Ethanol, or alcohol, is a strong stimulant that damages the central nervous system and may cause mucosal damage in the gastrointestinal tract. Ethanol is mainly broken down by the liver, and the metabolism process will cause damage to the liver, thus inducing cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer and so on.
Long-term consumption of alcohol can cause damage to the human body. After affecting the blood supply and nerves in the brain, it will damage the brain and accelerate the aging and death of brain cells. And ethanol will also stimulate the gastrointestinal mucosa, prolonged and repeated stimulation will cause erosion and bleeding of the mucosa, and in serious cases, it can even cause gastric perforation.
Ethanol’s intermediate metabolite, acetaldehyde, is a highly reactive molecule that can combine with proteins to form acetaldehyde protein complexes. This substance not only has a direct damaging effect on hepatocytes, but also acts as a neoantigen to induce cellular and humoral immune responses, leading to hepatocytes being attacked by the immune response.
In addition, patients taking medication may increase the activity of drug enzymes and accelerate the metabolism of drugs after drinking alcohol, thus affecting the therapeutic effect. It is recommended to consume less alcohol or avoid alcohol in daily life, and to develop good living habits to maintain good health.