Narcologist reveals link between HPV and alcohol

Vitaly Holdin, a psychiatrist and narcologist, chief freelance specialist at the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, spoke about the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and alcohol. This was announced on Friday, July 17, by the press service of the Ministry of Health of the Moscow region.

According to the expert, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.

According to the doctor, oncogenic HPV types are the most dangerous. He explained that alcohol significantly weakens the immune system, which makes the body less able to control the virus, and the infection can become chronic. In addition, alcohol damages DNA and acts as a carcinogen. In combination with highly oncogenic HPV types, such as 16 or 18, this greatly increases the risk of developing cancer, including cancer of the cervix, oropharynx and esophagus.

Holdin also noted that alcohol consumption reduces the effectiveness of treatment. 360.ru . According to him, if the liver is busy processing alcohol, medications are absorbed worse, which makes immunomodulators and antiviral drugs less effective, and tissues take much longer to recover after removal of papillomas or dysplasia.

The specialist called promiscuous sexual relations another risk factor. He stressed that intimate contacts under the influence of alcohol, especially with unfamiliar partners, significantly increase the likelihood of HPV infection.

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In March, it was reported that the determination of HPV DNA of high carcinogenic risk is now available to Russian citizens at the first stage of medical examination. The analysis, which helps to assess the risk of developing cancer, is carried out by women from 21 to 49 years old every five years, RT notes. The procedure for collecting biomaterial takes place quickly and painlessly, the Moscow City News agency clarifies.

In January, general practitioner Dmitry Demidik noted that new tests for viral hepatitis, including hepatitis C, and HPV, which had not been performed before, had appeared as part of the medical examination.