The liver breaks down alcohol. But, factors like age, gender, weight, and the amount of food they have eaten influences how quickly the body processes alcohol. For example, It can metabolize about one drink per hour for men. The rate of alcohol digestion does not increase by drinking water or sleeping it off.
How long alcohol stays in your system:
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcoholism, alcohol rehab can help. Read on to understand more about how long alcohol stays in your system, blood, urine, and treatment options for alcoholism.
How long does it take to sober up? Metabolism plays a big factor in alcohol consumption. Even though alcohol moves through the digestive system, it doesn’t undergo extensive digestion in the digestive tract the same way as food does.
When alcohol enters the upper gastrointestinal tract, a portion becomes absorbed right into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestines. Once alcohol is in the bloodstream, it is carried to the body and moves to the brain.
This absorption in the body can slow down slightly when there is food in the stomach. Food absorbs alcohol, keeping it from coming into contact with the stomach lining, and slows this transition from the stomach to the duodenum. Without food in the stomach, alcohol absorbs rapidly into the bloodstream.
A person who is in good health will generally feel the effects of alcohol within 15 to 45 minutes of consuming. Most men with a low tolerance will start exhibiting signs of intoxication when their blood alcohol level (BAC) rises to 0.05%.
They become unable to drive at 0.7%. They then reach intoxication at 0.10%. A woman who weighs roughly 150 pounds will reach intoxication at 0.1% if she consumes four cocktails within an hour.
The more your BAC rises, the more likely you’ll show signs of intoxication, which include:
Risks that come with intoxication include:
Alcohol becomes broken down through the liver’s alcohol dehydrogenase. Usually, the liver can metabolize one drink per hour for men. Additionally, to processing through the liver, about 10% of alcohol in the blood is also excreted through urine, sweat, and breath.
The suggested one drink per hour to maintain coherence is as listed:
Factors that affect how quickly alcohol breaks down in the body include:
Many people don’t understand what causes alcoholism, but there is no simple answer to this question. Alcoholism‘s development can happen by multiple factors, including environment and genetics. Studies have confirmed a potential link between depression and genetic vulnerability to alcoholism development.
It is also suggested that the element of consuming alcohol at a young age puts people at a higher risk of developing alcoholism. Other factors that may cause alcoholism are still being investigated. Analysis has also shown that an individual’s home environment might affect their chances of becoming an alcoholic.
Consequences to the body because of alcohol consumption include:
Data shows that about 14.5 million American citizens aged 12 or older suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2017. This figure factors 5.3% of all people in this age group. Deaths related to alcohol are the third leading cause of preventable mortality across the nation. Roughly 88,000 people die every year from liver failure, drunk driving, overdose, and other accidents.
Understanding how alcohol is metabolized and registering your blood alcohol levels can help prevent intoxication and alcohol poisoning. Recognizing the dangers of alcohol abuse also helps avoid alcohol intolerance, insobriety, and a compulsive alcohol abuse pattern that leads to dependence.
For most people, the first step in treating alcoholism is with medical detox. People suffering from alcohol dependence and attempt to stop cold turkey could experience severe complications, including withdrawal seizures. A supervised medical detox program is usually needed to keep somebody safe and comfortable throughout the withdrawal process.
For those at high risk of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms, multiple inpatient treatment days at a rehab facility to medically manage alcohol withdrawal may be crucial to the recovery process. After completing a successful alcohol detox, more comprehensive rehab will commence. The different treatment settings for various alcohol treatment programs include:
Whether treating alcoholism in an inpatient or outpatient therapy program, most rehab centers will use a combination of several treatment approaches which include:
Some people suffering from alcoholism can benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) by minimizing cravings and decreasing the risk of relapse. When coupled with behavioral therapy, MATs can help people become sober. Some MATs for alcoholism include:
Campral: This medication works with the GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems by controlling anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia co-occur with alcohol withdrawal. It can help patients maintain long-term sobriety, especially for those who are heavily dependent on alcohol.
Disulfiram: This medication keeps patients from drinking when they are motivated to quit. If somebody uses disulfiram and then consumes alcohol, the result is nausea, flushing, and rapid heart rate feeling.
Naltrexone: This treatment type acts on the opioid receptors to prevent the rewarding feeling of consuming alcohol, which potentially reduces cravings. The extended-release form known as Vivitrol is an injection that is only administered once a month.
Topiramate: This medication is sometimes used to help decrease drinking behavior and recovering patients.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an alcohol use disorder, getting treatment is critical for your body and lifestyle. Here at Free By The Sea, our treatment staff can get you back on track to living a healthy and happy sober lifestyle. Do not hesitate any longer; contact us today at Free By The Sea and allow our specialists to answer any question.
Dr. Richard Crabbe joined our team in 2019 as our psychiatrist and medical director. He attended the University of Ghana Medical School where he became a Medical Doctor in 1977. From 1978 through 1984, he was a medical officer in the Ghana Navy and provided a variety of services from general medicine to surgeries. He received his Certificate in General Psychology from the American Board of Psychology and Neurology in 2002.