To the long list of harmful effects produced by excessive alcohol consumption, we must now add a new one: the risk of lung infection. This is indicated by a study carried out by the team of Dr. Majid Afshar, from Loyola Chicago University, who have analyzed the medical history and alcoholic habits of 12,000 adults .
As explained in the specialized magazine Chest , North American experts have detected that drinkers considered habitual – that is, men who have more than two drinks a day and women who drink more than one a day – had significantly higher levels. low nitric oxide on your breath. It also happened to occasional drinkers who consume more than four drinks – in the case of women – or more than five – men – at a time at least once a month.
According to the researchers, there is a direct relationship between alcohol intake and a decrease in the concentration of nitric oxide , a colorless gas that plays a protective role against certain types of harmful bacteria. In fact, it is used as an indicator to know if the medication works in asthmatic patients .
Ashfar and his team believe that this new factor should be further investigated and taken into account when considering the effects of alcoholism from now on.
