I almost got drunk of a slice of rum cheesecake.

我差點因為一片蘭姆起司蛋糕而醉倒。

Wait, is that even possible?

等等，這可能發生嗎？

Hey guys, Chastity here filling in for DNews.

大家好，我是 DNews 的主播 Chastity。

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to drinking, I’m the queen of lightweights.

我是不清楚你的狀況拉，但是講到喝酒，我是遜咖中的遜咖。

I’ve been known to get drunk off of one mixed drink.

我曾因為一杯混酒就醉倒。

And when I drink even a small amount of alcohol, my face turns red instantly.

我甚至只要喝一點點酒，臉就會立刻通紅。

See, my friends have been making fun of me for it for years, but I’m putting it to an end now, with SCIENCE!

我的朋友們為此嘲笑我好多年，但我今天要用科學的角度終結這個笑話。

The condition is called Alcohol Flush Reaction, or AFR.

這種症狀被稱為「酒精性臉紅反應」，英文簡稱為 AFR。

It’s pretty easy to tell when you’ve got it, since your face turns crazy red after drinking.

有沒有這項反應其實滿好分辨的，因為在喝酒後，臉會變得無比的紅。

Other than facial flushing, symptoms of AFR include flushing of the neck and other parts of the body, heightened heart rate, headaches, and nausea.

除了臉部泛紅，AFR 的症狀還包括脖子或其他身體部位的潮紅、加速的心跳、頭痛和噁心。

Now this is even after as little as one drink.

就算只喝了一小杯酒，這些症狀也會發生。

AFR is also known as the “Asian glow” or “Asian Flush”, although Asians are not the only ones who suffer from it.

AFR 也被稱為「亞洲紅臉症」，雖然亞洲人並非唯一的受害族群。

Over 500 million people worldwide experience flush reactions, with between 36 to 50 percent of them being of East Asian descent.

全世界超過五億的人經歷過臉紅反應，而其中的 36-50% 是東亞族群。

Alcohol is typically metabolized in the liver, where it's first oxidized to acetaldehyde and then to acetate.

酒精一般是在肝臟中代謝，先氧化成乙醛，再氧化成醋酸。

People with AFR carry a genetic mutation that disables this process.

AFR 患者因為基因上的突變，所以無法運作此過程。

They have an inherited deficiency in the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, or ALDH2.

他們的乙醛去氫脢 (ALDH2) 有遺傳性的缺陷。

According to a PLOS Medicine study, approximately 8% of the world population is ALDH2 deficient.

根據 PLOS 醫學研究顯示，全球約有 8% 人口缺乏 ALDH2。

ALDH2 is the enzyme that converts acetaldehyde.

ALDH2 是轉化乙醛的酶。

Without it, we’re left with an accumulation of acetaldehyde up to 10 times the normal concentration!

沒有它，乙醛的累積濃度會比正常值高出十倍！

According to Robert Swift, a physician and researcher at Brown University, acetaldehyde is like formaldehyde, which is embalming fluid.

Robert Swift——布朗大學的內科醫生兼研究員指出，乙醛跟甲醛一樣，是一種不易腐壞的液體。

It destroys proteins, and it destroys DNA.

乙醛會破壞蛋白質和 DNA。

Pretty nasty stuff, so imagine not being able to break that down!

真令人討人厭，想像一下無法使它分解！

Flushed faces, racing hearts, instant drunkenness.

漲紅的臉、加速的心跳和瞬間襲來的醉意。

Unfortunately, there is no cure for AFR since it’s a genetic issue.

不幸的是，因為 AFR 是基因上的問題，所以無法醫治。

The only way to prevent flush reaction is to avoid alcohol completely.

唯一能預防臉紅反應的方式是，徹底避開酒精。

But come on, that’s not going to happen.

但拜託，這不可能做到。

So if you still want to drink but suffer from AFR, here are some tips to cope with it, courtesy of HealthXchange.

所以若你受 AFR 之苦，但還是想喝酒時，以下有幾個由 HealthXchange 提供的應變措施。

1. Drink moderately.

1. 適量飲酒。

That’s two drinks for men and one drink for women per day.

男性一天的量是兩杯，而女性是一杯。

Pick drinks with less alcohol content.

挑選酒精濃度較低的飲品。

Eat before and/or while you're drinking.

喝酒前或正在喝時，要吃點東西。

Fatty foods and carbs can slow down the rate of alcohol absorption.

高油脂食物和碳水化合物可以減緩酒精的吸收速率。

Drink plenty of water and/or non-alcoholic drinks.

喝大量的水或無酒精飲品。

Flush it out and quench your thirst.

沖淡酒精並解渴。

And as a pro tip - if you’ve got the flush, don’t wear red while drinking.

還有個專業的建議——如果你有酒精臉紅反應，喝酒時千萬別穿紅色。

You’ll end up looking like a giant tomato.

這只會讓你看起來像顆大蕃茄。

Got any other tips or interesting drinking stories?

有其他的建議或喝酒的趣事嗎？

Share them in the comments below, and I’ll catch you next time.

在下方留言跟我們分享，我們下次見。

Thanks for watching!

感謝收看！