The alcohol which is consumed is usually absorbed into the blood stream after being processed and contributes to the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). This is an important factor to keep in mind while binging on drinks while partying. Even more important is the time when your BAC can exceed the legal limit, which is during driving. If cops find that your BAC is higher than the prescribed limit when they pull you over, it could mean real trouble. So here are some factors which usually contribute to the alcohol concentration in the blood. Drink after keeping such factors in mind as they play an important role in the different effects seen in different people.
- Gender
This primary biological distinction has an important role to play when dealing with how alcohol can affect the bloodstream. Two factors which contribute to it are the content of body fat and the enzyme responsible for the breaking down of alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase. Both these are found to be lesser in the female bodies than that of the males. Thus, alcohol is quickly dissolved into the bloodstream of females, leading to a higher BAC in their system for the same amount of drinks that they have had as compared to their male counterparts.
- Size of The Body
Another important factor is the weight and physique of the person. In general, people with a larger physique are found to have a reduced BAC. This is because a larger body is found to have a higher water content. As alcohol is generally water soluble, the more the water content, the better the dilution and hence, the lesser is the alcohol concentration in the blood. This can have an adverse effect, as alcoholism is usually driven by the body’s need to feel the effect and hence these people are prone to drink more to feel the same.
- Medicines and Drugs
Different drugs have got different effects on how alcohol is broken down in the body. Some of them can act as catalysts and speed up the process, leading to a higher BAC in a short amount of time, while others can have the direct opposite effect. This makes it important to consult with physicians about the effect that their medications can have on the alcohol that is consumed to ensure being on the safer side at all times.
- Emotional State
It has been found that even the emotional state of the mind plays a vital role on the effect of BAC. Depending on whether you are stressed or whether you are relaxed completely to the core, the BAC will vary. Its level rises faster in the blood of a person who is feeling calm as compared to a person who is emotionally disturbed. The reason is that the alcohol will then be diverted into other organs rather than the bloodstream to combat stress, and thus the level being lesser in the blood results subsequently in a lower BAC.
- Food and Drinks
The state of your stomach while you drink also affects alcohol concentration in the blood. An empty stomach is found to absorb the alcohol content faster as it has been starved for quite some time. The consumption of drinks after taking food can cause alcohol to be absorbed quite slowly into the bloodstream, as the body is already busy digesting the food that was taken, thus resulting in a slower increase in the BAC. Further, carbonated drinks along with alcohol can cause the alcohol concentration in the blood to increase faster as the gases cause the digestive process to move faster and dump the alcohol into the bloodstream.
The above mentioned factors do have quite an impact on the alcohol concentration in the blood and have to be considered when being wary of the BAC for legal reasons and also for keeping tabs on yourself and your health.
