Chapter 19 Alcohol
Dec 26, 2015
Alcohol….what is it?
Alcohol is a drug that acts as a powerful depressant (depressants slow down your bodies nervous system).
Alcohol as a drug
Legal vs. Illegal drug – which is it? Drug abuse - what is it? Ethanol, what drinks is it found in? Proof – what does it mean?
Alcohols Effects on the Body
Once alcohol reaches the blood, it is circulated throughout the body and affects every part, including the brain and the rest of the nervous system
Short Term Physical Effects
Bloodstream – Causes blood vessels to widen, more blood goes to skin surface. This allows body heat to escape, dropping body temp.
Brain – Once reaches brain, slows down activities. Drinking to much, the brain looses too many activities and blackouts occur
Liver – Chemically breaks down alcohol into energy and waste (CO2 and H20
Kidneys – Alcohol prevents release of chemicals that regulate urine function (ADH Anti-Diuretic Hormone)
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
This measures the number of milligrams of ethanol per 100 milliliters of blood.
a BAC of 0.1 means that 1/10 of 1 percent of the fluid in the blood is ethanol.
Factors that affect a person’s BAC
Gender Age, weight, and height Concentration of alcohol
in beverages consumed Volume of alcohol
consumed Rate of consumption
Life-Threatening Short-Term Effects
Motor-Vehicle Crashes Synergism (Drug interaction that produce
effects greater than alcohol alone) Overdose
Long-Term Health Risks
Tolerance Dependence Brain Damage Digestive Problems Liver Damage Heart Disease Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Alcoholism
An addiction to alcohol. Psychologically, alcoholics consider drinking
a regular, essential part of coping with daily life.
Physically, an alcoholic’s body requires alcohol to function and feel normal.
Stages of Alcoholism
Early Stage Social drinkers, people who drink in small
amounts of alcohol with meals and on special occasions, may try to relieve stress. Gradually, person drinks more excessively. Known as problem drinking
“The urge to keep drinking, is the first sign of an addiction”
Middle Stage Persons dependence
on alcohol become absolute. Generally, person cannot stop after one drink. Refusal to acknowledge drinking problem, thus outwardly appear normal
Stages of Alcoholism - continued
Late Stage Person deteriorate mentally, emotionally, and
physically. Their lives begin to revolve around drinking. Reverse tolerance occurs.
Treatment of Alcoholism
Detoxification – removing alcohol from a persons body. Withdrawal symptoms occur.
Rehabilitation – Process of learning to cope with the stress of everyday living without alcohol.
Support Groups – Community, religious, and health organization the offer support for alcoholics
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Twenty percent of the alcohol is absorbed from your stomach into your bloodstream; the rest is absorbed from your intestines.
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The alcohol travels through your blood to your liver, where it’s broken down (metabolized). During this process, waste products called acetate and acetaldehyde are created.
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Acetate and acetaldehyde signal your body to stop burning fat. At the same time, your body starts MAKING fat from another product of alcohol, acetyl CoA