Alcoholic Beverages Make People Warm
With sub-zero temperatures outside, it’s no wonder alcohol is one of the go-to substances for many people wanting to ward off the cold. Some individuals drink copious amounts of alcohol and end up with more problems than just feeling cold. But does alcohol truly make us warm?
Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it causes blood vessels to expand. When this happens, more blood flows close to the skin’s surface. This is why people who drink alcohol look flushed and feel warmer temporarily. However, the feeling doesn’t last long because one of the consequences of blood flowing too close to the skin’s surface is that heat from the blood is lost by radiation, eventually causing the body temperature to fall.