220 likes | 408 Views
Alcohol. Alcohol. A drug found in certain beverages that depresses the brain and nervous system. Fermentation – process in which yeast, sugar and water are combined to produce alcohol. Distillation – process that uses fermented mixture to obtain alcohol with a high alcohol content.
E N D
Alcohol • A drug found in certain beverages that depresses the brain and nervous system. • Fermentation – process in which yeast, sugar and water are combined to produce alcohol. • Distillation – process that uses fermented mixture to obtain alcohol with a high alcohol content.
Blood Alcohol Concentration • The amount of alcohol in a persons blood. • The higher the BAC – the greater effects on the body. • The alcohol in the drink goes to all body tissues before being excreted.
Alcohol is a toxin. A toxin is a poison. • If a large amount is swallowed, the stomach will reject it. • There is no way to speed alcohol through the body!
Factors that effect BAC • 1) Amount of alcohol consumed. • 2) Speed at which alcohol is consumed. • 3) Body size. • 4)Percentage of body fat. • 5) Gender. Dehydrogenase – enzyme that burns off alcohol. There is less in women
6) Feelings. • 7) Amount of food eaten. • 8) Presence of other drugs in bloodstream. • 9) Age. • 10) Drinking carbonated beverages.
Effects of Alcohol at increasing levels of BAC • BAC of .02 (about 1 drink per hour) relaxed feeling. Increase social in confidence. Thinking decision making may be impaired. • BAC of .05 (2 – 2/12 drinks) reasoning and judgment impaired. Others can tell you have been drinking. Speech slurred. Decrease in muscular coordination and reaction time slowed.
BAC .08 (3 – 4 drinks per hour) Balance, speech, vision, hearing slightly impaired. Legally intoxicated. • BAC .10 (5 drinks)Reasoning, judgment, self-control, muscular coordination and reaction time – all seriously impaired. • BAC .12 (6) People become confused and disoriented. Vision blurred. Nausea and vomiting.
BAC .20 (10 drinks) Emotions unpredictable. May pass out. • BAC .30 (15 drinks) People have little to no control over their mind and body. Most will pass out. • BAC .40 (20 drinks) likely to be unconscious. May die. • BAC .50 ( 25 drinks) Coma, Death.
Effects on the brain • 1) Cerebral Cortex – judgment and inhibitions. • 2) Cerebellum - coordination • 3) Hippocampus – learning, memory (developed by age 25) • 4) Hypothalamus – hunger, heart rate • 5) Medulla Oblongata – coma breathing, body temperature
Effects on the Body • Alcohol is a leading cause of death! People who drink regularly require more health care than others. • It harms most of the body systems.
Nervous System • Destroys nerve cells – causing black outs and seizures. • It can lead to premature dementia. • If someone stops drinking the dementia can be reversed.
Digestive System • Alcohol increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach - because of direct exposure to the alcohol. • Can cause ulcers ( open sore on the membrane). These are often inflamed and painful.
Increase risk of developing liver disease. Alcohol (a toxin) is oxidized in the liver. • 3 stage process: • Liver enlarged but person doesn’t feel sick. • Alcoholic Hepatitis – liver swells, yellow skin and eyes, pain, fever. • Cirrhosis- can cause liver failure and death. • Pancreatitis – inflammation of pancreases. Can lead to diabetes.
Immune System/ Urinary System • Drinking alcohol depresses the function of the immune system. • Increased risk for illness, infections, and cancers. Alcohol increases urine flow – can cause kidney failure (long term)
Cardiovascular/Skeletal System • Heart – increased risk for high blood pressure and stroke. Heavy drinking increases risk of cardiomyopathy – heart muscle weakens and enlarges. • Skeletal – body loses calcium. Long term use –osteoporosis (brittle bones)
Reproductive system • Drinking alcohol can have significant effects during puberty. • Females: • Delay first menstrual cycle, cause irregular periods, impair breast development. • Males: • Can decrease the size of testes and development of muscle mass. Delays facial hair and voice deepening.
Drinking during pregnancy • The alcohol a mother drinks will go to the baby. • It could cause: • miscarriage or a still birth. • A low birth weight baby • At greater risk for respiratory problems, infections, and long term developmental issues.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • Severe birth defects. Small eye openings, small head, stunted physical and mental growth. • Leading cause of birth defects
Thinking and Decision Making • Wrong decisions • False sense of Self Confidence • Impaired judgment • Feelings of invincibility • Giving in to negative peer pressure • Intensified sexual feelings/impaired reasoning
Impaired reaction time and coordination • Agreessive behaviors/ fights • Intensified emotions • Hangovers • Blackpouts • Violence
Domestic violence • Rape • Suicide • Law-breaking • Violating school rules • Drinking while driving