How is alcohol absorbed in the body?

Alcohol is absorbed through the stomach lining and the small intestine into the bloodstream.

Why does alcohol consumption lead to dehydration?

Alcohol decreases the production of anti-diuretic hormone, causing the kidneys to excrete more water as urine.

What causes an alcohol hangover?

A hangover might be caused by chemical acetaldehyde, dehydration, cytokines, and gastric acid increase.

How much alcohol can the liver process per hour?

The liver can eliminate about 0.5 oz of alcohol per hour.

What are the effects of alcohol on the brain?

Alcohol slows down nerve cells, impairing judgment and affecting movement.

Why does alcohol cause a person to smell like liquor?

Alcohol is partially exhaled through the lungs, causing breath to smell of liquor.

What are some of the long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption?

Long-term effects include anemia, liver and brain cell death, increased heart failure risk, and high blood pressure.

What happens in the body during alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning involves high alcohol concentration in the bloodstream, leading to potential coma or death.

Alcohol - How Alcohol Affects The Body - What Causes A Hangover

00:05:19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZPb1uQqmY

Summary

TLDRThe video explains the journey of alcohol through the body, starting from its absorption in the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The liver metabolizes alcohol using enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase, converting it into acetaldehyde, a toxic and cancer-causing substance. Alcohol affects multiple body functions, such as impairing brain activity, causing dehydration, and lowering blood pressure. Overconsumption leads to risks like alcohol poisoning and long-term health problems, including liver and heart issues. The video advises limiting alcohol intake to avoid these negative effects.

Takeaways

🔬 Alcohol is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine.
🧬 The liver breaks down alcohol, but overconsumption can lead to fatty liver.
🧠 Alcohol impairs brain function, affecting judgment and movement.
💧 Alcohol consumption leads to dehydration by decreasing anti-diuretic hormone production.
❌ The liver can only process about 0.5 oz of alcohol per hour; excess overworks the liver.
🚨 Alcohol poisoning is a serious risk with high alcohol consumption.
⚠️ Long-term effects include heart, liver, and brain damage.
🍷 Drinking in moderation reduces health risks associated with alcohol.
☣️ Acetaldehyde, a toxic substance formed from alcohol, is linked to hangover symptoms.
💔 Excessive drinking can also lead to social and psychological problems.

Timeline

00:00:00 - 00:05:19
The video discusses why alcohol is harmful to the body, describing the path alcohol takes once ingested. It enters through the mouth, passes via the esophagus into the stomach, where 20% is absorbed into the bloodstream immediately. The remaining alcohol moves to the small intestine for further absorption. If ingested without food, alcohol reaches the small intestine faster, leading to quicker absorption. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol travels to the liver where the enzyme Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) oxidizes it, turning ethanol into the toxic and carcinogenic compound acetaldehyde, which further breaks down into less harmful acetic acid. The liver prioritizes alcohol metabolism, causing fatty acids to accumulate and potentially leading to fatty liver in heavy drinkers. The liver can metabolize about one standard drink per hour; excess circulates through the body affecting various organs.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

How is alcohol absorbed in the body?
Alcohol is absorbed through the stomach lining and the small intestine into the bloodstream.
What role does the liver play in alcohol metabolism?
The liver breaks down alcohol using enzymes like alcohol dehydrogenase, converting ethanol into less harmful substances.
Why does alcohol consumption lead to dehydration?
Alcohol decreases the production of anti-diuretic hormone, causing the kidneys to excrete more water as urine.
What causes an alcohol hangover?
A hangover might be caused by chemical acetaldehyde, dehydration, cytokines, and gastric acid increase.
How much alcohol can the liver process per hour?
The liver can eliminate about 0.5 oz of alcohol per hour.
What are the effects of alcohol on the brain?
Alcohol slows down nerve cells, impairing judgment and affecting movement.
Why does alcohol cause a person to smell like liquor?
Alcohol is partially exhaled through the lungs, causing breath to smell of liquor.
What are some of the long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption?
Long-term effects include anemia, liver and brain cell death, increased heart failure risk, and high blood pressure.
What happens in the body during alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning involves high alcohol concentration in the bloodstream, leading to potential coma or death.

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00:00:00
(music)...So, why is alcohol bad for the body?
00:00:02
To answer this question, we are going to take a
00:00:05
little trip of what happens to alcohol in the body.
00:00:07
Once it is consumed alcohol goes down the normal food path of digestion.
00:00:12
From the mouth through the esophagus and into the stomach.
00:00:15
Here, about 20% of alcohol is absorbed through
00:00:18
the stomach lining into the bloodstream,
00:00:20
which means it is getting into the bloodstream very quickly.
00:00:24
From the stomach, the alcohol that was not absorbed
00:00:27
in the stomach next travels to the small intestine.
00:00:30
One note here, if there is no food in the stomach, so an empty stomach,
00:00:34
or if the alcohol is not consumed with any food,
00:00:37
it gets to the small intestine very quickly.
00:00:40
In the small intestine, the rest of the alcohol is
00:00:43
absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the liver.
00:00:46
The liver is going to work on the alcohol molecules to break them down,
00:00:49
making it possible to eliminate them from the body.
00:00:52
So, in the liver, an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase,
00:00:56
which is also present in the lining of the stomach, which we will call ADH,
00:01:01
oxidizes the alcohol, or ethanol molecule
00:01:04
In basic terms this means that the enzyme comes
00:01:07
in and changes the chemical structure of ethanol,
00:01:10
so, ethanol becomes acetaldehyde. This substance
00:01:14
is known to be toxic and carcinogenic,
00:01:17
or, in simpler terms, poisonous and cancer causing.
00:01:20
This acetaldehyde is then metabolized down to a substance called acetic acid,
00:01:25
which is less harmful to the body.
00:01:28
Acetic acid can then be broken down into carbon dioxide and water.
00:01:32
When alcohol is present, the liver will work on metabolizing it first.
00:01:36
So, fatty acids can accumulate, which is why
00:01:39
so many heavy drinkers develop fatty livers.
00:01:42
If there is more alcohol than the liver enzymes can
00:01:45
handle, it gets circulated to all parts of the body.
00:01:48
It is estimated that the liver can eliminate about 0.5oz of alcohol per hour,
00:01:53
which is about 1 beer, or 1 glass of wine, or 1 shot.
00:01:57
When alcohol reaches the heart, blood pressure decreases and blood vessels relax.
00:02:03
The heart then pumps the alcohol rich blood to the lungs.
00:02:06
Some of the alcohol in the lungs is breathed out every
00:02:09
time you exhale causing your breath to smell of liquor.
00:02:13
The lungs send the alcohol containing blood back to the heart
00:02:16
where it is pumped to all parts of the body, including the brain.
00:02:20
Once alcohol enters the brain, it slows down nerve
00:02:23
cells that control your ability to move and think.
00:02:26
So, judgment becomes impaired and movement becomes disrupted.
00:02:30
Alcohol also increases blood flow to the skin,
00:02:34
which may make some fair skinned people turn pink,
00:02:37
and some people will begin to sweat and most will smell like alcohol.
00:02:41
Alcohol also decreases the body’s production of anti-diuretic hormone.
00:02:46
Antidiuretic hormone helps your kidneys manage the amount of water in your body.
00:02:51
The decrease of this hormone causes the kidneys to not reabsorb water;
00:02:56
instead it is excreted as urine, causing the body to become dehydrated.
00:03:01
If alcohol consumption continues, it could lead to loss of consciousness,
00:03:06
massive alcohol consumption or binge drinking could lead to alcohol poisoning.
00:03:11
This happens when there is a high concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream
00:03:15
and this could result in coma, respiratory depression or possibly death.
00:03:20
Now let’s look at the after effects of alcohol over consumption, the dreaded hangover.
00:03:26
The exact causes of a hangover are not completely understood,
00:03:29
but there are several factors that may contribute to it.
00:03:32
When the chemical acetaldehyde is formed from ethanol, it is believed that
00:03:37
this chemical is what causes the headaches associated with hangovers.
00:03:41
The increase in urination leading to dehydration,
00:03:44
which could cause the thirst, dry mouth and dizziness.
00:03:48
Some immune cells produce substances called cytokines,
00:03:51
which can contribute to nausea and fatigue.
00:03:54
Some alcoholic beverages increase the release of gastric acid in the
00:03:58
stomach, and delay the emptying of the contents in the stomach,
00:04:01
which could be the reason for stomach pain associated with hangovers
00:04:04
Alcohol can also interfere with the livers production of glucose,
00:04:08
the main form of energy for cells,
00:04:11
which could contribute to dizziness, disorientation and lack of energy.
00:04:15
The long term effects of alcohol overconsumption include anemia,
00:04:20
which is a low amount of oxygen carrying red blood cells.
00:04:24
It can lead to cell death in the liver cells and brain
00:04:27
cells, leading to these organs not functioning properly.
00:04:30
The risk of heart failure increases; as does
00:04:33
the risk of stomach and intestinal problems,
00:04:36
and many heavy drinkers have high blood pressure.
00:04:38
Overconsumption of alcohol can also lead to relationship
00:04:42
problems, depression, and employment problems.
00:04:45
And these are just a few of the long term problems
00:04:48
associated with constant overconsumption of alcohol.
00:04:52
It is always about moderation folks.
00:04:54
Limiting yourself to 1 or 2 drinks from time to time is probably a good strategy.
00:04:59
As you can see, overconsumption of alcohol has a lot of negative effects on your body,
00:05:05
and consistent overconsumption of alcohol has catastrophic effects on your body.
00:05:10
(music)