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What Effect Does Alcohol Have On Our Bodies?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Apr 2015
Question: I recently submitted a question with regard to alcohol and since I haven't been drinking, I need to know what else could cause a positive result. I have not yet received an answer. I am very concerned and need to know how to proceed. Thank you
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
totally depends on the test

Detailed Answer:
there are many tests for alcohol. they all have fallse positives.
GGT and liver enzymes ..the problem is that they are not correctly evaluated unless you have specific traiining. Liver enzymes are elevated by any liver irritation. This includes fat deposits in the liver if you are fat. Or increased pressure on the liver if you have heart failure. The pattern of elevation is totally different than if you have alcohol irritation. But you have to be able to interpret a battery of liver tests toggether.

Alcohol itself. can be present if someone takes alcohol. This includes alcohol in cold medciine. and also hand sanitizer under unusual conditions. And... if someone has severe diabetes.

Alcohol breakdown products. Unfortunately these are also made by FERMENTING MICROORGANISMS. and if the urine sits outside of a refrigerator for quite a while it WILL have these biproducts. The last person who asked this question had the highest recorded level of this breakdown product in the medical literature. He wasn't dead from alcoholic poisoning... implying the result was a mistake due to bacteria or yeast growth.

there are others.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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What Effect Does Alcohol Have On Our Bodies?

Brief Answer: totally depends on the test Detailed Answer: there are many tests for alcohol. they all have fallse positives. GGT and liver enzymes ..the problem is that they are not correctly evaluated unless you have specific traiining. Liver enzymes are elevated by any liver irritation. This includes fat deposits in the liver if you are fat. Or increased pressure on the liver if you have heart failure. The pattern of elevation is totally different than if you have alcohol irritation. But you have to be able to interpret a battery of liver tests toggether. Alcohol itself. can be present if someone takes alcohol. This includes alcohol in cold medciine. and also hand sanitizer under unusual conditions. And... if someone has severe diabetes. Alcohol breakdown products. Unfortunately these are also made by FERMENTING MICROORGANISMS. and if the urine sits outside of a refrigerator for quite a while it WILL have these biproducts. The last person who asked this question had the highest recorded level of this breakdown product in the medical literature. He wasn't dead from alcoholic poisoning... implying the result was a mistake due to bacteria or yeast growth. there are others.