ALCOHOL & THE HUMAN BODY

WHAT EXACTLY IS ALCOHOL?

A beverage made by fermentation or distillation. Has a lower % of alcohol Made from (grain products) barley, corn, rye, or fruit Beer 4 to 6% Wine 12 to 14% Distillation Has a higher % of alcohol Made from a fermented mixture of Fruit products Liquor 40 to 80%

How does alcohol enter the bloodstream? About 20% is absorbed through the walls of the stomach. The rest is absorbed through the walls of the intestine. After absorption, alcohol moves quickly into the bloodstream. The remaining alcohol is excreted through urine, perspiration, or breath.

The Liver Most of the alcohol is changed to harmless waste by the liver. The liver can only process about one drink per hour. People who have more than one drink builds an excess of alcohol in the body. The excess alcohol goes to body tissues intensifying the concentration of alcohol in the blood.

So what is considered a drink? ½ of an ounce of alcohol That is equal to: One can of beer 4 to 5 oz of wine One mixed drink

Alcohol is a TOXIN A toxin is a substance that is poisonous. If too much is consumed, the stomach will reject it. The person will VOMIT. A large amount of alcohol in the body takes a long time to be excreted.

Myths about speeding up alcohol removal… Drinking coffee Taking a shower Getting fresh air Taking aspirin Drinking water

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) The amount of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream. BAC is given as a percentage. The higher the BAC, the greater the effects of alcohol on the body.

Factors That Affect BAC Amount of alcohol consumed Speed it is consumed Body weight % of body fat Gender Feelings Amount of food eaten Other drugs in the blood stream Age Drinking carbonated alcoholic beverages

BAC .02 People feel relaxed Increased social confidence Become talkative Thinking and decision making may be impaired

BAC .05 Reasoning and judgment are impaired Feel warm Feel relaxed May feel confident Slurred speech May say or do things they usually would not say or do Decrease in muscular coordination Reaction time is slowed

BAC .08 -.10 Reasoning, judgment, self-control, muscular coordination, and reaction time are seriously impaired Can no longer make decisions May claim not to be affected Slurred speech Stagger walk Legally drunk in all states

SOUTH CAROLINA A BAC level of .08 is considered legally drunk! If you are under the age of 21 and given a DUI, you will not only be taken to jail, but you will lose your privilege to drive as well.

BAC .12 Confused Disoriented Loss of coordination and balance Nauseous Vomiting

BAC .20 Unpredictable emotions May have rapid mood changes May pass out

BAC .30 Little or no control over mind and body Most people cannot stay awake to reach this BAC level Alcohol poisoning may occur

BAC .40 Unconscious Breathing and heartbeat slow down Death can occur

BAC .50 Coma Death

How Does Alcohol Affect the Body Systems? That’s your job to find out. We will now begin the unit project. Each group will be assigned one of the following systems: Digestive Circulatory Respiratory Urinary Endocrine Reproductive Central Nervous Muscular/Skeletal Immune

What are you researching? The function of the system Short term effects of alcohol to the system Long term effects of alcohol to the system Each group will create a large poster demonstrating the system’s function and the effects of alcohol. Be ready to present the project to the class.