For people who get symptoms such as facial flushing, nausea and an increased heart, your body most likely is not able to metabolize alcohol efficiently. The reason for that is due to the deficiency of Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 enzyme. This deficiency affects almost up to 50% of East Asians. This enzyme turns the alcohol into toxic chemicals, acetaldehyde. When this toxic chemical increase, it causes blood vessels to dilate, which causes the "Asian Glow," symptoms.
Reports of flushing in East Asians dates over 10,000 years ago when rice was first being cultivated. Researchers found that over time there may have been a genetic mutation that causes reactions to alcohol consumption to protect these farmers from negative alcohol usage.
If you're a person who experiences flushing, drinking should not be an activity to participate in because of the risk of cancer. The alcohol is producing what we know to be acetaldehyde, which is a carcinogen. A carcinogen is any substance or agent that causes cancer through DNA. Therefore, people who experience this flushing is at higher risk of cancer.
There is still a lot of research that needs to be done, but in conclusion if you experience flushing, there are certain activates and medications that should be avoided.
Articles:
wait i understood alcohol to be a carcinogen, and i knew the flush happened. I just thought it made your face hot... it never occurred to me, that was when you are most susceptible to having damage done.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you connected the visible “Asian flush” reaction to what’s actually happening at the genetic and biochemical level. The way you explained ALDH2 deficiency and acetaldehyde buildup makes it clear why flushing isn’t just a cosmetic issue, but a sign that something toxic is accumulating in the body. It’s especially important that you mentioned acetaldehyde being a carcinogen. People often joke about “Asian glow,” but don’t realize it’s actually a red flag for increased cancer risk, especially with repeated drinking.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the evolutionary angle you brought up was really interesting. The idea that a genetic mutation might have been selected for in ancient rice-farming populations as a kind of built-in deterrent to heavy drinking adds another layer to how we think about alcohol tolerance. Overall, your post does a great job linking genetics, history, and health behavior, and it sends a clear message: if you flush when you drink, it’s not something to ignore.