People who get red in the face after a couple of drinks are often the targets of jokes, but a recent study revealed that one reason behind the color-change is far from a laughing matter.
People who get red in the face after a couple of drinks are often the targets of jokes, but a recent study revealed that one reason behind the color-change is far from a laughing matter.
Scientists in South Korea have found that people prone to developing the alcohol-related flush may be at a higher risk for serious heart problems.
In many cases the redness is an alcohol allergy and could have more severe symptoms, but in other cases it can be the result of a build-up of an alcohol metabolite called acetaldehyde.
When excess quantities accumulate in the system, the blood vessels relax and expand, and blood pressure drops. But as the alcohol leaves your system, the body works hard to raise blood pressure levels again.
That’s where the redness comes from.
Unfortunately, that’s not all the metabolite does.
Over time it can lead to hypertension, as well as put a person in a higher risk group for heart disease and stroke.
In fact, among the 1700 people studied, those who experienced the skin reddening were about twice as likely to have high blood pressure.
Brown liquors and red wine in general have been shown to trigger the most flushing of the skin, but excess consumption of any color drink can do the same.
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