Table of Contents
Introduction
Alcohol affects the way people think and feel. But the extent of effect it makes depends on the concentration of the alcohol content, the time taken, and the capacity of the one who takes it. Different drinks have different amounts of alcohol content. Drinks with more alcohol content have more effect on the body than those with lesser content. A standard drink is said to have half an ounce of pure alcohol in it.
What Happens When One Drinks?
Here is really how the different parts of the body react while drinking;
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Mouth: When alcohol is drunk, a very small amount enters the blood vessels in the mouth and tongue.
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Stomach: By the time the alcohol reaches the stomach, 20 percent of it is absorbed into the blood. Consuming a small drink can increase the appetite because of the increased flow of digestive juices. On the other hand, consumption in large amounts can reduce appetite, leading to malnourishment. There are chances of developing ulcers in the stomach by drinking too much. This can be because the drinks and the digestive juices can irritate the stomach lining.
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Small Intestine: When it passes through the small intestine, the remaining 75 to 85 percent of the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. The bloodstream passes it to the different parts of the body.
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Bloodstream: The alcohol continues moving around the body till the liver breaks it down. When alcohol enters the blood vessel, it causes it to widen. This can result in a decrease in blood pressure.
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Liver: The liver filters about 80 to 90 percent of the alcohol consumed into the water, carbon dioxide, and energy. The enzymes in the liver digest the alcohol. The alcohol is digested at the rate of one standard drink per hour.
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Kidneys: The filtering of the blood and removing the waste from the body to the urine is the function of the kidney. When alcohol is consumed, it causes the liver to work harder, as it has to remove all the waste and other byproducts of alcohol into the urine, which also has to be produced more. About ten percent of the consumed alcohol is excreted through the urine. Alcohol is a diuretic, and the person will have an increased urge to pass urine frequently. This can cause thirst and dehydration.
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Brain: The alcohol reaches the brain from the bloodstream within 10 to 15 minutes of the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol causes mood changes, impairs the ability to think properly, and can even lead to a temporary blackout.
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Lungs: In the lungs, some of the alcohol is evaporated. About seven to eight percent is breathed out.
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Skin: A very small amount of alcohol is excreted through the skin.
When a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, it is passed to the baby in the womb through the placenta. The same amount of alcohol that the mother drinks will be received by the baby’s body. But the baby’s body lacks the enzymes to digest it. Hence, alcohol consumption at any stage of pregnancy is not advisable.
The liver takes about an hour to digest a standard drink consumed. This depends on the person’s weight, gender, age, how quickly the body can digest the food, how much food is in the stomach, the quality of the drink, and the action of any medicine consumed. A person with less weight will have the effect of alcohol seen faster as they have lesser tissues to absorb the alcohol. Most children and young adults have smaller bodies, and hence the action of alcohol can be evident even in small amounts. Alcohol consumption can affect a child’s brain. Hence it is not advisable.
What Happens When One Drinks on an Empty Stomach?
Alcohol consumed on an empty stomach directly reaches the bloodstream faster. The food in the stomach slows the process but does not stop it. A recent study by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) shows that consuming something little, even a glass of milk, a few hours before consuming alcoholic drinks can slow down the digestion of alcohol. Another study showed that food before a drink can slow absorption by 75 percent.
The pyloric sphincter is a small valve that connects the stomach and the small intestine. Recent studies show that the pyloric sphincter closes while the food is being digested so that it can stay in the stomach longer and can be digested by the digestive juices in the stomach. When the pyloric sphincter is closed, the alcohol cannot enter the small intestine directly. This slows down the absorption of alcohol.
What Are the Side Effects of Alcohol on an Empty Stomach?
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High Content of Alcohol in Blood: The effect of alcohol on an empty stomach is similar to a condition where the alcohol is directly injected into the blood- it shoots up. The blood alcohol level will show a sharp rise and a larger peak as it gets absorbed faster. When food is present, absorption is slow, and the graph will be blunted.
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More Likely to Be Wasted: Alcohol intoxication causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of motor skills, and mood swings. It affects the ability to make smart decisions. As a result, it can affect performance in jobs or studies, gradually wearing off the personality as one gets addicted. Since the effect of alcohol is more on an empty stomach, drinking on an empty stomach can worsen the problem.
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Can Cause Stomach and Other Abdominal Issues: Drinking on an empty stomach increases the risk of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). Severe gastritis can cause bleeding. Moreover, vomiting after drinking also can increase the risk of gastritis, as the digestive juices work on the stomach lining.
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Increased Risk of Esophageal Cancer: Alcohol intake can cause esophageal cancer. Drinking on an empty stomach increases the risk.
Conclusion
Drinking itself can cause many health hazards while drinking on an empty stomach increases the risks. Always try to avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Drinking too much can be dangerous, as is drinking on an empty stomach.
