Crimson Face When Drinking May Indicate Need For Cancer Screening

Jacksonville - Esophageal cancer, a fatal form of throat cancer with a low survival rate, may be linked to the facial flushing some people experience after drinking alcohol. A new article by Japanese and American researchers published their findings in this week’s issue of PLoS Medicine.

The article discusses how people that experience a rapid heart rate, accompanied by nausea and flushing of the face when drinking alcoholic beverages, may be lacking in an enzyme, ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2). ALDH2 is responsible for alcohol metabolism. Globally, there are about 540 million ALDH2-deficient people. Inhabitants of Eastern Asia and their descendants are more prone to this enzyme deficiency, which is genetic, and passed along in families. People with ALDH2 deficiency are at a much greater risk for esophageal cancer.

Researchers say that doctors should screen for ALDH2 by asking patients if they experience facial redness when consuming alcohol. Screening can identify at risk patients, who in turn can be counseled and tested for esophageal cancer.