Posted by Tamar on July 20, 2006, at 16:14:48
In reply to alcohol, exercise and rhabdomyolsysis, posted by saturn on July 9, 2006, at 17:17:35
> I've heard that excessive alcohol can cause muscle injury and breakdown, especially if combined with strenous exercise.
>
> Does anyone know if it's safe for example to run several miles or lift very heavy weights on the same day as having 1-3 drinks?I only just saw your question… if you’re still looking for an answer, here’s my two cents.
Yes, it is safe to run several miles or lift heavy weights on the same day as having 1-3 drinks, if you are in good general health. I’d recommend doing the drinking *after* the exercise, however. Having 3 drinks before exercise might increase your risk of pulling a muscle due to lack of co-ordination. Exercising after 1 drink, unless you are extremely sensitive to alcohol, won’t affect you. If you want to be certain, leave an hour or two between drinking and exercise so that most of the alcohol has been removed from your bloodstream.
If you have any conditions that affect your liver or kidneys, it might be a problem. Same goes if you have any metabolic disorders.
Excessive alcohol means a lot more than 1-3 drinks per day. There’s a lot of talk about the deleterious effects that alcohol can have on our health, but to be honest 1-3 drinks per day isn’t going to pose any danger to anyone who is otherwise fit and healthy. More than 6 drinks per day might be a problem over a long period of time.
I’ve been playing contact sport for several years, and after an afternoon of being pushed over and knocking other people down, there’s nothing I like more than a few beers. And I’ve had absolutely no sign of muscle damage or breakdown. So I think you’re probably safe!
Tamar
poster:Tamar
thread:665520
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20060610/msgs/668662.html