Multiple Sclerosis and Alcohol: Everything You Should Know
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You’re out to dinner on a Friday night with friends, laughter and enjoying some light conversation after a long work week. The waitress comes around to take your order and you’re about to ask for your usual — a glass of red wine — but you catch yourself: you’ve just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Is it okay to consume alcohol, or will it make your symptoms worse?
In this post, we’ll explore what multiple sclerosis (MS) is, how alcohol impacts people living with the condition, and offer tips on how to manage it. Let’s get started!
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication within the brain and spinal cord. It’s believed to be an autoimmune disorder — a condition in which the body attacks itself by mistake. But environmental factors, infectious agents such as viruses, and genetics can also play a role in the development of MS.
In MS, myelin — the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers — is destroyed in many areas of the brain and spinal cord. The loss of myelin forms scar tissue called “sclerosis.” When the nerves are damaged in this way, they can’t conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain. This interruption of communication signals causes unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, and fatigue.
Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely between patients and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nervous system. Some may have only mild, short-term symptoms, while others experience paralysis and lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk.
When it comes to the relationship between multiple sclerosis and alcohol, there’s a bit of conflicting evidence. Some studies show that alcohol can temporarily worsen symptoms of the condition, while others suggest it can calm an overactive immune system.
Because MS is a chronic inflammatory condition, scientists believe that it’s caused by an overactive immune system. Because of this, MS therapies often aim to suppress the immune response. Some studies discovered regular alcohol intake suppressed one aspect of immunity. However, there’s a lack of conclusive evidence, so scientists agree that more research needs to be done to determine whether alcohol can benefit people with MS.
What we know for sure, though, is that there are some potential negative consequences of drinking alcohol with MS. Here are some of them:
Okay, so what about a glass of red wine? We often hear that an occasional glass of red wine might be good for us due to its antioxidant properties. Is this true for people with MS?
Interestingly, a 2017 study found that people who consumed three glasses of red wine per week appeared to have lower levels of neurologic disability than those who consumed no alcohol. However, MRI scans also showed that those who drank red wine also had a higher volume of high-intensity lesions than those who didn’t drink red wine.
The bottom line? More research is needed, but we’re confident that abstaining from wine is better for our overall health than indulging in it. In fact, alcohol can increase our risk of other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain cancers, all which could make MS worse.
Here again, there’s a bit of conflicting evidence whether alcohol consumption is an environmental risk factor for MS. One study from 2006 showed that people who drank hard liquor daily had a 6.7-fold increased risk of MS. However, a larger 2014 study showed that people who reported moderate alcohol consumption had half the odds of developing MS compared to those who did not drink alcohol.
More recently, two studies found no significant association between drinking alcohol and developing MS. As such, there’s not enough conclusive evidence to say whether alcohol leads to an increased risk of developing the condition.
So, alcohol might not be the best drink of choice for people with MS. But some non-alcoholic drinks are beneficial:
Unfortunately, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment usually involves controlling the condition and easing symptoms, but it depends on the stage of the disease and the person’s specific symptoms.
For instance, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are medicines that can help people with MS have fewer and less severe relapses. They’re taken as a pill, an injection, or an infusion.
Much of the immune response associated with MS occurs in the early stages of the disease. So aggressive treatment with these medications as early as possible can lower the relapse rate and slow the formation of new lesions.
However, DMTs aren’t suitable for everyone with MS. They’re only prescribed to people with relapsing-remitting MS or some people with primary or secondary progressive MS who have relapses.
Healthcare providers often work with neurologists, physiotherapists, speech or language therapists, and a number of other professionals to determine a personalized treatment plan.
Taking good care of our body — in addition to following a professionally-developed MS treatment plan — can help manage MS symptoms. Here are some tips:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can cause a variety of symptoms, such as muscle weakness, fatigue, poor coordination, numbness and tingling. While no studies link alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing MS, alcohol can worsen common MS symptoms like imbalance and lack of coordination. Healthier drinking alternatives include water, coffee, and green tea. In addition to receiving professional medical treatment, people with MS can benefit from eating a healthy diet, exercising their body and brain, and practicing stress management techniques.
If you’re struggling to control your alcohol intake, consider trying Reframe. We’re a neuroscience-backed app that has helped millions of people cut back on their alcohol consumption and become healthier, stronger, and happier in the process.
1. What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication within the brain and spinal cord. It can cause multiple symptoms that vary in severity, such as numbness, tingling, pain, poor coordination, fatigue, and mood changes.
2. How does alcohol affect MS?
Drinking alcohol can worsen MS symptoms, including poor coordination, balance, and slurred speech. Alcohol can also make people with MS feel more depressed and may cause harmful reactions with medications.
3. Does drinking alcohol cause MS?
There’s not enough conclusive evidence to say whether alcohol leads to an increased risk of developing the condition.
4. What are healthier drink alternatives for MS?
Water, coffee, and green tea can be particularly beneficial for people with MS, helping to manage symptoms.
5. What is the treatment for MS?
There’s no cure for MS, but treatment usually involves controlling the condition and easy symptoms through medication or disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
6. What are some tips for managing MS?
Eating nutritious food, staying physically active, exercising your brain, and practicing stress management techniques are effective ways to help manage MS.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
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