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.
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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.
This is such a clear and helpful explanation of the “Asian Flush”! I love how you explained the genetics behind it, the role of ALDH2, and the connection to health risks like acetaldehyde exposure. The historical context about rice cultivation and the possible evolutionary reason for this reaction was really fascinating, I learned something new!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job breaking down a complex topic in a way that’s easy to understand. I especially like how you emphasized being mindful of alcohol and other activities for people who experience flushing. Really informative and well-written post!
This is a very eye opening post, Ive heard jokes of people talking about "asian glow" but i was unaware that it was due to acetaldehyde buildup.The way you explained the ALDH2 enzyme deficiency and how it leads to toxic chemicals staying in the body helped everything click for me. I also thought it was really interesting how this trait might have developed thousands of years ago as a protective mechanism in early rice-farming populations. It’s wild to think a genetic mutation from so long ago still affects people today. Your post does a great job showing that flushing isn’t just a harmless reaction—it’s actually a sign to take alcohol use seriously. Really well done!
ReplyDeleteThis was very informative and useful to me personally. I get the "Asian flush" as do many in my family. Maybe it's time I let them know that they should probably not be drinking as the flush is due to the buildup of acetaldehyde, a carcinogen. Will they listen? Likley no, but at least I can try!
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