喝酒后会脸红？原来这是遗传的！东亚人独有！

Here’s why some people turn red when they drink. It’s a condition called "alcohol flush reaction." Side effects include flushed skin, nausea, headache, and rapid heart beat.

以下将解释为何有的人喝酒后会脸红。这种情况被称作“酒精潮红反应”。它的副作用有脸红、恶心、头痛和心跳加速。

The cause is a buildup of acetaldehyde in the body. Acetaldehyde is highly toxic and a known carcinogen. When alcohol hits the liver, it metabolizes into acetaldehyde.

它的原因是体内乙醛的积累。乙醛是剧毒的，且是众所周知的致癌物。当酒精进入肝脏时，它会代谢成乙醛。

Usually, it’s quickly converted to a safer form, acetate. But people with alcohol flush reaction are different. Their body turns alcohol into acetaldehyde faster. But their liver takes more time to turn acetaldehyde into acetate.

通常，它会迅速转化成一种更安全的形式：乙酸盐。但是喝酒脸红的人却不一样。他们的身体会更快地把酒精转化成乙醛，然而他们的肝脏地却需要更多的时间把乙醛转变成乙酸盐。

The results are: A less intense "buzz," harsher side effects from acetaldehyde poisoning, and long-term, a higher risk of mouth and throat cancers.

结果就是，乙醛中毒的严酷的副作用——一种不那么强烈的“嗡嗡声”，长期来看，患口腔癌和喉癌的风险较高。

Alcohol flush reaction is a genetic condition. It’s thought to originate among the Han Chinese, in central China. Over the centuries, it has spread throughout East Asia. An estimated 1/3 of East Asians have it.

“酒精潮红反应”是一种遗传性疾病。据信其起源于华中地区的中国汉族。几个世纪以来，它已经传遍了东亚。据估计有三分之一的东亚人有这种情况。

Since the condition is genetic, there is no cure. The upside? Those afflicted often avoid excessive drinking and alcoholism.

由于它是遗传性的，所以无药可治。那要如何处理呢？这些人要避免过量饮酒以及酒精中毒。