paxy
12-14-2003, 11:31 PM
how do u know if u are allergic to alcohol?
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butterflytrans
12-15-2003, 02:11 AM
how do u know if u are allergic to alcohol?
You technically can't be allergic to alcohol because it is not a protein....there are exceptions to this rule, but alcohol is not one of them. You can have reactions to alcohol, however, and we all know what they are.
Tell me something, what happens when you drink alcohol? Do you get really sick?
You technically can't be allergic to alcohol because it is not a protein....there are exceptions to this rule, but alcohol is not one of them. You can have reactions to alcohol, however, and we all know what they are.
Tell me something, what happens when you drink alcohol? Do you get really sick?
paxy
12-15-2003, 03:18 AM
why are we only allergic to proteins?
butterflytrans
12-15-2003, 06:41 PM
why are we only allergic to proteins?
Well, there are four types of immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reactions in the body.
Type 1 - mediated by IgE and the subsequent release of lots of histamine from mast cells
Type 2 - Antibodies attaching themselves to certain sites in the body causing an immune attack (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis)
Type 3 - Antibody:Antigen complexes depositing somewhere in the body causing an immune reaction (i.e. lupus nephritis)
Type 4 - Cell mediated reaction caused by sensitation of the body to an irritant (i.e. rash from hairspray, or from detergents etc. etc.)
A true allergy is the Type 1 reaction that I explained above. It happens when you get a certain allergen in the body (such as cat dander, pollen, dust) which has certain proteins, which when presented to the immune system, attach to mast cells, cause them to release histamine and kazaam, you have an allergic response. If this happens in your upper respiratory tract, you can get runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes etc. etc. If it happens in the skin, you can get hives and what not; however, if you get a massive release of histamine (say with a person with a severe peanut allergy) you get things like swelling of tissues (angioedema) which can close off your airway which is obviously life threatening.
The above can only happen with proteins, or certain molecules which attach to proteins which then attach to mast cells (penicillin being an example). If you are having a reaction to alcohol, it's is a direct toxic effect of the alcohol, and not an allergy.
Well, there are four types of immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reactions in the body.
Type 1 - mediated by IgE and the subsequent release of lots of histamine from mast cells
Type 2 - Antibodies attaching themselves to certain sites in the body causing an immune attack (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis)
Type 3 - Antibody:Antigen complexes depositing somewhere in the body causing an immune reaction (i.e. lupus nephritis)
Type 4 - Cell mediated reaction caused by sensitation of the body to an irritant (i.e. rash from hairspray, or from detergents etc. etc.)
A true allergy is the Type 1 reaction that I explained above. It happens when you get a certain allergen in the body (such as cat dander, pollen, dust) which has certain proteins, which when presented to the immune system, attach to mast cells, cause them to release histamine and kazaam, you have an allergic response. If this happens in your upper respiratory tract, you can get runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes etc. etc. If it happens in the skin, you can get hives and what not; however, if you get a massive release of histamine (say with a person with a severe peanut allergy) you get things like swelling of tissues (angioedema) which can close off your airway which is obviously life threatening.
The above can only happen with proteins, or certain molecules which attach to proteins which then attach to mast cells (penicillin being an example). If you are having a reaction to alcohol, it's is a direct toxic effect of the alcohol, and not an allergy.
paxy
12-21-2003, 08:35 AM
u sound like a doctor
zip2play
12-21-2003, 09:20 AM
paxy,
Usuallly "allergic to alcohol" refers loosely to people who don't have much tolerance and get drunk easily.
Another classs is a group that gets REALLY sick from it usually caused by the inability of the body to breakdown acetaldehyde (a breakdown product of ethyl alcohol).
Inability to handle acetaldehyde is often genetic and is caused by a shortage of the breakdown enzyme, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. These people really are really being "poisoned" when they drink. Strangely, a large proportion of Orientals seem to have difficulty metabolizing acetaldehyde because of the enzyme shortage...and thus can suffer crucifying hangovers....
Usuallly "allergic to alcohol" refers loosely to people who don't have much tolerance and get drunk easily.
Another classs is a group that gets REALLY sick from it usually caused by the inability of the body to breakdown acetaldehyde (a breakdown product of ethyl alcohol).
Inability to handle acetaldehyde is often genetic and is caused by a shortage of the breakdown enzyme, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. These people really are really being "poisoned" when they drink. Strangely, a large proportion of Orientals seem to have difficulty metabolizing acetaldehyde because of the enzyme shortage...and thus can suffer crucifying hangovers....
butterflytrans
12-21-2003, 11:52 AM
u sound like a doctor
*heehee* what does a doctor sound like? I hope I didn't sound rude! :) (just teasin'!)
*heehee* what does a doctor sound like? I hope I didn't sound rude! :) (just teasin'!)
jennysuek
01-14-2004, 01:24 AM
my husband has a reaction to alcohol; he gets hot,red splotchy areas all over his face,back and chest. His heart rate goes up over 120 beats per minute. How serious can this get and has anyone else experienced this?