One Japanese study has found that: you're at higher esophageal cancer risk if you blush easily with drinking. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat and stomach. Cancer can form in the tissues that line the esophagus. The study found that about 1/3 of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese are "aldehyde dehydrogenase" deficient which make them blush easily with drinking and people who blush easily have 6-10 times higher risk of getting esophageal cancer than individuals who don't blush easily.

Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer [6] is one of the common malignancies, with an increasing incidence and a high mortality in both developed and developing countries. Esophageal cancer exists in two main forms with distinct etiological and pathological characteristics, namely esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and adenocarcinoma. Whereas adenocarcinoma is more prevalent in the USA and some other Western countries, ESCC is the predominant type in the other parts of the world, especially in Asia, accounting for >90% of esophageal cancer worldwide.

Health Advices for People with AFR

Most of esophageal cancer patients are over 60 and more common in men. If you're at higher risk, heed the following advice:

1. Avoid alcohol if you are predisposed to alcohol flush reaction (AFR)

2. Be a vegetarian

   • Watch the bottom video for details.

3. Don't eat foods or drink beverages that are burning hot

   • In 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified very hot beverages, which are any beverage 65° C or 149° F or hotter, as probable carcinogens.

   • Always wait until your foods cool down a little bit.[5,18]

4. Stop smoking [4, 9]

   • Cigarette smoking and heavy drinking are the two major causes of esophageal cancer, especially when combined.

5. Treat your Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) immediately

   • The acid burns the tissue and makes it rough and scarred, which is where the cancer begins to grow[12]

   • Place a tall book (of the same thickness) underneath both posts of your bed frame on the side of your headboard.  This will keep your bed at a slight angle so that the acid will go down instead of up into your esophagus.

   • Avoid red sauces like tomato sauce, garlic, and things with caffeine like peppermint tea or chocolate.

   • Do not wear control top underwear, because it is very tight and squeezes the acid up into your esophagus.

6. Avoid swallowing lye or other caustic substances

7. Avoid dietary substance such as nitrosamine

   • High temperatures, as in frying, can enhance the formation of nitrosamines.

8. Don't overweight

   • Obesity increases the risk of adenocarcinoma fourfold.

   • When you gain weight, the stomach gets pulled down from the extra weight and the kink that is usually between the esophagus and the stomach gets pulled out.  This results in that connective area getting very thick, which can lead to Esophageal Cancer[12].

9. Treat your Helicobacter pylori immediately [9]

10. Reducing radiation exposure to the chest [9]

    • Avoid red sauces like tomato sauce, garlic, and things with caffeine like peppermint tea or chocolate.

11. Take a vitamin E supplement

    • High blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, may lower the risk of developing cancer of the stomach and esophagus, according to new research from China.

12. NSAIDs

    • Risk appears to be less in patients using aspirin or related drugs (NSAIDs).[2, 6] 

    • However, be warned that aspirin is a blood thinner and overdosing can cause excessive bleeding (see [10] for more side effects). 

13. Consuming more cruciferous foods

    • According to the National Cancer Institute, diets high in cruciferous (cabbage, broccoli[11], cauliflower) and green and yellow vegetables and fruits are associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer[2] 

14. Moderate coffee consumption

    • Moderate coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk too.[2, 7] 

15. Zinc

    • Zinc supplements can significantly inhibit the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells, according to a study co-authored by a University of Texas at Arlington researcher.[21]

    • Zinc can protect us against esophageal cancer.[3, 8]

References

1. 日本研究发现：喝酒易脸红易罹食道癌

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophageal_cancer

3. "Younger you" by Eric R. Braverman, M.D.

4. Factors associated with carcinoma of the oesophagus at Mulago Hospital, Uganda.

5. An Epidemiological Study of Precursor Lesions of Esophageal Cancer among Young Persons in a High-Risk Population in Huixian, China

6. Expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and effects of bile acids and NSAIDs

7. Coffee and tea intake and risk of oral, pharyngeal and esophageal cancer

8. Zinc Deficiency Linked to Increased Risk of Less-Common Form of Esophageal Cancer

9. American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness

10. Pros and Cons of Aspirin (Travel and Health)

11. Boosting Broccoli's Anti-Cancer Effect

12. Dr Oz: What Causes Heartburn?

13. ERCC1 Levels Strongly Associated with Survival in Esophageal Cancer

14. Digestive System

15. Red face after drinking suggests high blood pressure

16. Thomasson HR, Edenberg HJ, Crabb DW; et al. (April 1991). "Alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase genotypes and alcoholism in Chinese men". American Journal of Human Genetics 48 (4): 677–81.

17. The top 10 deadliest cancers -- and why there is no cure

    • 1. Lung Cancer 2. Colon Cancer 3. Breast Cancer 4. Pancreatic Cancer 5. Prostate 6. Leukemia 7. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 8. Liver Cancer 9. Ovarian Cancer 10. Esophageal cancer

18. Spitting up in babies: What's normal, what's not

    • Normally, a muscle (lower esophageal sphincter) between the esophagus and the stomach keeps stomach contents where they belong. Until this muscle has time to mature, spitting up might be an issue — especially if your baby is relatively full.

19. Alcohol's cancer risks outweigh any health benefits, study shows

20. This is your brain on alcohol

    • Even moderate drinking is associated w/ shrinkage in areas of the brain involved in cognition and learning

21. Zinc can halt the growth of cancer cells, study says

22. Can strawberries reverse the progression of esophageal cancer? Find out here.

23. Which Food Fights Cancer Better? (Travel to Health)

24. Can Drinking Very Hot Tea Raise Your Risk Of Esophageal Cancer?

25. 6 Surprising Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health — Not Just Your Liver

26. If you think that glass of wine is good for you, it's time to reconsider