Feel like you “can’t handle your alcohol” — or do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail?

These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic.

This gene mutation hampers the body’s ability to produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body, health experts said.

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Testing for alcohol intolerance

An at-home DNA test could detect whether you have the mutation causing this alcohol adversity.

The test looks for mutations in the ADH and ALDH genes, which affect metabolism, according to several laboratory company websites that produce the testing kits.

The testing kit, which costs approximately $150, involves swabbing the cheek and mailing the sample back to a laboratory company to see if the gene mutations are present.

Results typically come in less than two weeks, according to several of the testing companies’ websites.

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“A simple mouth swab is all we need to find out whether you have inherited DNA changes that affect your ability to metabolize alcohol and may increase your risk of serious health complications,” Genex Diagnostics, a Seattle-based company that specializes in DNA testing, stated on its website.

The gene mutation hampers the body’s ability to produce an enzyme that helps break down alcohol and eliminate its byproducts from the body, health experts said. (iStock)

Dr. Frances Lee — a hepatologist (liver doctor) who specializes in alcohol-related liver disease at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York City — is not affiliated with any of the lab companies, but commented to Fox News Digital about these testing kits.

“The genes in question are ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH2,” Lee told Fox News Digital.

The ADH1B and ADH1C genes help break down ethanol (alcohol) into the chemical acetaldehyde, he said. The ALDH2 gene then helps to oxidize acetaldehyde into acetic acid.

“Mutation or not, I urge anyone wanting to consume alcohol to consider both the quality and quantity of their drinks.”

“This is an important step in the metabolism of ethanol, because acetaldehyde is toxic and inflammatory to cells,” Lee said. 

“Variations in the ALDH2 gene can cause acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to work at a slower rate, leading to a buildup of acetaldehyde levels in the body.”

The testing kit, which costs approximately $150, involves swabbing the cheek and mailing the sample back to a laboratory company to see if the gene mutations are present. (iStock)

Acetaldehyde is also linked to some of the unpleasant symptoms of alcohol intoxication, such as headaches, flushing, hives and nausea, according to Lee.

This type of genetic test may provide an individual with at least a partial explanation for their alcohol intolerance, Lee told Fox News Digital. 

Potential drawbacks of genetic testing

All genetic tests should be approached with caution, as they can sometimes lead to more questions than answers, according to Lee.

Other health experts told Fox News Digital that there are pros and cons to this type of genetic testing.

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“I can envision a case where this test may encourage one to drink less if a previously unknown heterozygosity in ALDH2 is revealed,” Lee of Mount Sinai told Fox News Digital. “If that occurs, I would consider this test to have a beneficial outcome.” 

There is the possibility, however, that the test may not reveal any genetic variation, which could be interpreted as a license to drink even more. 

All genetic tests should be approached with caution, as they can sometimes lead to more questions than answers, one expert cautioned. (iStock)

“This would be an example of a harmful outcome,” Lee said.

While the DNA test can confirm that someone has the defective gene that makes them more susceptible to the effects of alcohol at lower doses, “it should not be used to encourage others that they can drink more [alcohol] without repercussions,” Dr. Fred Davis, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

Tips for responsible drinking

For those who want to enjoy an occasional cocktail, Makenzi Mollitor, a registered dietitian and sports dietitian at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, has some advice. 

“If you’re someone who feels like their body is screaming at them even after one drink, then abstaining from alcohol may be best for you,” she said to Fox News Digital. “However, alcohol-DNA mutation or not, I urge anyone wanting to consume alcohol to consider both the quality and quantity of their drinks.”

Spirits that have a higher alcohol concentration, such as vodka, whiskey and rum, could exacerbate symptoms, a dietitian cautioned. (iStock)

Mollitor recommends choosing a quality alcohol, such as orange wine or other naturally fermented, low-sugar wines high in beneficial polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties.

Spirits that have a higher alcohol concentration, such as vodka, whiskey and rum, could exacerbate symptoms, the dietitian cautioned.

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“No matter what it is you choose to consume, try capping your alcohol intake to the recommended one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men,” Mollitor advised.

Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, Lee told Fox News Digital. 

An expert advises capping your alcohol intake to the recommended one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Efforts to reduce risk and prevent alcohol-related morbidity and mortality are “tantamount to improving population and individual health,” according to the liver transplant specialist.

“For people who are concerned about developing liver disease as a consequence of drinking alcohol, talking to a liver specialist should be the first step,” Lee advised. 

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Fox News Digital reached out to several laboratory companies that sell the DNA test kits for further comment but has not heard back.

A heated blanket or heating pad might keep you warm in the cold winter months, but experts are warning of a potential danger.

Too much close exposure to high heat can cause noticeable skin damage, or a condition called toasted skin syndrome.

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Several heated blanket users have shared their own experiences with the syndrome on social media, displaying discolored patterns on their skin.

One TikTok user, Faith Harrell (@faith_harrell), posted a video of toasted skin syndrome discoloration on her stomach from using a heating pad that plugs in.

“Your friendly reminder to not excessively use your heating pad on your stomach at the highest setting,” she wrote in the video, which currently has seven million views.

Harrell told Fox News Digital that the burn marks are “not painful” but do get “super itchy.”

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Although the mottled skin has not cleared, Harrell said she still sleeps with the heating pad over her clothes against her stomach.

“It hasn’t gone away, but it can go away if you stop using heat on the area of the mottled skin,” Harrell told Fox News Digital. (TikTok @faith_harrell)

Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., said that toasted skin syndrome, officially known as erythema ab igne (EAI), is a “pattern of discoloration that occurs in areas of skin after prolonged exposure to heat sources.”

The main cause is long-term exposure to heat “below the threshold for thermal burn,” he told Fox News Digital.

“While it might seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can lead to permanent damage, and in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer.”

Skin changes can occur after prolonged exposure to any heat source, Camp noted, including laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets, space heaters and heating pads used to treat lower back pain.

“Toasted skin syndrome is unlikely to occur after a single exposure,” he said. “It occurs after repeated exposure to the same heat source.”

Other hot items like laptops, heated car seats, hot water bottles, electric blankets and space heaters can also cause toasted skin syndrome, experts warned. (iStock)

Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, added that the condition is marked by “a mottled, reddish-brown discoloration that can become more prominent and permanent over time.”

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“This occurs when the skin is exposed to heat high enough to dilate blood vessels, but not to the point of causing burns,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“While it might seem harmless at first, repeated exposure can lead to permanent damage, and in some cases, increase the risk of skin cancer due to the cellular changes caused by the heat.”

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Camp agreed that the long-term risk of toasted skin syndrome is the “development of malignancies,” like certain cancers, in affected areas due to damaged skin cells.

Long-term exposure to heated items and toasted skin syndrome can lead to an increased risk of cancer, experts warned. (iStock)

To prevent toasted skin syndrome, Bowles recommends avoiding direct and prolonged contact with heat sources and using a barrier, like cloth, between skin and heat.

“If you notice any unusual skin discoloration or texture changes, it’s a good idea to consult a dermatologist,” she said. “Catching potential issues early can help prevent long-term skin damage.”

Camp also suggests avoiding the condition through “the judicious use of electronics that generate heat, like laptops and heated car seats.”

Fox News Digital reached out to several manufacturers for comment.

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