Have you been told you can’t handle alcohol? Do you drink as much as your friends do, but you always end up drunker than most?
A lot of people think that alcohol affects everyone the same way. So, they tend to drink equally as their peers, only to end up the most intoxicated in the group. The truth is each individual experiences the effects of alcohol in a different way.
There are many factors that influence the effect of ethanol on the human body. What matters is that you learn about all of them. Take a look at the guidelines below and see which factors affects your system the most.
Have you been told you can’t handle alcohol? Do you drink as much as your friends do, but you always end up drunker than most?
A lot of people think that alcohol affects everyone the same way. So, they tend to drink equally as their peers, only to end up the most intoxicated in the group. The truth is each individual experiences the effects of alcohol in a different way.
There are many factors that influence the effect of ethanol on the human body. What matters is that you learn about all of them. Take a look at the guidelines below and see which factors affects your system the most.
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Body Weight
The main, and probably the most obvious factor in how people handle alcohol is their body weight. Even if a 265-pound and a 100-pound person drink an equal amount of alcohol, the smaller individual will become more sensitive to the effects.
Their body fat and weight affect the alcohol absorption rate. Simply put, the bigger the body, the slower the absorption rate.
It will take a while for the alcoholic beverage to reach the brain and alter their physical and mental functions in overweight individuals. That’s why the smaller individual will get drunk a lot faster.
Another factor is the food they eat. People who consume diets high in fat, fiber, or protein when they drink alcohol, will reduce the absorption rate. However, carbonated beverages will force the ethanol to be absorbed by the body more quickly.
A group of researchers studied the connection between alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI). They evaluated 229 college students who consumed alcoholic beverages. The volunteers were divided into 3 categories.
The categories consisted of an overweight, underweight, and a normal weight group with daily average alcohol consumption. Each category consumed a similar amount of unhealthy foods as well.
Results showed there is a close connection between BMI and alcohol consumption. Not only did the underweight individuals show an increased risk of intoxication, but the study found that drinking was also a risk factor for excessive weight gain and poorer health.
If you are suffering from alcohol addiction, enroll in the inpatient alcohol rehab center for men near Fort Worth, Texas. With quick intervention and constant medical supervision, you will be able to overcome your drinking habit and live a healthier and more productive life.
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Gender
- Alcohol causes around 5 million deaths annually, 4% are on a global level, and 6.2% strictly among the male population.
- Around 33% of men and 17% of women binge drink in the U.S.
- Men generally drink more than women. But, women have higher levels of amount of alcohol present in their bloodstream even if they drink the same amount of alcohol as a man.
Gender plays a predominant role in the way alcohol affects people. There are certain physiological differences between the female and the male body. Women tend to experience the effect of alcohol more acutely than men, even in studies accounting for body weight and height.
According to research, the effect of alcohol has a lot to do with:
- body composition
- hormones
- metabolism
Scientists evaluated 1,331 undergraduate drinkers to study the impact of alcohol on the human body. The majority of the volunteers (64%) were women.
Based on the results, women reported experiencing more alcohol-related problems than men. When the drinking was controlled, the women had 1.5 to 2 times greater risk of blacking out, developing a tolerance, getting hurt, or going out to get a drink even if they promised not to.
The cause for that is the amount of water in the female body. For example, a woman’s body has less water, which is why it takes longer for the system to dilute the alcohol. Furthermore, the female system creates less dehydrogenase.
This is an enzyme responsible for breaking down the alcohol in the system. Another major factor is hormones. Due to the regular hormonal fluctuations, the body needs more time to metabolize the alcohol, which leads to longer and more intense effects.
So, even if a woman drinks the same amount of an alcoholic beverage, her organs and nervous system become more exposed to the alcohol and its toxic byproducts. If someone in your family is struggling with the toxic byproducts of alcoholic beverages, it’s important to get a proper detox. A medical detox program for alcohol abuse in North Texas, like the one offered by Stonegate Center, will ensure you get all the support you need.
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Type of Drink
Not every drink is equally intoxicating. Some beverages contain more alcohol or ethanol than others. The alcohol by volume (ABV) is a typical measure of how much ethanol is in one alcoholic beverage. Each beverage has an average ethanol content that affects the body differently.
For example, people who enjoy wine or beer tend to experience the effects of the alcohol a little less. It’s all because of the water in the drink compared to alcohol content.
Beer and wine contain high amounts of water, which adds volume to the drink. But hard liquor is different because it is much more potent. When paired with carbon dioxide, the hard liquor accelerates the alcohol absorption rate and intoxicates drinkers a lot faster.
To study the impact on alcohol, based on the alcoholic beverage consumed, researchers evaluated 498 young adults. Each participant received one of the following drinks: wine, beer, or a distilled spirit.
The goal of the study was to analyze the various factors that might contribute to a negative or positive effect of the drinks. Based on the results, the volunteers can expect to experience different effects after consuming these beverages.
For the majority of the participants, the wine produced more relaxing effects. This resulted in a positive reaction to the beverage. Those who consumed shots or beer were not pleased with their impacts on sexuality.
While wine seems to have been better rated for its sexuality effects. In fact, volunteers believe beer or hard liquor can negatively affect perception and aggression. But, wine was perceived to help them relax and improve their social skills.
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Age
The older we get, the more muscle we lose, and the more fat we gain. Because of the extra fat in the body, it makes it more and more difficult to absorb alcohol from beverages. Therefore, older individuals tend to have higher levels of alcohol in their system despite reporting feeling fewer of effects. This causes older drinkers to get intoxicated a lot sooner and remain drunk for a long time.
Based on clinical studies, there is a substantial impact of age on alcohol absorption rate. Scientists studied how moderate drinking would affect driving in younger versus older adults. Both groups received equal amounts of alcohol.
However, the older volunteers performed more poorly when they had to drive. Their reactions got slower and their performance drastically decreased. In fact, the older volunteers exhibited a greater impairment after drinking alcohol than the younger adults.
For those who want to get rid of the alcohol from their system, a 24/7 medical detox center for alcoholism in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, such as the one at Stonegate Center, can help. Their experts will make sure there are no traces left of the substance in your system.
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Genetics
- Genes are responsible for over 50% of the variance in people vulnerable to alcoholism.
The human body relies on 3 different enzymes to break down the alcohol. They are capable of breaking apart all the alcohol molecules and helping the body eliminate the substance from the system.
But the problem is, every individual will have a unique variation of the gene that creates these enzymes. These genes impact our neural pathways, behavior, and stress resilience. Our genetic factors can make us vulnerable to alcoholism.
As a result, some people have an easier time metabolizing alcohol than others. For example, some people might experience a quickened heartbeat, nausea, or aggressive behavior after drinking, while others will get away with only some facial redness and minor behavior changes.
Basically, the genes are the ones that create these differences, which makes the effect of alcohol somewhat unique for everybody.
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Metabolism
- The liver metabolizes over 90% of the alcohol consumed. It needs around 30 min to metabolize just ½ ounce of alcohol. But the rate will vary depending on how quickly or slowly the metabolism is working.
A person’s overall health, previous ethanol exposure, food intake, and body weight all play a crucial role in the way the metabolism works. When the digestive system needs a while to eliminate the ethanol from the system, some effects of the alcohol will still remain in the body for a long time.
People with a poor metabolic rate who consume heavy amounts of alcohol are at risk of developing serious health complications. Alcohol can also have an impact on the stomach and result in alcohol bloating, or more commonly referred to as a ‘beer belly.’ The alcohol can degrade their liver health and cause dehydration.
If you are a heavy drinker with a slow metabolism, try the best long-term residential treatment facility for alcoholism in Texas. No matter your health state, their experts will make sure your body gets the treatment it deserves.
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Medications
Alcohol and medications don’t mix. People who take sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, blood thinners, and other types of medication tend to get drunk quicker. The alcohol will affect the medicine’s efficiency and interact with the chemicals in it.
That’s why it is in your best interest to consult with a doctor if you are drinking and taking medicine at the same time. You might experience serious adverse effects, which could take a toll on your general well-being. An inpatient alcohol rehab center for men near Fort Worth, Texas, such as Stonegate Center Creekside, can help you get the support you need. With the help of medical experts, you can get your health back on track.
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Physical and Mental Health
- 33% to 50% of people with alcohol use disorders also have motor and cognitive impairments.
Individuals who are stressed, exhausted, depressed, or anxious have a much stronger reaction to alcohol. The impact of drinking will vary based on their physical and emotional health state.
In the last 50 years, researchers have rigorously studied the impact of alcohol-induced damage on brain function. Particularly the brain structure and cognitive performance. One of the primary focus was the psychological impairment caused by the drinking habit.
Research shows patients who’ve abused alcohol for a long time are at risk of experiencing memory problems, cognitive decline, and poor problem-solving skills. The reason for that is relatively simple. Heavy drinking leaves a negative impact on the brain.
It has a profound impact on the central nervous system, especially the complex structures of the brain. The alcohol blocks the neurotransmitters, which are chemical signals in the brain. This often causes intoxication, temporary slurred speech, memory decline, and slow reflexes.
Among heavy drinkers, the brain learns to adapt to these transmitter blockages. Therefore, it responds more dramatically to these signals and damages the brain cells. Because of the habits formed by chronic drinking, the chemicals in the brain can’t function properly, which takes a toll on your mental health.
So, even though we feel relaxed after drinking, alcohol still affects our emotions and mental health. That’s where a proper detox can come in handy. Try the best 24/7 alcohol detox program for women in Texas if you have problems with your emotional or physical health.
Conclusion
It’s normal for alcohol to affect people in various ways. It depends on their body weight, gender, age, genetics, the type of drink they consume, and more. Understanding these factors can help you get the hang of your drinking patterns and make sense of what happens during and as a result of intoxication.
It can help you understand how the human body operates and the way it deals with alcohol consumption. If you need help to overcome your drinking habit, try to do a medical detox as soon as possible. With on-time intervention, you will be able to put an end to your destructive habit.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3625995/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20617045/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056340/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2965491/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_by_volume
https://en.sake-times.com/learn/alcohol_content
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6104960/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951597/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18422824/
