The Effect of Alcohol on Blood

 

The Effect of Alcohol on Blood

The Effect of Alcohol on Blood

Dr. Richardson, renowned for his lectures on alcohol delivered in both England and America, meticulously discussed the impact of this substance on the bloodstream after it passes through the stomach.

"Suppose a certain amount of alcohol is ingested into the stomach; it will be absorbed there. However, before absorption, it must be adequately diluted with water. This is because alcohol, when separated from a watery fluid like blood by an animal membrane, will not pass through the membrane until it has reached a certain level of dilution with water. Indeed, alcohol is so thirsty for water that it will extract it from watery tissues until it is fully saturated and can then diffuse into the bloodstream."

This ability of alcohol to absorb water from every tissue it encounters is what causes the intense thirst experienced by those who consume it liberally.

 Dr. Richardson further elaborates on its journey through the body once it enters circulation:

"As it traverses the bloodstream to the lungs, it undergoes exposure to air, and some of it, vaporized by body heat, is subsequently exhaled. If the quantity is substantial, this loss can be significant, and the characteristic smell of alcohol may be detectable in the breath. If the quantity is minimal, the loss will be comparatively minor as the alcohol will remain dissolved in the blood's water. After coursing through the lungs and propelled by the heart through the arterial circuit, it infiltrates what is known as the microcirculation or the structural circulation of the body. Here, arteries extend into diminutive vessels termed arterioles, from which equally minute vein roots or venules arise, ultimately forming the major blood vessels returning blood to the heart. During its odyssey through this microcirculation, alcohol infiltrates every organ, including the brain, muscles, secreting or excreting organs, and even bone tissue, traversing along with the blood. In certain organs, it lingers dispersed for a while, persisting longer in those with high water content. From organs with open conduits for fluid expulsion, such as the liver and kidneys, it is expelled, purging a fraction from the body. The remainder continues to circulate, potentially undergoing decomposition and being expelled in altered forms."

Understanding the trajectory alcohol takes through the body, from absorption to elimination, aids in comprehending the physiological alterations it induces in the organs and structures it interacts with. It primarily impacts the blood, although the quantity that permeates is typically inadequate to exert a notable influence on the fluid. However, in cases of toxic dosage, even the blood, rich in water (approximately 790 parts per thousand), is impacted. Alcohol permeates through this aqueous medium, interfacing with other blood constituents such as fibrin, albumin, salts, lipid substances, and blood cells. These interactions may disrupt blood cell functionality, compromising their capacity to assimilate and convey gases, and potentially precipitating blockages in circulation.

Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption can influence fibrin, the clotting factor in the blood, either by impeding coagulation or augmenting it, contingent upon its interplay with water.
By understanding the intricate dynamics between alcohol and the bloodstream, one can better appreciate the profound effects this substance can exert on the body's physiological processes, underscoring the importance of moderation and awareness in consumption.