At a dinner party full of laughter, the glasses are staggered, and the alcohol quietly begins its journey. Imagine that glass of wine being lifted is not only a lubricant for socializing, but also an adventure to the body. Globally, health problems due to alcohol consumption are on the rise every year, and the statistics are staggering – alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for a wide range of diseases and injuries. But what kind of "journey" is it that gives alcohol such power?
From that moment on, when your lips touch the rim of the glass, the alcohol begins its "trajectory" in your body. How does it travel through your mouth, slide down into your stomach, and then be quickly absorbed into your bloodstream before reaching your liver, the body's chemical factory, where it begins a complex metabolic process? How does alcohol affect our brain, heart, liver, and other organs in this process? How is it recognized, processed, and finally expelled by our bodies?
When we raise our glasses to celebrate, alcohol begins its journey inside us, and it all starts in the mouth. Each sip of the journey reveals how alcohol interacts with our bodies and the impact that interaction can have.
As soon as the drink is consumed, the alcohol begins to be absorbed. Unlike food, which needs to be digested, alcohol can enter the bloodstream directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth without waiting. This direct absorption allows the alcohol to quickly affect the sensations, providing an instant sense of relaxation or euphoria. This is also the reason why people can feel the effects of alcohol very quickly after drinking.
Once in the stomach, the journey of alcohol becomes more complicated. The stomach is not only the place where food is digested, but also a key zone for alcohol absorption. Although most alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine, the absorption of alcohol by the stomach wall is not negligible. Food in the stomach can slow down alcohol absorption because it slows the flow of alcohol into the small intestine and reduces the amount of alcohol entering the bloodstream in a short period of time. In addition, the alcohol enzymes in the stomach begin to break down the alcohol, although this process is only effective for a small fraction of the total amount of alcohol.
The direct effect of the stomach on alcohol cannot be ignored. Alcohol is a stimulant that stimulates the gastric mucosa to produce more gastric acid, and long-term excessive alcohol consumption may cause damage to the gastric mucosa, causing gastritis and even gastric ulcers.
Alcohol also affects the absorption of nutrients, especially in the stomach. It interferes with the normal absorption process of vitamins and minerals and can lead to malnutrition. For example, alcohol reduces the absorption of B vitamins, which are essential for nervous system function.
When alcohol enters our system, its main battlefield is undoubtedly the liver. The liver is not only a chemical factory in our body, but also a front line for processing alcohol. Understanding how the liver processes this common but potentially harmful substance can help us treat alcohol consumption more responsibly.
The liver uses two enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), to break down alcohol. First, ADH converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a more toxic substance than alcohol. ALDH then rapidly converts acetaldehyde into acetic acid, which is eventually excreted as water and carbon dioxide.
People metabolize alcohol at different rates, in part because genes determine the activity of ADH and ALDH enzymes. This explains why some people blush easily after drinking alcohol because their acetaldehyde accumulates faster than ALDH can metabolize.
When consumed in moderation, the liver is able to process alcohol efficiently, breaking it down and excreting it from the body. However, excessive alcohol consumption can increase the burden on the liver, leading to fatty liver disease, and liver cells are temporarily expanded.
Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can lead to more serious liver problems, such as alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Cirrhosis is an irreversible change in the liver after long-term damage, which seriously affects liver function.
Men and women drink different amounts of alcohol and need to be adjusted appropriately according to individual differences. Drinking alcohol along with a healthy diet, such as adequate water and food, can slow down the absorption of alcohol and reduce the burden on the liver。Regular liver function tests are important to detect liver health problems early, especially for regular drinkers.
Alcohol, once in the bloodstream, begins its full-body journey, affecting various organs. This process is not only about short-term changes, such as feeling relaxed and happy, but also about potential risks to long-term health.
Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and begins to have an effect on the cardiovascular system. It first dilates blood vessels, which can bring a momentary feeling of warmth and facial flushing. However, this dilation also causes a drop in body temperature, as body heat is lost to the environment more quickly through dilated blood vessels.
Alcohol travels through the bloodstream to the brain, quickly affecting the nervous system. It first inhibits inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain, resulting in a short-term feeling of relaxation and excitement. But as alcohol concentrations rise, it can also affect other neurotransmitter systems, leading to slower reaction times, reduced judgment, and reduced self-control.
Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can have lasting effects on brain structure and function, including memory loss, decreased decision-making ability, etc. Moderate alcohol consumption is sometimes thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to the heart. It can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and even cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle is damaged and affects the heart's ability to pump blood.
Alcohol also affects several other organ systems, including but not limited to the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and reproductive system. For example, alcohol can stimulate gastric acid secretion, causing gastritis or stomach ulcers; suppresses the immune system and reduces the body's resistance to disease; Affects reproductive health and leads to fertility problems.
Drinking alcohol with food slows down the absorption of alcohol and lessens its effects on the body. Master and adhere to the standards of moderate alcohol consumption to avoid the negative effects of alcohol. Drink alcohol with plenty of hydration to help speed up the metabolism and elimination of alcohol.