Asian Flush, also known by the name Asian Glow or Alcohol Flush is a physical response to drinking alcohol. The strange phenomenon is made obvious through facial flushing, an increase in body temperature, and other symptoms. But what exactly causes this reaction and how long does it usually last?
In this article, we will be going over everything you need to know about Asian flush and looking into how long it lasts.
Let's get started.
What Causes Asian Flush?
Before we jump into how long it lasts, we first need to talk about what it is in the first place. Asian flush, which is also known as the ‘Asian Glow’ is a genetic deficiency that around 1/10 people have around the world. Whilst it is called Asian flush, you don't actually have to be Asian to get it.
The reason for these harsh reactions to alcohol is due to a deficiency in the enzyme ALDH2, which is used to break down acetaldehyde, which is a toxic by-product of the alcohol metabolism process.
When the ALDH2 enzyme is deficient, it can cause acetaldehyde to accumulate in the body, which can cause uncomfortable and sometimes severe reactions.
Understanding the full scope of Asian flush is essential to understanding the symptoms and duration.
Symptoms of Asian Flush
The symptoms of Asian Flush can be pretty uncomfortable and can ruin a fun night out pretty quickly, here are some of the most common symptoms you may come across:
Red Flushed Face - This is one of the most noticeable symptoms of Asian Flush, it is mostly seen on the face, chest, and neck and can show up quickly after drinking.
Increased Body Temperature - This happens due to the blood vessels under the skin dilating which results in flushed skin and also brings warm blood closer to the skin, resulting in an increased body temperature.
Nausea - Some people may start to feel sick or nauseous after drinking alcohol, this can lead to discomfort and also vomiting.
Rapid Heart Rate - An increase in heart rate is also common, many experience both palpitations and pounding in the head and chest.
Headaches - Headaches and migraines can also occur as a result of consuming alcohol with Asian Flush, this can cause a very uncomfortable throbbing sensation in the head.
Tight Chest/Throat - Some people with Asian flush experience a tightness in their chest and throat which can lead to individuals struggling for breath.
Understanding the symptoms you may face is important in both realizing you are struggling with this same genetic deficiency and also helping others who may be experiencing these symptoms.
How Long Does Asian Flush Last?
Understanding how long Asian flush will last is important for anyone new to what it is. In this section, we will be looking into the typical duration of this condition and different factors that may change the duration.
The normal onset of Asian flush can start to occur minutes after drinking. During this phase, individuals may starts to feel the body temperature rising and the facial flushing start to appear. These are often the first indicators that your body is struggling to break down the acetaldehyde in your body.
The duration of your Asian flush symptom can vary depending on a few different things, here are a few things that may affect the duration of your symptoms:
Amount of alcohol consumed - The more someone drinks, the more acetaldehyde the body has to try to break down. Higher alcohol consumption will lead to a longer duration of Asian flush symptoms.
Food in the stomach - Drinking alcohol without food in your stomach can lead to faster absorption of alcohol in the bloodstream which can lead to a faster reaction to the alcohol and possibly a longer duration of Asian flush symptoms. Eating food before drinking can slow down alcohol absorption which can reduce the duration of symptoms.
Metabolism - People metabolize alcohol at different rates depending on things like sex, age, weight, height, and also genetic factors. Those who have a slower metabolism may suffer from the symptoms for longer.
So, How Long Does It Actually Take?
As you have read above, Asian flush symptoms can vary from person to person dependent on a whole range of different factors. Whilst facial flushing can reduce 1-3 hours after your last drink, other symptoms like migraines can stay around for hours or sometimes days.
How Can I Stop Asian Flush?
Now that we have discussed how long Asian flush lasts, we can now talk about the best way to stop/reduce it. At this moment in time, there is unfortunately no cure for Asian flush, however, there are Asian flush solutions like our Asian Flush Patches that reduce your symptoms and the duration you feel the symptoms for.
Closing Thoughts On How Long Does Asian Flush Last?
So now you know how long Asian flush can last, you should have a better understanding of how you should tackle drinking on a night out. The main thing to take away from this article is that everyone is different and some people will experience the symptoms for longer than others.
Whilst it can differ from one person to another, one thing that can help everyone with Asian flush is our alcohol flush patches, these patches contain vitamines and antioxidants that help to reduce the effects of Asian flush, so you can enjoy your night without the discomfort.