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You may have heard about blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but it’s much more than a measurement of intoxication. When alcohol is in your bloodstream it changes how blood cells form and work, which is why heavy drinkers can develop disorders that affect the rest of their body.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why alcohol gets in the bloodstream when you drink.
- How long alcohol stays in your blood.
- Why the amount of alcohol that’s consumed matters.
- How the type of alcohol affects BAC and duration.
- The short-term effects that alcohol has on blood.
- How chronic drinking affects blood formation long-term.
Every time you drink alcohol you are changing the composition of your blood and disrupting how blood cells work. Alcohol is a small molecule that’s able to get through the cells of the digestive tract and into nearby blood vessels. Once ethanol is in the vessels it gets into circulating blood. It’s then carried by the veins to the liver and the rest of the body.
We all know that blood is vital for supporting life, but many people don’t realize the critical functions of blood that can be thwarted by alcohol.
Blood is affected by alcohol in both the short-term and long-term if there’s chronic drinking. Within minutes the blood alcohol concentration will change, but that’s just the first sign that alcohol is in your system. It will continue to rise and peak 30-90 minutes after drinking ceases. During that time the blood is being affected, which affects the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body.
How the Amount of Alcohol Impacts Blood
The more you drink, the higher your blood alcohol concentration will be. Alcohol also stays in the bloodstream for longer periods of time depending on the amount you consumed.
Alcohol is detectable in blood for 6-12 hours from the time you stop drinking. However, it could last as long as 24 hours if the liver isn’t metabolizing alcohol well or a high amount of alcohol was consumed. How long alcohol stays in your blood is also influenced by:
- Speed of drinking
- Body weight
- Sex
- Age
- Medications
- Food intake
Any amount of alcohol affects blood, but moderate to heavy consumption can have a negative impact on your blood pressure. Both blood pressure and heart rate can be elevated when you consume large doses of alcohol.
How the Type of Alcohol Impacts the Blood
What you are drinking also makes a difference in terms of blood alcohol concentration, its peak effect and how long it stays in the blood. The timeline correlates with the concentration of alcohol in the drink.
Liquor peaks faster than wine, and wine peaks faster than beer.
With any type of alcohol, the absorption is slowed if your stomach is full. The peak blood alcohol concentration can also be lower if you eat shortly before or while drinking.
Short-Term Effects Consuming Alcohol Has on Blood
Given that alcohol enters the bloodstream within minutes, it makes sense that there are a number of short-term effects on blood and the cardiovascular system.
Dilated Blood Vessels - The warm, flushed feeling that comes with a buzz is the effect of blood vessels dilating in response to alcohol. Interestingly, at the same time your body temperature could drop.
Platelets Don’t Clot as Well - Platelets in the blood are what cause clots to stop bleeding. When there’s alcohol in your bloodstream the platelets don’t function as well and clotting is slowed. This is why you’re more likely to bleed more if you are injured while alcohol is in your system.
Blood Thinning - Alcohol also lowers the number of platelets in your blood. This causes blood thinning, which is another reason you’ll bleed more while drinking.
Drop in Blood Sugar - Drinking alcohol can be particularly problematic for diabetics since it can cause a temporary drop in blood sugar levels. It’s a contributing factor for feeling hungry when you drink and why you may get a headache or the shakes.
The Long-Term Cumulative Effect of Chronic Drinking on Your Blood
As with other health concerns related to alcohol consumption, the short-term effects on blood can turn into long-term problems with chronic drinking. The reason for this is because chronic alcohol use affects the blood formation system
Alcohol’s Negative Effect on Blood-Forming Bone Marrow
Blood cells are generated in your bone marrow. Chronic drinking over a longer period of time can be very detrimental for your blood supply because it suppresses bone marrow. Alcohol is toxic to bone marrow, where red cells, white cells and platelets are made. High chronic alcohol use reduces the number and quality of precursor cells and that leads to fewer mature blood cells and more abnormal blood cells. When this occurs it can lead to several serious blood conditions.
Nutrient Deficiency and Liver Damage Inhibit Healthy Blood Formation
Adding to the problem is nutrient deficiencies and liver damage. Chronic drinking can cause vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, which affects the formation of platelets and red blood cells. The deficiencies are a result of poor diet and malabsorption.
Liver damage from drinking also plays a role. With advanced liver disease the spleen is enlarged and will sequester and destroy platelets and red blood cells, lowering the counts even more.
Blood Disorders That Can Develop From Chronic Alcohol Use
Anemia - When your red blood cell count is low you’ll feel fatigued and short of breath. In addition to lowering the count, chronic alcohol consumption can damage red blood cells and cause them to become enlarged. Fewer red cells that are abnormally large and structurally defective are nutrient‑poor and break down earlier, contributing to chronic anemia.
Thrombocytopenia - Thrombocytopenia is a condition marked by a low platelet count that causes bleeding and bruising. Platelets are affected beyond the hours of drinking if you consume alcohol chronically. It suppresses platelet production in the marrow and shortens platelet lifespan in circulation. Clinical studies show thrombocytopenia can develop in otherwise well‑nourished people if large amounts of alcohol are consumed daily. The problem resolves quickly with abstinence, supporting a primary toxic effect of alcohol.
Leukopenia - Low white blood cell generation can have a negative impact on your ability to fight off infections.
Iron Imbalance - Alcohol can cause iron to become too low or too high in the blood. Part of the problem is alcohol‑related gastritis and other GI lesions that cause occult or overt bleeding. This leads to iron‑deficiency anemia that’s common in people with long‑standing heavy use and liver disease.
Clotting Proteins - Blood clotting can be hindered because clotting proteins are dysfunctional, which can interrupt clot formation and clot breakdown. Disrupted clot formation can lead to excessive bleeding while poor clot breakdown can increase the risk of stroke.
Elevated Blood Pressure - The temporary increase in blood pressure can become a more permanent thing if you are a chronic drinker.
Many of the effects on blood can be improved by changing your drinking habits since the longer you drink the more pronounced they become. Naltrexone is a prescription medication that helps curb alcohol cravings so that you can have better control over drinking, whether that means drinking less, drinking fewer days or quitting completely.
Get a better gauge of your drinking habits and expert recommendations by taking the Alcohol Use Assessment. It’s free, confidential and will get you one step closer to reaching your goals.
