Dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction puts your body under extreme amounts of stress. First, you have the mental strain of trying to hide the condition from friends and family. Second, you have the physical changes that can occur, such as a compromised immune system. Instead of simply letting drug or alcohol use wear down your mind and body, recognize how much the problem affects you and find out how Sunflower Wellness Retreat can help you.
Alcohol and Compromised Immune System Responses
Several substances can cause reduced immune responses. For instance, alcohol use, either long-term or binge drinking, can make it easier for you to get sick. Drinking also can damage the liver, making it harder for your body to process out toxins such as drugs or prescription medications you may need to recover from an illness.
Immunocompromise and Methamphetamine Use
If you use methamphetamines, also known as meth, you should get the help you need to stop. With 10 million meth users in the United States, researchers have gathered a large amount of information on how the drug impacts your body. One of the most troublesome consequences is a compromised immune system. Meth use can lead to fewer or less effective immune cells in the body.
In addition to compromising the immune system, meth users may have prickling skin sensations that cause them to pick at their skin. This skin picking leads to open sores and infections. Those who inject meth may get necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease.
Lastly, poor hygiene among meth users also increases the chances of having these skin sores infected. Because handwashing and good hygiene are critical components of avoiding diseases such as COVID-19, meth users who do not take these measures may have a higher likelihood of catching this virus.
Smoked Drugs and Lung Diseases
Respiratory diseases like pneumonia, the flu, and COVID-19 all become worse if you already have lung damage. Smoking drugs such as crack cocaine or marijuana can increase the chances of developing a more severe form of illness that affect the lungs because these drugs irritate the airways. Additionally, you may have bronchitis, which can make breathing harder even before you get infected from flu or COVID-19.
Opioid Drugs and Immune System Activity
If you take opioid drugs, these drugs can slow down your breathing, making it more likely that you can have trouble getting in enough air if you have COVID-19 or the flu. Additionally, these drugs reduce the activity of the immune cells in your body that fight infections. In fact, opioid users have higher chances of getting several types of infections. Scientists have known this aspect of this class of drugs since the early 1900s. Evidence today continues to build for how much these drugs cause a compromised immune system. Here at Sunflower Wellness Retreat, we can help you improve your overall health with our resources.
Take Care of Yourself
If you use any type of drugs, you have a greater chance of getting COVID-19 or any other widespread disease. Protect yourself from this infection and others by doing the following:
- Talking to your doctor about your drug use and how it affects your immune system
- Washing your hands regularly
- Getting up to date on all vaccines
- Making regular doctor’s appointments for checkups
- Getting prompt medical care if you do get sick
You Do Not Have to Settle for Reduced Immunity for the Rest of Your Life
Drug or alcohol use disorders can lead to compromised immune system responses in the face of COVID-19 and other diseases. Do not let substance abuse take your life by increasing the chances that you get this disease or its complications. You can have a better, healthier future if you choose the path to sobriety. Start by finding help through a quality recovery center. Call Sunflower Wellness Retreat at 855.730.8825 to learn more about how you can protect yourself from infection. After rehab, you can start to live a healthier life and enjoy a stronger immune system than what you have under the influence of drugs.
