The last days of 2021 were festive. You may have gathered with family or friends, shared a good meal and drank a little a lot of alcohol, before possibly prolonging the night elsewhere.
Nevertheless, before chaining the drinks, it is important to fully understand what is really happening in our body when we drink alcohol. What to avoid the traps so as not to put yourself in danger unnecessarily.
Regardless of the type of alcohol, the effects are basically the same if one ingests the same amounts. The drink enters the stomach before entering the small intestine. It will then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Allow about an hour for your body to metabolize 10 g.
The ethanol molecules will then spread through the bloodstream to finally reach the brain. This will be followed by difficulties in alertness, coordination or speech . The latter are due to the impact of alcohol on the cerebellum which coordinates these abilities from the signals it receives from sensory systems such as hearing, vision or the spinal cord.
These output signals are indeed conveyed by neurons relying on a neurotransmitter called GABA. This whole system is inhibited by alcohol , hence the motor disorders.
The ethanol molecules are also so small that they manage to enter the inner ear .
Alcohol will act mainly on the semicircular canals which inform the nervous system about the rotational movements of the head. These channels are filled with a fluid called endolymph and have hair cells embedded in a cupule. The densities of the endolymph and the cupula are similar. There is therefore a balance that is not subject to gravity.
On the other hand, the alcohol brought by the bloodstream will diffuse more quickly in the cupula than in the endolymph. There is then an imbalance . The cup will be able to move more freely and will become more sensitive to head movements. In other words, you will have "spinning head" .
Alcohol is known to be a diuretic. In other words, you will urinate often , which can lead to dehydration . Due to the lack of water in your body, your blood circulation will then be much less fluid (thus thicker).
You should know that it is the blood that brings oxygen molecules to your brain. If the blood is thicker, it will therefore be less mobile and your brain will be less oxygenated . Those feelings of "headache", drowsiness or dizziness are actually your brain commanding them to ask you for water.
In addition, alcohol can irritate the stomach lining , causing vomiting and diarrhea. There is also an electrolyte imbalance (lack of minerals) and a low blood sugar level . That's why you also feel weak and nauseous.
There is no way to sober up quickly. Your only ally, is time . Your body needs time to eliminate alcohol from your body. Caffeine or water may help you feel a little less drunk, but these liquids have no impact on the alcohol concentration in your blood.
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