A reason to refuse alcohol elegantly (not cephalosporin)

The Spring Festival, China's most important traditional festival, is always accompanied by family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, and the inevitable "drinking culture."

For many people, the discomfort after drinking has become a major problem during the festival, especially for those who blush when drinking, they seem to react more sensitively and violently to alcohol.

For those who blush when drinking, it is really recommended that you bravely refuse to drink, because alcohol can cause greater harm to such people.

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What changes happen to your body after drinking alcohol?

When we drink a glass of wine, the alcohol begins its complex journey in our body. This process involves not only the rapid absorption of alcohol, but also a series of complex biochemical reactions.

First, alcohol enters the stomach from the mouth. Although a small amount of alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, most of the alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine. The small intestine has a large surface area, allowing alcohol to enter the blood efficiently. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol begins to circulate throughout the body, and the next metabolic process is carried out in the liver.

The liver plays a central role in alcohol metabolism. The first critical step that occurs here is a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which converts alcohol into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a toxic compound that can cause a range of unpleasant reactions, such as headaches, vomiting, and a rapid heartbeat.

In order to deal with this harmful substance, another enzyme in the liver, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), quickly oxidizes acetaldehyde to acetic acid, a relatively harmless substance. Finally, acetic acid is further metabolized into water and carbon dioxide and excreted from the body through urine and breathing.

From reference [1]

However, the rate at which the human body metabolizes alcohol varies from person to person. Gender, weight, genetic factors, and even eating habits can affect a person's rate of alcohol metabolism. For example, women have lower gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity than men, which may result in higher blood alcohol concentrations and faster acetaldehyde accumulation for the same amount of alcohol intake; however, this also puts more pressure on the liver, causing them to eliminate alcohol faster as well. Age is also an important factor, and the body's ability to metabolize alcohol usually decreases with age.

Knowing this information, it is not difficult to find that the metabolism of alcohol in the body is far more complicated than we thought. Every time you drink, it is the beginning of a series of chemical reactions in the body.

People who blush after drinking

Faced with these risks

Blushing after drinking is undoubtedly the most common and eye-catching reaction after drinking. Many people regard it as a sign of being happy and knowing how to drink. But in fact, it represents a huge risk after drinking.

First of all, we need to know that this phenomenon is particularly common in the Chinese population, and the main reason behind this is genetic factors. We have an innate advantage in the first stage of hangover, and can quickly convert ethanol into acetaldehyde; but about 1/3 of Chinese people lag behind in the second stage of hangover, and acetaldehyde cannot be quickly converted into acetic acid.

From reference [4]

In addition to genetic factors, we also have to consider the body's physiological response to acetaldehyde accumulation. Acetaldehyde is a strong vasodilator. When acetaldehyde accumulates in the body, it dilates blood vessels in the face, causing the skin to redden.

This process is more than just an outward flushing of the face; it actually reflects a stress response inside the body that affects more than just blushing.

This phenomenon is associated with certain health risks. For example, acetaldehyde is a type of carcinogen. Due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, it plays a central role in alcohol-related carcinogenesis, increasing the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer and other cancers.

Therefore, when we see someone blushing after drinking, it is not just an external physiological phenomenon, but also a reminder that the body reacts to alcohol in this way, warning us that we need to be more cautious about drinking.

Potential harms of drinking and suggestions

Drinking, especially long-term and excessive drinking, has profound and multifaceted effects on the body. On the one hand, long-term drinking may lead to a series of chronic diseases, such as liver disease, including fatty liver and cirrhosis, and cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

On the other hand, alcohol is also considered a risk factor for certain types of cancer, such as oral cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer. In addition, the impact of alcohol on mental health cannot be ignored. It may exacerbate psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression.

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In social situations, we need to learn how to say no gracefully but firmly when pressured to drink. An effective strategy is to prepare a response in advance, such as saying that you are taking certain medications that should not be taken with alcohol, or simply explaining that you are trying to live a healthier life. In this process, it is important to remain confident and firm, and health is far more important than temporary social pressure.

For the sake of your own and others' health, not drinking alcohol at all is an option worth considering. Even if you really have to drink, there are limits on how much you can drink. According to the "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022)", the maximum amount of alcohol an adult should drink per day is recommended not to exceed 15g, and any form of alcohol is not good for the human body.

We can explore and enjoy non-alcoholic alternatives, such as non-alcoholic cocktails, juices or simple water, which can not only reduce the health risks of alcohol, but also keep the party happy and relaxed. I also wish everyone a healthy, happy and comfortable Spring Festival!

References

[1]ZakhariS.Overview:howisalcoholmetabolizedbythebody?.AlcoholResHealth.2006;29(4):245-254.

[2]CederbaumAI.Alcoholmetabolism.ClinLiverDis.2012;16(4):667-685.

[3] BaraonaE,AbittanCS,DohmenK,etal.Genderdifferencesinpharmacokineticsofalcohol.AlcoholClinExpRes.2001;25(4):502-507.

[4]CaoY,LiL,XuM,etal.TheChinaMAPanalyticsofdeepwholegenomesequencesin10,588individuals.CellRes.2020;30(9):717-731.

[5]SeitzHK,BeckerP.Alcoholmetabolismandcancerrisk.AlcoholResHealth.2007;30(1):38-47.

This article is a work of Science Popularization China-Starry Sky Project

Produced by: Science Popularization Department of China Association for Science and Technology

Producer｜China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Author: Jiang Yongyuan, Master of Internal Medicine, Third Military Medical University

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association