Asian flush syndrome is the name for what happens when someone drinks alcohol and their face goes red. Asians with Chinese, Japanese, or Korean roots often have it.
The process happens because of too much acetaldehyde, which is a waste product of the breakdown of alcohol. This happens because of not having enough aldehyde dehydrogenase 2.
This syndrome has been linked to lower than average rates of drunkenness. This may be because it is linked to bad things happening after drinking. On the other hand, people who drink have a higher chance of getting esophageal cancer.
Additionally, the reaction is sometimes called a “Asian flush” because it happens so often in East Asians. About 30 to 50 percent of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans experience face flushing, nausea, headaches, and a fast heart rate after drinking alcohol. Some Southeast Asian and Inuit groups may also have a very high rate of this problem.
A lot of people think this means the person has good “qi,” but it actually means they may have trouble breaking down alcohol, which makes them more likely to get some diseases and cancers.
What is Asian Flush/Asian Glow?
Asian Flush, the red face that many Asians get after drinking, is caused by a lack of a liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol. This problem is common among Korean, Chinese, and East Asian people.
In particular, drinking alcohol stops an enzyme in the liver called aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 from doing its job, which is to break down alcohol into acetaldehyde, a very dangerous chemical that makes you feel hungover.
Most people quickly change acetaldehyde into acetate and water, which are both safe. But in many Asian people who have this problem, acetaldehyde builds up in the liver and body. This makes the blood vessels widen and releases histamine, a chemical in the body linked to immune reactions that makes the skin itch and turn red. This is called the Asian glow or Asian flush.
What is The Alcohol Flush Reaction?
When some people drink alcohol, they get the alcohol flush response. It makes your face and neck hot and red, also known as flushed. You may also have the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Sickness
- Feeling sick (vertigo)
- Low blood pressure
- Fast heart rate
- Have trouble breathing
An alcohol flush response is not really an allergy, but people who have them often say they are “allergic to alcohol.” It is also simple to mistake it for being sensitive to other things in booze. Sulfites and histamine are two common instances. If you are sensitive to these ingredients, you might feel like you’re having an alcohol flush response.
How to Get Rid of Asian Glow
1. Don’t Drink, Or Drink Moderately
If you have to drink, don’t drink too much. Men should not drink more than two normal alcoholic drinks per day, and women should not drink more than one alcoholic drink per day. One normal drink with alcohol is one glass of wine (about 150 ml/12.5% alcohol) or one can of beer (355 ml/5% alcohol).
2. Avoid Binge Drinking
When you drink too much at once, your body can’t handle it. Do not drink another drink until the redness goes away if you have Asian flush syndrome. This will keep you from getting too much acetaldehyde. Also, the liver can only break down about 30 milliliters (ounces) of alcohol every hour, which is less than a can of beer or a glass of wine.
3. Choose Drinks With Less Alcohol Content
Read the labels on the bottle. Red or white wines with 12.5% ABV or less are the best choices. The APV of beers, wine drinks, table wine, and sparkling wine is less than that of spirits.
4. Eat Before and/or Whilst You Drink
A full stomach keeps the lining of the stomach from getting too irritated from drinking. Snacking on foods high in fat and carbs, like nuts, seeds, cheese, pizza, pasta, and bread, can also stop alcohol from entering the small intestines too fast. This can slow down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed.
5. Drink Plenty Of Water and/or Alternate With Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Since booze makes you pee more, it can make you thirstier. If you’re thirsty, drink water or something without booze instead of more alcohol.