Excessive alcohol consumption could affect respiratory health suggests new research

The findings are significant as nitric oxide, a colorless gas produced by the body during respiration, is one of the molecules that protects against certain harmful bacteria, including those that cause respiratory infections. The study, which is the first to reveal an association between nitric oxide and an excessive intake of alcohol, was carried out by a team from Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago, USA using data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES). Questionnaires were used to define put the participants into the following alcohol groups: never drinkers, nonexcessive drinkers, excessive drinkers, and former excessive drinkers.