Health - Asian Alcohol Tolerance

[blayze]

Hello all,


I often find myself in social settings where drinking is pretty much mandatory. The problem I've always had is that after 1 or 2 drinks, I quickly turn tomato red, and my heart beats fast. When I drink beer, even after a few sips I find myself feeling very full and feel the need to burp. After 2 drinks I'll start feeling very drowsy and somewhat dizzy and usually throw up.


Many of my asian friends have told me I should continue drinking because it will build up my tolerance and the problem will go away. However, I am afraid this is a genetic problem and regardless of how long I continue to drink it will always be this way. I've been drinking for 4 years now and although I've gotten just a *little* bit better from when I started, I dont feel any progress with regards to tolerance building.


I guess my question is, should I bother trying to build my tolerance or is this a wasted effort? During the many times I've been sick, I've often decided to quit alcohol for good, but when I find myself in social settings again, I can't help it. I suppose it's because I've always thought I would build up tolerance but it doesnt seem to be happening. Now that I'm more educated on the topic, I've considered seriously quitting since I get no enjoyment out of alcohol whatsoever, and I only do it for social reasons. What are your thoughts? Thanks for the insight.


Alex

[Alfa]

Forget about the tolerance. Quit or reduce the amount. Does the same thing happen with all kinds of alcoholic drinks?

[blayze]

actually yes, most of the symptoms happen with all alcoholic drinks. Except for the bloated feeling which is exclusive to beer.


Alex

[drnick]

why are you trying to drink more? Id be happy if i could get drunk that easy, its cheap!

[Insane Asian]

hes not getting druk man hes getting sick. go to the doctor and check to see if you are allergic to alcohol (its possible my friend and his mom are allergic to it). that might be your problem

[blayze]

Yeah,I don't get drunk at all, i just get the flush, start feeling hot, get the headache and either it passes or I throw up, I very rarely get drunk.


Thanks for the advice guys.

[NukaCola]

you can't drink, bear with it.

[davidBuster23]

A doctor friend of mine once explained to me that there is an allergy to alcohol with the exact effects that blayze describes -- and it's present in an enormous proportion of the asian population. just an unlucky gene buddy. Many of my asian friends and colleagues have had the exact same problem.

[Alfa]

How do you react to cannabis?

[manda]

If your body is fighting it like that, it is telling you there is something wrong. Don't fight your feelings, simply quit alcohol if you only do it for social reasons. Plenty ofmen and woman do not drink socially. You defineately shouldn't have to get sick to feel like you're socializing.

[blayze]

thanks for all the input guys i really appreciate it.


As for weed, my body just loves it, why do u ask?

<blockquote>Originally posted by blayze on 13 June 2004<hr>


thanks for all the input guys i really appreciate it.

As for weed, my body just loves it, why do u ask?

<hr></blockquote>





oh man that last line was great.. as for weed my body just loves it.. lol ...nice... just was funny to me... sorry... lol good line tho... anyways ya you definately should drink man.. tolerance does not take anywhere near 4 years... somethings wrong... ull never enjoy it... so u definately shouldnt do it anymore... its pointless to do it.. anyways good luck man

[Alfa]

Stick to weed!

[Insane Asian]

i dont know about it being in the asian population because not one asian i know cant get drunk. my friend and his mom are black. it is prolly like any other allergy, it affects random people. if worst comes to worst just



Stick to weed!

[blayze]

hehe unfortunately weed isn't "socially acceptable" in most social circumstances due to issues of legality

[soer]

i would never want to increase my tolerance .. that jus means more alcohol i hafta put into me and more $ i hafta spend on it .. if u wna make it appear like youre drinkin more to look cool with your friends, dilute your drink with water .. fill beer cans with water .. im sure you can think of more

[Woodman]

<blockquote>Originally posted by soer on 03 October 2004<hr>


i would never want to increase my tolerance .. that jus means more alcohol i hafta put into me and more $ i hafta spend on it .. if u wna make it appear like youre drinkin more to look cool with your friends, dilute your drink with water .. fill beer cans with water .. im sure you can think of more<hr></blockquote>

LOL, and good advice soer.



If I didn't know better I'ld suspect we're related. You're almost as much of a cheap-bastard as Me.



Still, sound advice as with alcohol there's no benefit to overdoing it.

[FrankenChrist]

Here's a little background info:



It's all part of evolution. Many centuries back people died from polluted water all the time. If you had purified water, you wouldn't die. What could purify the water? Boiling.



In Asia, people heated water for tea.



In Europe, people boiled water for brewing beer, or drank alcoholic drinks with enough alcohol content to disinfect the fluid.



So, Europeans developed a tolerance for alcohol.



This post was inspired by a TV documentary. Chances are it was Richard Attenborough, former member of Monty Python.<img border="0" src= "smileys/smiley1.gif">

[adultswim]

i also experiance this. it most likey genetic cause me and my cousins are allergic to alcohol we get very red as you do and get twice as drunk as everyoneelse does.its not a bad thing its cheaper and there is less liqued in your stomach.

[sauvage]

I know a white guy who's allergic to alcohol (dont stop him drinking though)





Attenborough did nature programmes and wasn't in the Python team.





Blayze - If I were you I'd start driving, it's getting quite socially acceptable not to drink if you're driving and you'll be very popular with drunks wanting lifts.

[FrankenChrist]

Not in Monty Python?

I thought one of those guys was.

(Ah, we have a quote button now.
But no editing in non-last post.)

[john_iowa]

My professional advice is to stop drinking alcohol. Many times this social habit can be avoided by drinking no alcoholic substances. With a glass in your hands and some (not alcoholic) drink on it your social problems can go away. If you have to drink alcohol space out*your swallows and drink water in between. Remember to have a good supper before starting to drink too.


John

Read the RULES before Posting!!!

BAEdited by: BA

[P!MPJU!C3]

This is what ive got to say about drinking.

Either u drink because u like the taste or you drink because you like the feeling of being completely drunk 4 a while and then hanging over the toillet 4 the rest of the evening or passing out.

You do not like drinkin cuz it makes u sick. Why do u force yourself to drink? So everybody round u is drinkin, tell u this. By god watch them drink, get drunk, then ur the only one their that is functioning normal. Seeing everybody making a complete fool of themselfs is much more fun then being sick.
Plus the fact that drinkin isnt part of being cool. Be cool u gotta have style. Clothes, talk, car, ladies, bling. Drink isnt part of that.

[windtraveler]

Gotta have bling bling....ha ha. To be cool you gotta be yourself....and then there really is no such thing as being cool.

We used to go down to Tijuana all the time, and at about two beers i would start feeling sick and would nearly throw up. But after the feeling would pass, i could drink the rest of the night away without getting too drunk.