Can Drinking Alcohol Cause Your Body to Become Swollen?
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Why Alcohol Can Cause Swelling and Puffiness — and What to Do About It

Why Alcohol Can Cause Swelling and Puffiness — and What to Do About It
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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Many of us have experienced a headache and other hangover effects after drinking too much alcohol, but your body is affected in other ways, too. Sometimes drinking alcohol can cause your body to become swollen, especially your hands, feet, or face.

Does Alcohol Make Swelling Worse?

Swelling or bloating can happen when there's too much fluid in your tissues. It's most common in your feet, lower legs, and hands, and sometimes in your face. Swelling is often caused by sitting for too long, eating too much salt, or certain health conditions (like congestive heart failure or liver or kidney disease).

For some people, especially those who have these other health conditions, drinking alcohol can make swelling worse.

According to Janice Miles, RDN, of Creedmoor Addiction Treatment Center, drinking alcohol can cause your body to become swollen because of an electrolyte imbalance.

"Drinking large amounts of alcohol increases sodium levels, which cause you to retain more fluid," Miles says. "That excess sodium and fluid often accumulate in the tissues in your hands, feet, and face."

If your drinking is accompanied by snacking or a meal, that might lead to even greater swelling in your extremities, along with alcohol-related face changes. Miles says that the following high-sodium foods are likely to make a puffy face or swollen hands after alcohol even worse:

  • Pretzels
  • Chips
  • Pizza

Swelling and IBS

If your stomach bloats after drinking alcohol, it might not be just from fluid but could be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and changes in how quickly things move through your gut.

Alcohol can affect gastrointestinal motility, or the rate that things like food (and also gas) move through your intestines. Drinking can slow that movement, which might make gas and bloating more likely.

A study published in 2024 found that drinking alcohol was strongly associated with gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, and gas) 4 to 72 hours after consumption.

Another study found that binge drinking (but not light drinking) was linked to worse IBS symptoms, including gas and bloating, in people who had the condition.

How Long Does Alcohol Bloating Last?

Mild bloating or fluid retention that's not caused by an underlying health problem is temporary and usually resolves on its own within a few days.

If bloating is due to digestive issues such as IBS, it may take more than three days for everything to move through your large intestine.

However, in someone with alcohol use disorder or a history of heavy drinking, severe swelling or bloating in the abdomen or legs might be a sign of a more serious problem.

 This type of swelling in the abdomen is called ascites, and according to Miles, it is a result of alcohol-related liver damage, or cirrhosis. If you're experiencing ascites, it's important to stop drinking; eat a healthy, low-salt diet; and talk to your healthcare provider about ways to protect your liver.

Getting Rid of the Bloat

If you're wondering how to get rid of a puffy face from alcohol, the best thing to do is stop drinking and wait it out.

Miles suggests eating a healthy diet that includes these hydrating foods that are low in sodium and high in potassium to help restore electrolyte balance:

  • Fresh fruits like melons, grapes, peaches, pineapple, and oranges
  • Vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy greens, and carrots
  • Herbal teas
  • Herb- or fruit-infused water
  • Fruit and vegetable smoothies
You can also use a pillow to elevate the part of your body that's swollen, like your head or feet.

 That helps shift the fluid out of the affected part of your body and may help relieve some of the puffiness.

The Takeaway

  • Drinking alcohol can cause swelling in your body, particularly in your hands, feet, and face, due to an electrolyte imbalance. It can also slow gastrointestinal motility, resulting in bloating and other digestive issues commonly seen in IBS.
  • To get rid of alcohol-related bloating, stop drinking and eat a variety of hydrating foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbal teas. You can also try elevating the part of your body that is swollen to help shift the fluid.
  • Severe or lasting swelling should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, especially if you have a history of heavy or chronic alcohol use, as it might indicate a serious health problem.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Edema. Cleveland Clinic. May 17, 2022.
  2. Alcohol and IBS. Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. November 16, 2022.
  3. Gonzalez Z et al. Alcohol and gastric motility: pathophysiological and therapeutic implications. Journal of Investigative Medicine. May 23, 2020.
  4. Clevers E et al. Coffee, Alcohol, and Artificial Sweeteners Have Temporal Associations with Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. April 25, 2024.
  5. Reding KW et al. Relationship between Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Gastrointestinal Symptoms among Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. American Journal of Gastroenterology. January 8, 2013.
  6. Okawa Y et al. Specific foods can reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation: a review. BioPsychoSocial Medicine. May 8, 2019.
  7. Alcoholic Liver Disease. MedlinePlus. August 7, 2023.
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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

Medical Reviewer

Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

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Anne Danahy MS RDN

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Anne Danahy MS RDN is a Scottsdale-based health writer and integrative nutritionist. She specializes in women's health, healthy aging, and chronic disease prevention and management. Anne works with individuals and groups, as well as brands and the media to educate and inspire her audience to eat better, age gracefully, and live more vibrantly.

Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Science in food and nutrition from Framingham State University in Massachusetts. Visit her at her health and nutrition blog: CravingSomethingHealthy.com or AnneDanahy.com

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