Alcohol Allergy Linked To Increased Cancer Risk?

Hello visitor! Thank you for taking the time to read this article.


Before we look at whether or not alcohol allergy sufferers are at an increased risk of cancer, let us first focus our attention on the nature of alcohol allergy and how it differs from other alcohol related disorders such as alcohol flush reaction.

It is quite common for people to experience a variety of adverse reactions after drinking alcohol - it is, despite its apparent acceptance by broader society, still an extremely toxic substance. Some of the above-mentioned alcohol reactions include a red and swollen face, headaches, hives, itchiness, nausea, and in more severe cases, even seizures and unconsciousness.

It is common for people to often experience one or more of these side effects and lump themselves into the category of having either alcohol flush reaction (AFR) or some kind of alcohol allergy. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and whilst this is often contrary to general medical opinion, some geneticists have even referred to alcohol flush reaction as a genetic form of alcohol allergy resulting from a toxic reaction to a build up of acetaldehyde caused, in the case of alcohol flush reaction, by an enzyme deficiency rather than a common externally triggered allergic reaction.

In contrast to alcohol flush reaction and other related toxic reactions to acetaldehyde, allergic reactions to alcohol are quite uncommon. However, those with sever alcohol allergies are advised to seek medical advice before consuming any alcohol. In such cases, as little a mouthful of beer is enough to provoke seizures and even unconsciousness.

Mild alcohol allergy sufferers often report the same types of symptoms as people with alcohol flush reaction - those being, a red flushed face and neck, throbbing headache, irritated and itchy skin, hived and skin blotching, and difficulty breathing, including aggravation of existing asthmatic disorders.

So why does this happen?

When the liver breaks down alcohol and converts it into acetaldehyde (as discussed above), the toxic acetaldehyde is converted by our bodies into non-toxic acetic acid (also knows as vinegar). As is the case with alcohol flush reaction sufferers, problems start happening for alcohol allergy sufferers when the alcohol cannot be broken down adequately by our bodies. This is because alcoholic beverages usually contain substances other than ethanol such as yeast, hop, grape, barley, wheat, natural food chemicals, wood derived substances, preservatives, etc. Studies have shown the scope for extremely bad alcohol allergies to occur in people who experience allergic reactions to proteins within grapes, yeast, hops, barley and wheat and some of the other above-mentioned substances. It should be noted, however, that these people are not having a reaction to the alcohol itself, and accurately speaking, do not suffer from an 'alcohol' allergy. In addition to the above list of contaminants, egg and seafood proteins are often used as fining agents to remove fine particles from the alcoholic liquid in the production process. These may also be the causes of allergic reactions, rather than the alcohol itself.

So, is alcohol allergy linked to an increased cancer risk?

Recent research has raised public awareness of the possible link between alcohol flush reaction and increased esophageal cancer risk. According to the research conducted, a person with alcohol flush reaction who drinks two beers per day has approximately 6 to 10 times the risk of developing esophageal cancer as someone who does not suffer from alcohol flush reaction.

Where does this put alcohol allergy sufferers?

Where alcohol allergy sufferers fall within the bounds of the above study's conclusions is unclear. On the one hand, you have alcohol allergy sufferers who, as discussed above, are not having an allergic reaction to the alcohol itself but rather to other contaminants in the alcohol such as wheat, egg, etc. It is quite safe to say that these people do not fall within the scope of thise research and thus in these cases we can say that alcohol allergy is not linked to an increased cancer risk. However, on the other hand, you have those alcohol allergy sufferers that suffer from symptoms such as headaches, rashes, nausea and red facial flushing. These symptoms are exactly the same as those experienced by alcohol flush reaction sufferers and thus have been linked with an increased cancer risk. In such cases we can not say that these alcohol allergy sufferers do not fall within the scope of this research as the symptoms and the causes are nearly identical to those of people with alcohol flush reaction.



Healthy Lifestyle Products:

* A breakthrough program that melts away flab and reshapes your body in as little as one hour a week. More Details >>

* Lose Weight, De-Stress & Transform Your Body & Life with Yoga. More Details >>

Categories: allergies