Immune Response Hindered by Binge Drinking

Add avoiding binge drinking to the list of things you can do to prevent catching the swine flu or other infectious diseases: new research shows that excessive drinking can suppress your immune system for up to 24 hours.

The BBC reported Sept. 18 that researchers found that binge drinking debilitates virus- and bacteria-fighting proteins called cytokines for up to a day. Study author Stephen Pruett of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University based his conclusions on studies of lab mice.

The study was published in the journal BMC Immunology.