The oesophagus is the long tube running from the mouth to the stomach that propels food and drink down to the stomach.
9 How does alcohol damage the oesophagus?Īlcohol comes into contact with the oesophagus once it has been swallowed. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of oropharyngeal cancer and may increase mouth cancer risk when combined with smoking. From saliva, acetaldehyde and alcohol easily reach and damage the tissues in the mouth.Ī large Cancer Research UK study looking at lifestyle factors that cause cancer found that around a third of cancers of the mouth and throat (30%) were caused by drinking alcohol. 8 Alcohol passes quickly into the mouths saliva, and for approximately 30 minutres after drinking, saliva contains more alcohol than the bloodstream. The mouth and throat are exposed to alcohol as soon as ingested. 7 How does alcohol damage the mouth and throat? 6 Alcohol has also been found to impair DNA repair which can increase the risk of alcohol-caused cancer. 5 Alcohol is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde.Īlcohol has been found to be a co-carcinogen that facilitates tumour initiation and promotes tumour growth. Alcohol metabolism mostly occurs in the liver, but other cells in the body can also metabolise alcohol. Unlike other nutrients alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the stomach lining and it is also rapidly absorbed in the small intestine. 4 Alcohol is absorbed throughout the digestive tract. In fact, the digestive system works extra hard to eliminate it from the body, 3 prioritising the elimination of alcohol ahead of other nutrients including lipids (fats), carbohydrates and proteins. Once alcohol has entered the blood stream it can damage the liver and large intestines.Īlcohol is not treated like other nutrients in food. 2Īlcohol can damage the organs it comes in contact with in the digestive system, including the mouth, throat, oesophagus and stomach. 1 These organs each have a role in ensuring the nutrients in food can be ingested, digested and absorbed, and waste products are removed from the body. The digestive system is made up of many organs including the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, liver, the small and large intestines, and the anus. This conversion process is known as metabolism and is done by the digestive system. How can alcohol damage the digestive systemĮvery cell in the body needs nourishment and requires the food consumed to be converted into a form that is usable by the cells. Alcohol consumption can damage the digestive system and can increase the risk of alcohol-caused cancer and liver disease.
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