Blushing and the increased risk for cancer

Many people, particularly from East Asian ancestry, blush when they drink alcohol. The blushing is caused by an inherited deficiency in an enzyme called ALDH2, according to the New York Times, and may increase the risk for throat cancer according to researchers.

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It’s not just heavy drinkers that are at risk because even half a bottle of beer can cause the reaction. The flushing response usually comes with nausea and a rapid heart beat and people who have two beers a day have six to 10 times higher risk for esophageal cancer than someone without the enzyme deficiency.

To read the complete article go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/health/research/21alcohol.html?_r=1&ref=health

To learn more about ALDH2 deficiency go to:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=507646