Breaking the seal...

My roommate asked me a question over a tower (yes.. tower) of blue moon and she wondered why alcohol makes you pee and what does breaking the seal mean.. So.. let's do this.

We have a few variables here.. the affect of alcohol on the body, the signal to the brain telling you that you have to pee (or void is what science nerds would say) and the formation of urine from the kidneys. Which is to blame? The answer is they aren't sure.

One theory is that alcohol inhibits the release of an important antidiruetic (limits urine formation) vasopressin. The kidney's job is to filter toxins from the blood, excrete it through urine and to maintain the the body's water and solutes (ions like chloride, sodium and potassium- these ratios are a VERY big deal.. directs all neurological functions and metabolism.. more or less, but more on that later). The kidneys filter at least 200 quarts a day of blood when healthy (that's 800 cups). Now, when the body needs to conserve water (not getting enough water- dehydrated) the body releases a hormone (can you guess?) vasopressin (as mentioned previously) or so called ADH (antidireutic hormone). Now, how does alcohol affect this? The physiology is not defined, but it has been studied that when you consume alcohol your water to salt ratios are not the same.. changing your urination patterns. The body is unable to filter the same way and more liquid leaves the body as waste (which can actually be very damaging). Also, the body's ability to adjust your urine (with the release of ADH) is gone and so you are just letting the kidneys go nuts with the filtering. Thus, when you drink.. you are going to be peeing... often.

Another theory involved the muscles involved when you relieve yourself. One person suggested that alcohol reduces inhibitions psychologically, which is necessary to keep your muscles contracted. In a related theory, one person suggests that you need more alcohol to stay hydrated then water so your bladder fills up stretching the muscles in the bladder that sends a message to the brain saying 'Hey, I have to pee.'

Now.. breaking the seal is thought to be the dilation of your internal sphincter (asssphinctersays what?) which is part of a muscle group designed to hold in pee (involuntarily controlled- autonomic nervous system) and once it is open it is harder to close it especially if something like alcohol is causing an increased rate of urine formation.

Well.. that is all I have. I didn't find any real studies confirming any of this information, but they are educated guesses from various sources on the web. Let me know if you want some of the articles. Until next time, (as Sara's dad always says) You don't buy alcohol.. you rent it.