A medical question

nadams

Why can't our bodies discern between alcohol and water? I drink a lot of beer (but that's besides the point). I'm getting tired of pissing out a ton of water while I'm drinking, only to have to drink more to avoid a hangover because I'm dehyrated. Why can't our bodies take the alcohol, process it, then take all that water and do something worthwhile with it, rather than just pissing it all away (literally)???

Any MDs care to elaborate?

ND13

Maybe because it's not a naturally occurring substance, in any large amount??? Probably has alot to do with your liver and kidneys:p

obieone

NOT a Dr., but, maybe you shouldn't be ingesting a substance that DISPLACES agua?

zingo

It takes water for your body to metabolize the alcohol.

nadams

ND13 wrote: »

Maybe because it's not a naturally occurring substance, in any large amount??? Probably has alot to do with your liver and kidneys:p

****, you just reminded me of some science lesson somewhere. Anything with alcohol in it goes to your liver... it passes the liquid through to the bladder. If it's straight water, it goes to your kidneys and gets absorbed.

Make sense? Hell if I know, I've been drinking a lot tonight (see my thread about the housemates)

Hobbyguy

alcohol inhibits ADH (ADH is antidiuretic hormone)
ADH causes the kidneys to conserve water.

Retro152

nadams wrote: »

Why can't our bodies discern between alcohol and water? I drink a lot of beer (but that's besides the point). I'm getting tired of pissing out a ton of water while I'm drinking, only to have to drink more to avoid a hangover because I'm dehyrated. Why can't our bodies take the alcohol, process it, then take all that water and do something worthwhile with it, rather than just pissing it all away (literally)???

Any MDs care to elaborate?

That "water" is the alcohol being broken down by the liver and kidneys, aka waste, yes? We recycle everything else, why not piss?:rolleyes:

shack

Hobbyguy wrote:

alcohol inhibits ADH (ADH is antidiuretic hormone)
ADH causes the kidneys to conserve water.

Damn...doctor talk...:eek:

jtgranby

Hobbyguy wrote: »

alcohol inhibits ADH (ADH is antidiuretic hormone)
ADH causes the kidneys to conserve water.

Not bad for an Orthopod:D

nadams

So, even though beer is largely water (depending on what you drink!), our body can't process it as such because there's some alcohol in it? Seems highly inefficient of ourselves. I think I'm going to push evolution to make a body that can separate the two. God help my kids!

ND13

After a hard night of drinking, replace as much water and Vitamin C as your gullet will let ya, but don't be so drunk as to piss yourself. It'll get ya out of most hangovers. Always worked for me as long as I remembered.:rolleyes:

Hobbyguy

Important to know....every once in a while will get a patient with SIADH. We have a habbit of running the fluids after surgery to help with BP. Not so wise in these patients.

nadams

ND13 wrote: »

After a hard night of drinking, replace as much water and Vitamin C as your gullet will let ya, but don't be so drunk as to piss yourself. It'll get ya out of most hangovers. Always worked for me as long as I remembered.:rolleyes:

The vit C I didn't know about, but I always drink plenty of water. IT was just something that struck me after I got up for the 5th time to go pee... broke the seal too early, I guess.

Retro152

nadams wrote: »

So, even though beer is largely water (depending on what you drink!), our body can't process it as such because there's some alcohol in it? Seems highly inefficient of ourselves. I think I'm going to push evolution to make a body that can separate the two. God help my kids!

Cro-Miller light-man............Perfect!:D

inspiredsports

I just take a shot or two of the anhydrous (0% water) alcohol I use to clean tape heads and LP's !!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

nadams

retro152 wrote: »

Cro-Miller light-man............Perfect!:D

lol... This is why some days, I forget the beer and go straight for shots. Get good and drunked, but don't have to deal with all the pissing.

Still, I love the beer, and it paces me out at the bar, so I don't get drunk.

bobman1235

nadams wrote: »

So, even though beer is largely water (depending on what you drink!), our body can't process it as such because there's some alcohol in it? Seems highly inefficient of ourselves.

Yes, how dare our bodies not be able to deal with it more efficiently when we consciously poison ourselves!

dorokusai

I usually hydrate with water, take regular vitamins and eat a handful of olives to get some salt back in the system. YMMV.

nadams

bobman1235 wrote: »

Yes, how dare our bodies not be able to deal with it more efficiently when we consciously poison ourselves!

I probably shouldk change that to "Thank God I'm not having[/p] children!"

George Grand

If you pissed out the alcohol instead of the water you'd straighten out faster ....... so we can't work the problem from that angle.

nadams

George Grand wrote: »

If you pissed out the alcohol instead of the water you'd straighten out faster ....... so we can't work the problem from that angle.

Man, good point. That'd be no good at all. I'd haveto drink so much more that way, then I'd be over-hydrated. Now why won't you reply to my PM?

Shizelbs

Consumption of alcohol inhibits the release of ADH (antidiuretic hormone), aka vasopressin. This hormone normally tells the brain/kidneys that not enough water is in your system, that your blood volume is too low, and that for now, it would be a good idea to not make the water in your system available to become urine. So, when you drink alcohol, you pee so much because, one you are putting a lot of water into your system (with beer or mixed drinks anyways) and suppressing your natural system to hang onto water. Since the body isn't hanging on to the water, its going to get rid of it. So you pee and pee, pee beyond what is ideal for you.

Good enough explanation?

heiney9

Alcohol and Coffee are diuretics..............they make you urinate. Coffee is 100% water, but if you drink the caffeinated stuff......more than a couple cups you'll find yourself at the urinal.

A diuretic is any drug that elevates the rate of urination and thus provides a means of forced diuresis. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from bodies, although each class of diuretic does so in a distinct way.

Some foods that contain natural diuretics are cranberries and cranberry juice, coffee and other beverages that contain caffeine, and apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also contains potassium, so it may help avoid potassium deficiency. Still, it should be used sparingly. Adding fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, watermelon and others that contain a lot of water will also help increase urination.

Alcohol causes the body to increase urinary output (i.e., it is a diuretic). Alcohol promotes urine production by inhibiting the release of a hormone (i.e., antidiuretic hormone, or vasopressin) from the pituitary gland. In turn, reduced levels of antidiuretic hormone prevent the kidneys from reabsorbing (i.e., conserving) water and thereby increase urine production.

fatchowmein

Alcohol inhibits ADH. ADH affects the kidney walls (somewhere) by allowing water to pass back (reabsorb) into the body so you urinate less water but in higher concentrated amounts (yellow). With less ADH (or none?), the fluids, and there's tons of it since you just drunk a ton, isn't reabsorbed back so it all goes to your bladder and you end up pissing it all out (clear) and then some. Now, you're dehydrated. Normally, the body would attempt to reclaim as much water as possible by releasing more ADH into the bloodstream but gets circumvented by alcohol.

No, I'm not a doctor. Took Drugs & Society eons ago and Google helped jog my memory. I remember drawing pics of ADH acting as the gatekeeper to allow water to pass back into the body. Man that was a long time ago in a different reality and no it didn't keep me from drinking in college (intelligence vs wisdom).

BrettT1

I find that if I drink "cheap beer", like budweiser, coor, etc.., I have to pee every 5 minutes. If I drink something better, like sam adams, warsteiner, etc..., not as much time spent in the bathroom.

dragon1952

BrettT1 wrote: »

I find that if I drink "cheap beer", like budweiser, coor, etc.., I have to pee every 5 minutes. If I drink something better, like sam adams, warsteiner, etc..., not as much time spent in the bathroom.

That's because Bud and Coors are all water. They are to beer, what re-used teabags or coffee grounds are to....ummmm.....tea and coffee!
Mass produced beers are not really beer. They do not use the 'correct' brewing process for making real beer. They are actually 'beer-like' products. But they are what we've been force-fed, and they are what many have developed a taste for, unfortunately. Real beer will be much more likely not to produce a hangover also.

bobman1235

Sigh. Who cares what they really are? If people enjoy them, just let it go. Enjoy the good beer, let people enjoy the Budweisers of the world, and we can all live in peace and harmony

BrettT1

My wife enjoys coors light.

LessisNevermore

dragon1952 wrote: »

That's because Bud and Coors are all water. They are to beer, what re-used teabags or coffee grounds are to....ummmm.....tea and coffee!
Mass produced beers are not really beer. They do not use the 'correct' brewing process for making real beer. They are actually 'beer-like' products. But they are what we've been force-fed, and they are what many have developed a taste for, unfortunately. Real beer will be much more likely not to produce a hangover also.

I prefer to call them "Sex in a canoe"......'cuz it's fu**ing near water.

thsmith

You guys just need one of these and you will not care http://www.bladderbuddy.com/about.html

George Grand

nadams wrote: »

Now why won't you reply to my PM?

Because I am very busy answering all my other PM's. You'll have to wait your turn.