Nowadays, there is a lot of societal pressure, causing many men to gather together after work to drink and vent their frustrations. Many business people also have to frequently entertain clients and colleagues. During meals, in order to lighten the mood, even if they don't want to drink, they have to reluctantly have a few drinks. Some people even continue drinking late into the night, disregarding the harm it does to their bodies, all for the sake of maintaining relationships with clients and friends.
Many people believe that a small amount of alcohol can help improve focus, but the actual result is quite the opposite. A small amount of alcohol only has a calming effect, but consuming a larger amount can seriously impair memory and attention. People often mistakenly think that drinking only harms the liver and doesn't affect other organs. This is incorrect. After alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream in less than 5 minutes and quickly spreads throughout the body. Alcohol is first delivered to the liver through the bloodstream. Some alcohol is broken down and absorbed in the stomach, and the liver also metabolizes and filters a portion. After being filtered by the liver, alcohol reaches the heart, then the lungs, and returns to the heart before being distributed to the brain and central nervous system through the aorta and veins.
Therefore, alcohol can cause damage to the liver, stomach, heart, and brain. It's important to note that 95% of alcohol is metabolized by the liver. Consuming excessive alcohol at once is equivalent to causing mild acute hepatitis. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, exceeding the stomach's metabolic capacity, can irritate the stomach lining. The remaining alcohol enters the brain through the bloodstream, causing changes in normal brain function and leading to a series of pathological changes.
Why do some people often say "alcohol can boost courage"? This is because when you drink alcohol, your stomach expands, and the gas rises. In the Huangdi Neijing, it is mentioned that "the liver and gallbladder float horizontally." When alcohol enters the stomach, it activates your vitality and stimulates the liver and gallbladder, which can make you feel spirited and keep your morale high. This is also why people feel more courageous after drinking. The alcohol remaining in the blood causes changes in brain function and also affects muscle activity. Therefore, those who are intoxicated tend to stagger when walking and speak unclearly. If you vomit after drinking, it means you've had too much alcohol, and your stomach is taking self-protective measures.
Even if you take "hangover pills," alcohol has already entered your bloodstream, and the pills don't have enough time to take effect. Even if you take the pills immediately after drinking, the absorption rate of the medication is much slower than the diffusion rate of alcohol. Baijiu has a high alcohol content, which also results in greater harm to the body, so it's best to avoid it. Red wine has a lower alcohol content compared to baijiu, causing less harm to the body. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and resveratrol, which can lower cholesterol, so it can be consumed in moderation. Beer has a lower alcohol content and is rich in nutrients, so drinking a small amount has minimal harm to the body.
However, all types of alcohol contain alcohol and drinking too much can harm the body. Therefore, it is said that "alcohol in the stomach is poison," especially for elderly people with hypertension and coronary heart disease. It is important to control alcohol consumption to prevent cardiovascular accidents.
