Cystic fibrosis and alcohol consumption: what you need to know

Living with cystic fibrosis does not mean that we should deprive ourselves of drinking: on the other hand, we need to know how alcohol consumption affects us in order to avoid negative effects.

Here are some important tips that are always useful to know.

What do people with CF need to know about drinking alcohol?

Becoming an adult also means developing a responsible approach to alcohol consumption. Unless your beliefs completely prohibit you from consuming them, your social life may lead you to consume alcoholic beverages and hang out with people who drink. There is only one watchword in this case: MODERATION. Why? Because having CF increases some of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption

Why should I limit my alcohol consumption?

Even a small amount of alcohol can interfere with the action of your antibiotics and other medications, preventing them from achieving the intended result. The secretions from the liver ducts of a person with CF are thick and tend to stagnate. Drinking alcohol can cause damage to areas already altered by CF, in addition to an increase in the risk of generalized liver damage. Drinking alcohol affects blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

I am diabetic and I want to have a drink. What should I do?

Always make sure you have a good meal before you drink and snack when you drink. When you drink alcohol, your liver stops making glucose because it is busy removing alcohol from your blood. Because glucose production is stopped, diabetic patients are at risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If you drink on an empty stomach or shortly after taking your insulin, the risk increases. It takes two hours to metabolize a single ounce of alcohol and eliminate it from your system; therefore, the risk continues to exist long after you have emptied your drink.

Exercise can lower your blood sugar levels further. Dancing is exercise; if you dance, alcohol is even more harmful to you.

Carry carbohydrate snacks with you at all times. If you experience symptoms of low blood sugar, eat immediately.

The standard treatment for hypoglycemia is usually one of the following:

• half a cup of orange or apple juice, or a regular sized popsicle,
• hard candies,
• two or three tablets of Dextrosol®, or one pack of Glucose Gel®.

Also, if it has been more than half an hour since your snack or meal, you should have a snack of rusks and cheese or peanut butter, or even half a meat or cheese sandwich. If you don't feel better after ten minutes, repeat the treatment. Make sure at least one of your friends is aware of your condition. Your friends should be able and ready to help you if you have a severe hypoglycemic attack and lose consciousness.

Watch your blood sugar. It is the best way to prevent hypoglycemia.

What is the price to pay for excess?

Each case is different. If you think you have an alcohol addiction problem, seek help from your CF team, a drug rehab center, other health professionals, or Alcoholics Anonymous. The following warning signs are indicators of a drinking problem:

• a change in mood or behavior when you drink (sometimes to the point of anger or aggression)
• The consumption of one or two glasses each time you drink alcohol
• The fact of never being able to make do with just one drink
• The need to always have alcohol close at hand
• The need to drink early in the morning or all day
• The need to drink until you fall drunk dead
• The need to drink alone or to have a drink secretly
• delays at work or absenteeism caused by a hangover
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• a high degree of tolerance to alcohol
• severe vomiting or tremors, especially in the morning

The benefits of reducing or stopping alcohol consumption

Will help your liver: Giving your body a break from alcohol will rest your liver, giving you more energy.

Better hydration: After cutting off the alcohol for a few weeks, you will notice better hydration. Alcohol dehydrates and dehydrates your body of good vitamins and minerals.

You will have a better vision There are also mental effects of quitting alcohol. You will have a better vision of what is around you. You will discover details that you have never noticed before.

Replace calories to make yourself happy A good technique for quitting alcohol is to make yourself happy by eating meals that are a little more caloric than usual. In this way, you are replacing the calories in alcohol with a dish that you like.

Take notes throughout your experience By taking notes throughout your alcohol-free time, you'll have a better idea of changes and improvements in your health. Who knows? Maybe you want to keep some good habits!

Continue your good habits One month is good, but why not two? Or three? If you are happy with this change in your life, continue the challenge longer. Your body will be even healthier.

Listening to your body is important If you feel anxiety, stress, headaches, or heartaches when you stop drinking alcohol, you may have a bigger problem.

If you need help, see It's not easy to completely cut out alcohol, but it does happen. If this is not the case for you and you are becoming ill due to lack of alcohol, consult a doctor or specialist. The consequences of addiction can be very serious.

Sources of the text

“The benefits of a month without alcohol”, HuffingtonPost Quebec
http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/02/01/bienfaits-mois-sans-alcoo_n_14556038.html

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