People are advised to do regular exercise and eat nutritious food rather than deciding to drink alcohol to keep warm when the weather turns cooler.

Head of the Vientiane Public Health Department's Food and Drug Division Dr Somchine Singharaj said he would not advise drinking alcohol to keep warm as is the case in some European countries where people drink various forms of alcohol in the winter.

“It is true that drinking alcohol makes you feel warm. But you should remember that alcohol also has negative impacts on your health,” he said.

Dr Somchine said alcohol affects the central nervous system and works as a depressant, resulting in a decrease in activity, anxiety, tension, and inhibitions.

“Even a few drinks can result in behavioural changes, a slowing in motor performance, and a decrease in the ability to think clearly. Concentration and judgment can also become impaired.”

A change in physical or mental health caused by alcohol marks the start of alcoholism. Drinking extreme amounts of alcohol affects the body in many ways.

Vitamins are not absorbed properly, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Alcoholics also suffer from liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis while the heart may also be damaged.

According to a doctor from the Ministry of Health, “A person who has an alcoholic parent is more likely to become an alcoholic than a person without alcoholism in the immediate family.”

The doctor said alcoholism is a type of drug addiction, with both physical and psychological dependencies.

“Alcohol affects the central nervous system and works as a depressant, resulting in a decrease of activity, anxiety, tension, and inhibitions,” she said.

Alco holism is divided into two categories, dependence and abuse. People with alcohol dependence, the most severe form of alcoholism, rely on alcohol and spend much of their time drinking or obtaining it.

Alcohol abusers have less of a problem and are considered "problem drinkers". This means they take risks with their health because they drink large amounts regularly, although maybe not every da y.

Dr Somchine advised people to wear thick clothing, drink more warm water, bathe with warm water and eat warm, cooked nutritious food to keep healthy.

Doing regular exercise and playing sports is the best medicine to fight against all diseases and to keep yourself warm, he said.

Beef Cake wrote on 28^th Dec, 2013 at 1:39am:


Everyone would be bringing an esky full of beer to the snow if this was the case.

Also it's difficult to "eat nutritious food" if you live in the countryside of Laos.

Healthy meals are not readily available to many poor Laotians so perhaps this doctor can do something beneficial and provide, or start up a healthy food aid to my fellow struggling Laotians.

His advise for the well to do city folks. The counrty folks should just gather alot of fire wood. Heck i bet its a problem
just finding food.Cook healthy food.lol

Some years ago, as far as I know, nearly all rural Laotians had a small plot or land with land ownership permit. More investments means less land for own use for vegetables and meat sources.

It is not malnutrition, it is nutrition unbalanced diet. 

I had alcohol and drug addictions which became hard for me. I quit the job and then decided to get treatment at virginia opiate addiction treatment and alcohol rehab center. After getting successful treatment now I regularly exercise and mediate.

Rimbach35 wrote on 13^th Sep, 2017 at 1:13pm:

Spam. someone report him