Some types of alcohol cause a warming or burning sensation when first consumed. Does this mean they can actually raise your body temperature? Can you get a fever after drinking alcohol?
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction, call us today or visit our admissions page to start your journey toward recovery.
Can Alcohol Keep You Warm?
If you spend much time in outdoor winter activities, you may encounter someone who advises you to take a few sips of whiskey to help you stay warm. They might even support their claim by noting that St. Bernards once carried alcohol in little barrels around their neck when on missions to rescue people who had become trapped in the snow.
First, the St. Bernard stories are myths (or, to be precise, partial myths). It’s true that the dogs were used to save snowbound travelers, but they didn’t bring booze with them.
But what about the underlying principle? Can whisky or any other alcoholic beverage keep you warm?
Though you may momentarily feel warm when you take a drink, the sensation you’re experiencing isn’t related to an increase in your body temperature. Instead, it’s the result of alcohol’s effect on your blood vessels.
Alcohol dilates (or widens) blood vessels. This brings the blood that these vessels are transporting closer to the surface of your skin, which causes you to feel slightly warmer and may even make you sweat. But both of these effects pull heat away from your core, which over time will actually lead to a lowering of your body temperature.
Can You Get a Fever After Drinking Alcohol?
If alcohol can’t raise your body temperature, what does that mean for the question in the title of today’s post? Can you get a fever after drinking alcohol?
Yes, you can get a fever after drinking alcohol. However, just because the fever occurs in the aftermath of a drinking session, that doesn’t mean that it is a direct result of the alcohol itself.
Listed below are a few of the more common reasons why you can get a fever after drinking alcohol.
Immune system dysfunction
Heavy drinking can have a devastating impact on your immune system, the internal network that works to safeguard your health and fight off threats such as germs, bacteria, and viruses. A weakened immune system can leave you more vulnerable to health concerns that can cause fever, such as a cold or the flu.
Dehydration
This may seem counterintuitive, but heavy drinking can cause dehydration. This is because alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes increased urination. This can result in an excessive loss of both water and salt, which can cause you to feel like you have a fever.
Preexisting conditions
If you have an infection or a condition that causes inflammation, drinking alcohol can increase their severity. As the symptoms of these health concerns become more intense, the effects can include an increase in body temperature.
Lifestyle factors
The negative effects of heavy drinking aren’t limited to the drug’s direct impact on your body. If you regularly abuse alcohol, there’s a good chance that you don’t follow a nutritious diet plan, get an appropriate amount of exercise, or have a healthy sleep regimen. These and other alcohol-related lifestyle factors can increase your risk of contracting diseases whose symptoms include fever.
Alcohol withdrawal
Most causes of alcohol-related fevers involve drinking too much, either during a single episode of binge drinking or over an extended period of frequent alcohol abuse. But in the case of alcohol withdrawal, the risk of fever results from not drinking at all.
When you become addicted to alcohol, your body undergoes certain adaptations due to the continued presence of this substance.
If you then abruptly quit drinking, your body may react with a variety of unpleasant symptoms as it works to reestablish appropriate levels of certain essential neurotransmitters.
Alcohol withdrawal can be painful, but in most cases it’s not dangerous. However, an estimated 3%-5% of people who go through withdrawal will develop a potentially fatal set of symptoms called delirium tremens (DTs), or alcohol withdrawal delirium.
The DTs can include:
- Disorientation
- Agitation
- Racing heart rate
- Excessive perspiration
- Fever
- Psychosis
- Seizure
The severity and possible danger of these symptoms highlight the importance of starting treatment for alcohol addiction in a detox program.
In detox, you will be cared for by professionals who are prepared for contingencies such as the DTs and provide medical support if necessary to safeguard your health.
Alcohol Poisoning and Body Temperature
Though alcohol is unlikely to directly cause a fever, drinking too much can lead to a dangerous drop in body temperature.
Also known as alcohol toxicity or overdose, alcohol poisoning occurs when you consume more alcohol than your body can safely metabolize and eliminate.
In addition to hypothermia (low temperature), other possible signs of alcohol poisoning include:
- Disorientation
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Slow heartbeat
- Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
- Irregular breathing (gaps of 10 seconds or longer between breaths)
- Involuntary urination or defecation
- Cool, clammy skin
- Bluish coloration near lips and fingertips
- Seizure
Alcohol poisoning can be fatal. If you are with someone who exhibits these signs after drinking, take the following action:
- Call 911
- If they are conscious, give them sips of water
- If they are unconscious, put them on their side to prevent choking if they vomit
- Put a blanket or coat over them
- Stay with them until the emergency responders arrive
Do NOT try to sober them up by putting them into a cold shower or giving them coffee.
Learn More About Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Atlanta
Retreat of Atlanta is a premier provider of customized care for adults in the Atlanta, GA, area who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis programming for patients whose struggles with alcoholism are accompanied by anxiety, depression, or other co-occurring mental health concerns.
To learn more about our detox program and residential rehab services, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.