attempting any mixology experiments, and always heed any warnings on medication labels.

Scenario 4: You’re Feeling Social

Do you really want to be that person who shows up at a party sneezing into every glass of punch? (No one ever wants that.)

If you have friends who are currently in good health,it’s courteous to steer clear of alcohol so as not to spread germs unintentionally. Plus, it’ll save you from having an awkward coughing fit during bar trivia night where no clever comebacks can make fun of it (coughs I’m still wearing my mask for..um…one reason guys).

Or why not suggest hosting a board game night or movie marathon instead? Snuggling under blankets while eating popcorn is just as enjoyable – maybe even more so without getting drunk and ruining Clue for everyone else.

Scenario 5: You’re Still Unsure

Ultimately,the choice whether or not to drink when sick depends on many factors, including personal preference, severity of symptoms and other medical conditions.(I mean if drinking bleach gives pain relief should we all do it?) Shouldn’t this title read as “Can anyone let me know how I ended up here?”

But keep in mind that being responsible with alcohol is important no matter what state our body is in. If you decide to indulge, stick within recommended guidelines (2 drinks max per day)and ALWAYS HAIL THE ALMIGHTY WATER too!(Hydration helps alleviate most problems)

Otherwise, focus on taking care of yourself by getting enough rest, eating nourishing foods like chicken soup (magic), and washing your hands frequently to avoid infecting others (look out world – superhuman immune system coming through).

Till next time folks! May the force stay strong against these pesky colds.

Random Posts