It is possible for a person who is struggling with substance misuse or addiction to have a number of negative side effects as a result of the long-term consumption of these substances. Having a problem with alcohol or drugs for an extended period of time can cause significant damage to a number of systems in the body, most notably the immune system. Intoxicating chemicals may cause damage to the immune system directly, or the manner in which the drug is taken may lead to a higher risk of infection together with a poorer immunological response. Both of these effects may be caused by the medication. Even in the event that a person who suffers from addiction does not acquire more significant difficulties, including as cognitive impairments, heart disease, lung disease, or liver failure, the damage done to the immune system can lead to dangerous infections that may or may not be cured. There is a possibility that some of these illnesses could result in additional long-term complications or even death. Here are some of the highlights by alcoholic spouse which affect the human immune system.
Alcohol
Problems with the immune system can be caused when the liver and pancreas work less effectively. A long-term problem with alcohol consumption is associated with pneumonia. Consumption of alcohol, which lowers inhibitions, can also increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV or HSV-2, which can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to other infections.
Alcohol and the immune system are two things that, when combined, can have disastrous effects. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can increase one’s risk of developing a number of diseases since alcohol lowers the body’s immune defences. Abuse of alcohol causes damage to the cells in your digestive system that are responsible for breaking down food, which in turn disturbs the normal functioning of your digestive system.
Alcohol consumption can have devastating long-term effects on a person’s immune system, including the eventual failure of the liver and the destruction of a number of organs throughout the body. The vitamins that are necessary for your body to operate correctly are stored in your liver. However, drinking can result in poor nutrition as well as damage to the liver. Autoimmunity, a condition in which the body mistakenly assaults its own healthy tissues, can be triggered by alcoholism. In addition to this, it inhibits the function of the white blood cells that are supposed to eliminate the cancer-causing white blood cells that have gone crazy.
Cocaine
Cocaine snorting can cause or exacerbate problems with the respiratory tract, increasing the risk of upper respiratory infections. To add insult to injury, crack cocaine use can lower the body’s resistance to respiratory illnesses including bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Even young, healthy people can experience a seizure or a heart attack if they take too much cocaine, making it more dangerous for those with hypertension or cardiac disease.
- Combining cocaine with other substances or alcohol raises the danger of an overdose.
- When used repeatedly, snorting cocaine can destroy the delicate tissue that divides your nostrils. Extreme abuse can cause this cartilage to deteriorate, resulting in a crooked or deformed nose.
- Cocaine use during pregnancy has been linked to adverse outcomes for both mother and child, including miscarriage, early labour, and a low birth weight.
- Chronic crack use has been linked to respiratory issues and chest pain.
- Injecting a combination of cocaine and heroin, known as “speedballing,” can be lethal. White heroin is a kind of heroin that is frequently misidentified as cocaine and has been responsible for many overdoses and hospitalizations.
Marijuana
This psychoactive substance has an effect on a wide variety of cells in the body, which can ultimately be detrimental to the immune system. Marijuana usage lowers the body’s resistance to infection by all types of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungus, and protozoa. Because of the immune system’s decreased capabilities, it may also reduce the immune system’s ability to be able to attack cancer cells. This is because the immune system is suppressed.
Nicotine
It has been speculated for a very long time that the negative effects of chronic cigarette smoking on the immune system may be the cause of many of the negative health effects of smoking cigarettes. Tobacco products include a significant amount of nicotine, which is a chemical with psychoactive properties. Nicotine is a medication that stimulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and there is mounting evidence to show that it has major impacts on the immune system.
Opioids
Heroin, morphine, fentanyl, opium, and pharmaceutical painkillers are all examples of substances that belong to this category. Even if all narcotics have some influence on the immune system, injecting drugs into the veins significantly raises the chance of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B or C (as a result of sharing needles), as well as bacterial or fungal infections. This presents an especially grave risk to patients whose immune systems are already in a weakened state. Crushing narcotics and snorting them can cause damage to the mucous membranes in the nose, throat, and upper lungs, which can raise the risk of upper respiratory infections. Snorting or crushing narcotics can also increase the risk of overdose. It has been discovered that morphine and other opioids have an immediate effect on white blood cells, which can result in a diminished capacity for the immune system to fight off infections and other disorders.
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