If you are Asian, chances are when you are having an alcoholic beverage, your face or whole body starts to turn red (This happens mostly to just Asians and not Pacific Islanders from what I understand). This what people refer to as the “Asian Glow”. When this happens, “those that don’t know” consider that you are drunk already. Despite what they say, you probably aren’t drunk at all!
From Wikipedia:
“50% of the Pacific Rim Asian population inherit a mutant ADH known as ADH2*2 that leads to faster-than-normal degradation of ethanol to acetaldehyde…45-53% of the Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Korean population possess a mutant ALDH2 known as ALDH2*2. Approximately half of people of Asian descent are considered to be sensitive to alcohol due to this condition. Flushing, after consuming one or two alcoholic beverages, includes a range of symptoms: nausea, headaches, light-headedness, an increased pulse, occasional extreme drowsiness, and occasional skin swelling and itchiness. These unpleasant side effects often prevent further drinking that may lead to further inebriation, but the symptoms can lead to mistaken assumption that the people affected are more easily inebriated than others.”
According to Wikipedia, about 50% of Asians get this condition…the way they make it out to be sounds scary….mutant inheritance??!
image credit: www.bagofnothing.com
For me, I just get pinkish on my face by the first mug of beer (It never gets tomato red no matter how much I drink, however). As far as symptoms like headaches, increased pulse, breathing problems, and nausea go…It doesn’t really seem to happen to me fortunately. People have found success in alleviating some of these symptoms through over-the-counter antacid medicines like Zantac and Pepcid AC.
So how does much does the Asian Glow affect you? Let me know your thoughts by commenting or polling!
Loading …Columbia News Service has written a great article about this roughly a year ago going into further details about the symptoms, the medical explanation, personal stories, and possible remedies. Check it out here.
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May 9, 2008
Where are all the comments? I know we all get this
I have a couple drinks and everyone around me thinks I’m done. Granted, I may be a bit impaired but now I can reference this post to educate the world on my condition…
phoFuki’s last blog post..change in direction
May 9, 2008
Seems like people just like to vote instead.
Yea, it sometimes gets annoying when you get the glow and people start considering that you’re done for the night. It’s a mutant inheritance people!
May 9, 2008
LOL! Do you find it is a bit different depending on what you are drinking? Rum drinks usually do it for me. Where bourbon only mildly shows up.
phoFukis last blog post..change in direction
May 13, 2008
hahaha, yea! The difference for me is between liquor and beer but I can’t really narrow it down much further.
May 19, 2008
You bet, one drink and I am red, itchy, lightheaded, and have a headache!
Asianmommys last blog post..China Earthquake Relief
May 19, 2008
I feel your pain! (even though I don’t get headaches fortunately)
July 23, 2008
I think when journalists write about science it often comes out all wrong. They hear the word mutation and they think of x-men and diseases and conditions. I actually wrote an article about Asian blush as well. Which, of course, I believe is the best, fairest, and most accurate and yet also comprehensible explanation on the internet.
July 24, 2008
@Lily
Just read through your article, well-written! I like how you put a positive spin on it being a natural deterrent for alcoholism. Now that I think of it, I don’t know of any Asian friends or relatives who are alcoholics…so there’s some truth to what you said!
August 1, 2008
i can drink and drink, i am blessed to NOT LOOK buzzed, nor do i act it. i stay classy at all degrees of drunkardness.
i am tan skin & the redness on my face is prob from my blush. =)