Doctors in Nigeria have warned people to stop the habit of drinking alcohol to stay warm during cold or rainy weather. They say this practice is harmful to health.
Experts explained that although alcohol can make someone feel warm for a short time, it actually puts the body at risk, especially in cold conditions.
In an interview, public health experts said alcohol, especially strong drinks, causes the body to release hormones like adrenaline that create a fake feeling of warmth.
But this feeling is misleading. Alcohol lowers the body’s real temperature, which can lead to hypothermia—a dangerous condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic, hypothermia happens when the body’s core temperature drops below 95°F (35°C).
In hypothermia, the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing body temperature to fall to dangerous levels.
When this happens, important body organs like the heart and brain don’t work properly. If not treated, it can lead to heart or breathing failure, and even death.
Prof. Tanimola Akande, a Public Health Professor at the University of Ilorin, said alcohol gives a false sense of warmth, but it’s harmful to the body.
He advised Nigerians to wear warm clothes, drink hot tea, and use other safe ways to stay warm instead of drinking alcohol.
Akande, who once led the Public Health Physicians of Nigeria group, said drinking too much alcohol in cold or rainy seasons can cause serious health problems and even death.
He explained that alcohol widens blood vessels, especially near the skin, making the skin feel warm. But this reduces the warm blood going to vital organs, which is bad for health.
He said many Nigerians believe alcohol helps them stay warm during rain or cold, but this belief is dangerous.
Akande stressed the importance of safer ways to stay warm, such as wearing proper clothes and using room heaters or hot drinks.
He warned that alcohol only warms the skin, not the body’s important organs, and it can also affect a person’s judgment, making them ignore better ways to stay warm.
He added that drinking too much alcohol in cold weather increases the risk of getting sick.
Too much alcohol can cause liver and heart problems, mental health issues, and even death in cold conditions, he said.
Prof. Best Ordinioha, a Public Health Professor at the University of Port Harcourt, also warned that using alcohol for warmth can lead to drinking too much.
He said this habit could lead to drunkenness, poor decisions, and addiction, which increases the chances of accidents and risky behavior.
He added that alcohol abuse is linked to over 40 health problems, including liver and heart diseases.
Ordinioha explained that drinks like local gin or brandy cause the body to release heat-producing hormones, giving a false feeling of warmth.
However, alcohol is dangerous because people often end up drinking too much, which can make them drunk.
He said that in a drunken state, people may act carelessly or do things they wouldn’t normally do, like having unprotected sex or getting into accidents.
He warned that this behavior can lead to alcohol addiction and many serious health conditions—more than 40 in total.
