We Answer Questions About All Things Alcohol Flush
November 29, 2019 by Dreasy
Ah yes, Alcohol Flush.
That pesky alcohol reaction that makes you beet red even after just a few sips of beer.
Studies suggest that 36% of Asians have this alcohol syndrome, most commonly on East Asians.
And if you are one, you might have some embarrassing stories about getting stared at bars because of your flushed glowing face.
You might even have sacrificed your social life just to get away from the embarrassment and the discomfort of consuming alcohol.
We know the struggle. We've been there.
That's why we compiled all the common questions about Alcohol Flush to help fellow sufferers out there to understand this awkward, uncomfortable, and troubling alcohol phenomenon.
What is Alcohol Flush?
Alcohol Flush is what most Asians experience when consuming alcohol. Symptoms often include redness of face and chest, itchy skin, red patches all over the body, and uncomfortable heat.
It’s the evidence that alcohol is not effectively metabolizing in your body and that you have to take your time drinking. Some of the tips to have less Alcohol Flush symptoms are spacing out your drinking time, eating a full meal before drinking and drinking glasses of water for every booze you downed.
Why do I get Alcohol Flush?
Studies have shown that people who get Alcohol Flush have a recessive gene that is responsible for breaking down alcohol. They are most apparent in people of East Asian descent.
What causes Alcohol Flush reaction?
To metabolize alcohol effectively, the first enzyme that sets into action is alcohol dehydrogenase. This is the one responsible for converting alcohol into the toxic molecule acetaldehyde. Then, the second enzyme called acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) breaks down this toxic molecule, attempting to restore the body to its stabilized state.
It is in this second enzyme that people who suffer from Alcohol Flush are getting their issues from. They have a mutation that causes for ALDH2 to have little to no function at all. Because the process of metabolizing alcohol is slow or even stuck at the second stage, the toxic acetaldehyde is freely poisoning your body, resulting in all the extremely uncomfortable symptoms when you drink, increasing the blood flow to the skin, causing redness and itchiness of the body.
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Is Alcohol Flush dangerous?
Alcohol Flush can be dangerous if the symptoms are ignored. Say, you don't feel drunk so you continue on drinking alcohol even though your body is flaming and you're red from head to toe. Because your body is slow to metabolize alcohol, continuous drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning.
The high concentration of acetaldehyde also damages the DNA, causing certain types of cancers commonly associated with heavy drinkers. As if this is not enough, the toxic build-up of acetaldehyde also increases the risk of having liver disease or pancreatitis. It is categorized as a class 1 carcinogen, the same class as formaldehyde, one of the most widely used chemicals in the world but also a notorious suspect in causing cancers.
Can Alcohol Flush reaction be fatal?
It can be fatal if you're ignoring the symptoms and continue to consume alcohol. It can be worse if you’re using antihistamines like Zantac and Pepcid because these OTC drugs only mask the symptoms.
You’re only dealing with the redness and the itchiness at its surface level, not the root - the toxic acetaldehyde that is poisoning your blood and damaging your DNA.
Without the symptoms, you may think that it’s okay to drink again but what you are doing is piling up the poisonous alcohol byproduct in your body and creating a tremendous amount of oxidative stress to your system which will probably take a few months to recover just from one drinking session.
Does Alcohol Flush go away?
Symptoms of your Alcohol Flush is temporary. Once alcohol toxins are effectively broken down in your body, your Asian Glow will lessen.
But Alcohol Flush syndrome is permanent since the problem occurs because of a recessive gene. It's in your DNA! The best that you can do is to take preventive cures like REDUCE to fully enjoy a drinking sesh.
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How to prevent Alcohol Flush reaction?
Stay clear of antihistamines like Zantac and Pepcid! For the past couple of years, these OTC drugs are popular for Asians looking for an effective Alcohol Flush "cure". But these drugs don't address the cause of your Asian glow, but just mask the symptoms, which can be dangerous.
To prevent Alcohol Flush, it is better to choose supplements, which are by far a safer and healthier option. Supplements like REDUCE contain n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a powerful antioxidant that helps the liver break down alcohol. This effectively deals with the cause of your Flush without compromising your health like what Zantac and Pepcid do.
What are the common ailments associated with Alcohol Flush?
People with Alcohol Flush have more risk of getting alcohol-related diseases. It is important that you pace yourself when drinking to avoid alcohol toxin build-up which can lead to alcohol poisoning or a damaged liver.
Studies suggest that people who have Alcohol Flush have more risk of getting certain types of cancer, like esophageal cancer and are more prone to fall into alcoholism.
Conclusion
There's really no better way to cure Alcohol Flush than to prevent it from happening. Because you can't do anything to change your gene just to enjoy a night of drinking, take REDUCE instead. It will fill the gap of the metabolizing process, allowing you to have a healthy social life.