The Health Risks of Alcohol Use Health and Physical Education Fall 2017

Alcohol Alcohol advertisements show images of happy, healthy-looking young adults to sell a drug that is addictive, physically damaging, and often an entry into other drug use. Alcohol, or more accurately ethanol – the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages – is a powerful and addictive drug. Ethanol can be produced synthetically or naturally by fermenting fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Alcohol (Continued) Fermentation is the chemical action of yeast on sugars. Water, flavoring, and minerals are mixed with ethanol to produce beverages such as beer, wine, and flavored malt-liquor drinks. Alcohol can also be processed to create spirits, or liquors, such as whiskey and vodka.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Alcohol is a depressant, a drug that slows down the central nervous system. Using alcohol slows reaction time, impairs vision, and diminishes judgment. If a person drinks too much alcohol, they will become intoxicated. Intoxication is the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance, and the persons physical and mental control is significantly reduced. Alcohol stays in a person’s system until the liver can metabolize it, or break it down.

Factors That Influence Alcohol’s Effects Body Size: A smaller person feels the effects of the same amount of alcohol faster than a larger person does. Gender: Alcohol generally moves into the bloodstream faster in females than in males. Food: Food in the stomach slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream. Rate of Intake: If a person drinks alcohol faster than the lover can metabolize it, they will become intoxicated. Amount: As the amount of alcohol consumed increases, the level of alcohol in the bloodstream rises. Medicine: Alcohol can interfere with the effects of medicines, and medicines can heighten the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol and Drug Interactions Alcohol can change the effect of medicines – these interactions can lead to illness or death. Medicines that may cause reactions have warning labels that advise people not to use alcohol. Note these typical alcohol-drug reactions: The body may absorb the drug or alcohol more slowly, increasing the length of time that alcohol or drug is in the body. Alcohol use can decrease the effectiveness of some medicines, and increase the effectiveness of others. Enzymes in the body can change some medications into chemicals that can damage the liver or other organs.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Alcohol use can have long-term effects on the users physical, mental/emotional, and social health. The effects of alcohol may also be felt by the people who are close to someone who uses alcohol. Excessive alcohol use over a long period of time can damage many of the body’s systems, such as: Damage to brain cells Reduction of brain size Increase in blood pressure (which can lead to heart attack or stroke) Buildup fat cells in the liver (which can lead to cell death) Damage to the digestive lining of the stomach (which can cause ulcers or cancer)

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol (Continued) The Brain The Cardiovascular System The Digestive System The Pancreas Addiction: Physical dependence can lead to the inability to control the frequency and amount of drinking. Heart Damage: The heart muscles become weakened and the heart becomes enlarged, reducing its ability to pump blood. This damage can lead to heart failure. Reduced blood flow can damage other body systems. Irritation of the Digestive Lining: Can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer of the stomach and esophagus. Swelling of the Pancreas Lining: The passageway from the pancreas to the small intestine can become blocked, and chemicals needed for digestion cannot pass to the small intestine. The chemicals begin to destroy the pancreas itself, causing pain and vomiting. Loss of Brain Function: Loss of verbal skills, spatial skills, and memory. Fatty Liver: Fat builds up in the liver and cannot be broken down, leading to cell death. Brain Damage: Excessive use of alcohol can lead to brain damage and a reduction of brain size. The learning ability and memory can be impaired. High Blood Pressure: Damages the heart and can cause heart attack and stroke. Alcoholic Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. Cirrhosis of the Liver: Liver tissue is replaced with useless scar tissue. This can lead to liver failure and death.

Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning Binge Drinking: drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting. Binge drinking can severely impair the drinker’s body systems. It can lead to alcohol poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose.

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning A person who drinks too much alcohol may pass out. Even though the person is unconscious, the alcohol continues to enter the bloodstream. So even if someone is unconscious, their blood alcohol level will still rise. This increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning: Mental confusion and stupor Coma and inability to be roused Vomiting and seizures Slow respirations (10 seconds between breaths OR fewer than 8 breaths per minute) Irregular heartbeat Hypothermia or low body temperature