The phases of intoxication

First, ethyl alcohol is broken down and toxic acetaldehyde is produced. This is converted into acetic acid, which is removed from the body, decomposed into carbon dioxide and water. This process can come with side effects associated with alcohol consumption such as impaired reflexes, slower reaction time, vision changes, sleepiness, increased urination, and more. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause vomiting, falling, breathing problems, and even coma or death. Everyone responds to alcohol differently depending on their age, weight, drinking habits, and some other important factors.

Absorption phase. Alcohol is absorbed through the gastrointestinal mucosa and into the blood. About 20 % is absorbed in the stomach, more than 60 % in the intestines, and about 10 % through the mucosa of the mouth. Although alcohol enters the bloodstream almost immediately, it takes roughly 15 to 45 minutes for alcohol to be fully absorbed and the person to feel the effects. Diffusion phase. Alcohol travels fastest to organs where there is more fluid such as blood vessels and kidneys. Elimination phase. Alcohol is removed through the body primarily through sweat and urine.

To determine which phase you are in, consider how much time has passed since you started drinking alcohol. One drink of alcohol is approximately 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. For men, it takes roughly 1–1.5 hours for the effects of one drink to wear off. For women, it takes longer. As discussed earlier, an individual’s response to alcohol depends on multiple factors.
Important: at no point should you ever drive while impaired, as it is not only illegal but also risks the injury and/or death of you and others.

Tips to feel better

Here are some tips to feel better if you realize you have perhaps had too much to drink:

• First, getting into the fresh air can help slow down the negative effects of alcohol and make you feel a little bit more alert.
• Taking a contrast or cool shower can also help you feel more alert. Alternatively, wash your face with cold water.
• You can also massage your earlobes and feet, which will activate the autonomous nervous system.
• If you have had too much to drink and feel nauseous, you might need to throw up. This will restore the acid-base balance and may give you temporary stomach relief.
• You can also drink water to counteract the effects of alcohol. This hydrates the body and gives the liver more time to metabolize the alcohol.
• If you have a headache, you may take acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen to help alleviate it.

Keep in mind that these tips can help you feel more alert, but they do not remove alcohol from your system. Alcohol is digested in the liver, and it is impossible to speed up this process.

Checking liver after holiday seasons

After long and festive days, it’s better to check how your pancreas and liver have been responding to all the food and drinks you’ve consumed.

Make sure to wait for at least a month for alcohol and other toxins to leave the body completely. This is when you should take a biochemical blood test to see how alcohol affected your body. The following biomarkers will show the picture:

• Amylase and diastase are pancreatic enzymes
• AST and ALT: enzymes inside the liver cells (hepatocytes)
• Gamma GTP: elevated because of bile outflow obstruction in toxic and alcoholic hepatitis
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase): increased in alcoholic hepatitis

27 December 2021