Alcohol's Journey: A Body Odyssey

Alcohol is a drug that enters the body through the mouth, where it is first absorbed by the tongue and the mucosal lining. It then travels to the stomach, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the tissue lining of the stomach and small intestine. The presence of food in the stomach can slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol is pumped by the heart and distributed throughout the body, including the brain, where it disrupts normal brain function. The liver is responsible for metabolizing alcohol, with enzymes breaking it down at a rate of about 0.5 ounces per hour. Alcohol is eliminated from the body through urine, sweat, and breath.

Alcohol is absorbed through the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines

Alcohol is a water-soluble drug that is not digested like food. Instead, it is absorbed into the blood, which is why blood alcohol levels increase as you drink. Alcohol is absorbed through the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, and each part of the digestive system is involved in absorbing, processing, or breaking down alcohol in the body.

The mouth is the first point of contact when you drink alcohol, and a small amount is directly absorbed through the walls of the mouth and tongue. Microbes in the mouth convert some of the alcohol to acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance that can damage cells over time and prevent them from repairing damage, leading to cancer in the mouth and throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils.

After leaving the mouth, alcohol flows down the oesophagus. Alcohol can directly damage the cells lining the oesophagus and is a risk factor for cancer. Drinking alcohol can also cause acid reflux, which occurs when stomach contents come back up into the oesophagus, further damaging cells.

In the stomach, about 20% of alcohol is absorbed into the blood directly through the stomach lining. The more food in the stomach, the slower the absorption and the longer it takes to move into the intestines. If the stomach is empty, alcohol moves down into the small intestine more easily and will pass quickly into the blood. The presence of food in the stomach also decreases the rate of alcohol absorption. Food can either absorb alcohol or simply obstruct it from coming into contact with the stomach lining.

The majority of alcohol absorption takes place in the small intestine due to its extremely large surface area. Alcohol is absorbed more rapidly from the small intestine and then distributed throughout the body.

In summary, alcohol is absorbed through the walls of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, with most absorption occurring in the small intestine. This absorption into the bloodstream is the first step in the body's process of eliminating alcohol, which is primarily metabolised by the liver.

Alcohol is metabolised by the liver

Alcohol is a toxin that must be eliminated from the body. The liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolising alcohol. It is the largest internal organ, weighing about 1.5 kg in adults, and is located just under the ribs in the upper right-hand side of the abdomen. The liver performs more than 500 functions, including processing nutrients from food, making bile to aid in digestion, and filtering toxic chemicals and bacteria from the body.

When alcohol is swallowed, it is not digested like food. A small amount is absorbed by the tongue and the mucosal lining of the mouth. In the stomach, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the tissue lining of the stomach and small intestine. Food in the stomach can slow down the absorption of alcohol by physically obstructing it from coming into contact with the stomach lining.

Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it is carried to all organs of the body. It can penetrate approximately 68% of body tissues in an adult male. However, it cannot enter bone and fat tissues. The liver breaks down about 90-98% of the alcohol consumed. The remaining 2-10% is excreted through urine, breath, and sweat.

The liver breaks down alcohol using two enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These enzymes break down alcohol into acetaldehyde, and then into acetate. The acetate is further metabolised and eventually leaves the body as carbon dioxide and water. The liver breaks down alcohol at a rate of about 0.015 g/100mL/hour, reducing the blood alcohol content (BAC) by 0.015 per hour.

There is also an alternative pathway for alcohol metabolism in the liver, called the 'microsomal ethanol-oxidising system'. This pathway is typically used when blood alcohol levels are very high or in cases of regular drinking, which increases the activity of this pathway.

Alcohol is eliminated through urine, sweat, and breath

Alcohol is a toxin that must be eliminated from the body. The liver is the primary organ responsible for the detoxification of alcohol. However, the body also gets rid of alcohol through urine, sweat, and breath.

The liver metabolizes alcohol at a constant rate of about one drink per hour. The liver cells produce the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks alcohol into ketones at a rate of about 0.015 g/100mL/hour (reduces BAC by 0.015 per hour). This process of metabolization is called oxidation. The liver metabolizes about 90% of alcohol, converting it into water, carbon dioxide, and energy.

About 5% of alcohol is eliminated through urine, sweat glands, and breathing. Alcohol is volatile, so when alcohol in the blood comes into contact with air in the alveoli of the lungs, it can be exhaled out of the body through breath.

The remaining 5% of alcohol is eliminated through sweat. As alcohol is a depressant drug, it causes the small blood vessels on the surface of the skin to dilate. This results in the loss of body heat.

The only way to remove alcohol from the body is by allowing the liver enough time to metabolize it. Time is the only thing that will remove alcohol from the system.

The presence of food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the central nervous system, causing a decrease in motor coordination, reaction time, and intellectual performance. It is a small, water-soluble molecule that is absorbed from the stomach and more rapidly from the small intestine, then distributed throughout the body. The liver metabolizes alcohol, and enzymes break it down. The liver can process about one ounce of liquor or one standard drink per hour. If you consume more than this, your system becomes saturated, and the additional alcohol will accumulate in the blood and body tissues until it can be metabolized.

The presence of food in the stomach can inhibit the absorption of alcohol in two ways. Firstly, food physically obstructs alcohol from coming into contact with the stomach lining. Food can either absorb alcohol or simply take up space so that alcohol does not enter the bloodstream through contact with the stomach wall. Secondly, food in the stomach will prevent alcohol from passing into the duodenum, the upper portion of the small intestine. The small intestine has a large surface area, so alcohol has more access to enter the bloodstream once it leaves the stomach. If alcohol is sequestered in the stomach, it will be absorbed more slowly.

The rate of alcohol absorption is quickest when alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach, and the concentration of alcohol is 20-30%. Drinks aerated with carbon dioxide, such as whisky and soda or champagne, enter the system quicker. Food, especially carbohydrates, slows down the absorption of alcohol. Blood alcohol concentrations may not reach a quarter of those achieved on an empty stomach. The pleasurable effects of alcohol are best achieved when consumed with a meal or when diluted with water, in the case of spirits.

The presence of food in the stomach also slows down stomach emptying time for alcohol, decreasing the amount of alcohol that is available to pass into the bloodstream. This affects the amount of alcohol that reaches the duodenum and the liver. Peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is lower when food is in the stomach, and a person with a lower peak alcohol level will take less time to eliminate alcohol from their body. If you eat while drinking, you can speed up your body's alcohol elimination time by one to two hours. This occurs because your alcohol metabolism rate is faster with a full stomach than with an empty one.

Alcohol affects the brain and all other organs

Alcohol is a central nervous system suppressant, which means it slows down the central nervous system, causing a decrease in motor coordination, reaction time, and intellectual performance. It is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, and enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. It then reaches the brain and other organs.

Brain

Alcohol affects the brain by interfering with its communication pathways, disrupting normal brain function and growth, and increasing dopamine levels. It can also affect how the brain processes information, including memory, reasoning, and verbal skills. This can lead to impaired judgment, mood swings, and changes in behaviour.

Heart

Drinking too much alcohol over a long period or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, leading to problems such as cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and high blood pressure.

Liver

The liver is responsible for metabolising alcohol with enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenases. As these enzymes break down alcohol, acetaldehyde, a toxic agent, is released into the bloodstream. Heavy drinking can lead to liver inflammation and problems such as steatosis, or fatty liver.

Pancreas

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation that causes swelling and pain and impairs the pancreas's ability to produce enzymes and hormones for proper digestion.

Immune System

Drinking too much alcohol can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. It can also slow down the body's ability to ward off infections, even up to 24 hours after drinking.

Cancer

Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer. The more alcohol a person drinks, particularly over time, the higher their risk of developing alcohol-associated cancer.

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