We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. The speed of alcohol metabolism — how quickly your body processes alcohol — varies widely from person to person. Hepatologist Jamile Wakim-Fleming, MD , explains how your body gets rid of alcohol and what affects this process. The liver gets most of the attention when it comes to alcohol metabolism. These enzymes help divert some of the alcohol from going into your bloodstream. From there, it hits your bloodstream and your brain, and you start feeling its effects.
The liver does the heavy lifting when it comes to processing alcohol. After the alcohol passes through your stomach, small intestine and bloodstream, your liver starts its cleanup. The rest comes out through your kidneys, lungs and skin. And the concentration matters. For anyone with a family history of alcoholism , there is a higher risk of developing an addiction to alcohol.
For those people, it may be wise to avoid consuming alcohol altogether. Anyone who is underage, pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or has a serious health condition should also avoid alcohol consumption to keep themselves and others safe. When a person consumes alcoholic beverages, the alcohol builds up in their bloodstream. The liver then needs time to process and break the alcohol down. Blood alcohol levels are measured by blood alcohol concentration BAC. The idea of someone being able to sober up fast so they can drive is not realistic.
BAC levels will remain high until the liver had had time to metabolize alcohol. These facts mean a person is still intoxicated when they have a BAC of 0.
And, if driving, they are a threat to themselves and others. In , 10, were killed because of drunk driving accidents in the U. Every single one of these accidents could have been prevented if a person intoxicated by alcohol had not driven. Alcohol is a main cause of motor vehicle accidents and poor decision-making. The best way to sober up from excess alcohol drinking is to allow plenty of time, rest, and sleep.
The methods suggested above might help a person feel and appear more alert, but they will not decrease blood alcohol levels in their body. That means if someone gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, there could be serious consequences.
While there is no absolute cure for a hangover, many methods can help relieve symptoms. This article looks at the causes, treatments, and tips. Over the last five years, the health benefits of moderate drinking have been widely celebrated in the headlines.
This article looks at the possible…. Drinking alcohol can be safe in moderation, but drinking in excess can have many side effects, including bouts of diarrhea. Find out why this happens…. Alcohol poisoning occurs when someone consumes a toxic level of alcohol, usually in a short time.
Before you bring that first drink to your lips, take a second to think about the contents of your stomach. On an empty stomach, your drink will dump rapidly into your small intestine, dodging past stomach enzymes designed to degrade it, in a beeline for your bloodstream. Food slows the flow, giving the booze more time to break down. Eating first may be even more important for women, who are thought to have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase ADH , the enzyme that primarily breaks down alcohol, in their stomachs.
Drinks are ready but the meal is not? At least try to scarf down something high in fat, insoluble fiber, or protein, says Fisher. Nuts are a great go-to, he says. This results in higher BAC levels and intoxication that affects the body more quickly. Medications that are specifically known to interact with alcohol include:. One standard drink is equal to one oz beer, 1. Understanding BAC and the rate that alcohol is metabolized by the system can help prevent the dangerous consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.
Contact a treatment provider today to learn about rehabilitation options. Learn more about David Hampton. Brown University. Alcohol and Your Body. Galan, Nicole. How the Body Processes Alcohol. National Health Service. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Facts and Statistics. Stanford University. Weathermon, Ron.
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