Transcript Alcohol - Cloudfront.net

Alcohol
The Self Inflicted Disease
Alcohol Facts…
Alcohol is probably the world's oldest
known drug.
• For thousands of years fermented grain, fruit
juice and honey have been used to make
alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol)
• Because of the big business alcohol brings in
today's society the consumption and abuse of
alcohol has become very socially accepted, but
it is also a major public health problem.
Alcohol affects people depending
on…
• age
• gender
• physical condition
• amount of food eaten
• other drugs or medicines taken
Alcohol & the central nervous
system
Many different sites of the central nervous system
are depressed with alcohol use.
• the reticular formation
• spinal cord cerebellum
• cerebral cortex
• neurotransmitter systems
Alcohol molecule is very small and is soluble in
"lipid" and water solutions. Because of this, very
easily alcohol gets into the bloodstream and it
also crosses the blood brain barrier.
Alcohol travels the entire body…
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Mouth: alcohol enters the body.
Stomach: some alcohol gets into the bloodstream in
the stomach, but most goes on to the small intestine.
Small Intestine: alcohol enters the bloodstream
through the walls of the small intestine.
Heart: pumps alcohol throughout the body.
Brain: alcohol reaches the brain.
Liver: alcohol is oxidized by the liver at a rate of about
0.5 oz per hour.
Alcohol is converted into water, carbon dioxide and
energy.
Low dose alcohol use causes…
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a relaxing effect
reduces tension
lowers inhibitions
impairs concentration
slows reflexes
impairs reaction time
reduces coordination
Medium doses can…
• slur speech
• cause drowsiness
• alter emotions
Large doses produce…
• vomiting
• breathing difficulties
• unconsciousness
• coma
Neurochemical effects of alcohol
are...
• Increased turnover of norepinephrine and
dopamine
• Decreased transmission in acetylcholine
systems
• Increased transmission in GABA systems
• Increased production of beta-endorphin in
the hypothalamus
Long Term (chronic) drinking can…
• lead to dependence
• addiction to alcohol
• additional neurological problems
• Withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are…
• shaking (tremors)
• sleep problems
• Nausea
• hallucinations
• seizures
Chronic alcohol use can:
• Damage the frontal lobes of the brain
• Cause reduction in brain size
• Lead to alcoholism (addiction to alcohol)
• Cause a vitamin deficiency
Brain diseases caused by
alcohol…
"Wernicke's Encephalopathy“…
Syndrome when alcoholics are unable to
absorb vitamin B-1 (thiamine)-- vitamin
deficiency into the digestive system,
causing…
• Impaired memory
• Confusion
• Lack of coordination
And…
"Korsakoff's Syndrome.“…
when alcoholics suffer further deficiencies
of thiamine leading to…
• Amnesia
• Apathy
• Disorientation
Predisposition…
• Because of family history of alcohol use you
might be more probable to become alcoholic is
you start drinking.
• Some research shows that if you have the
DRD2A1 Allele gene and you use alcohol you
will have a higher probability of becoming
alcoholic…the problem is none of know if we
have it…everyone who chooses to drink for the
time is at risk of becoming alcoholic.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
• During pregnancy, a fetus-baby is fed through
the placenta. Alcohol easily passes through the
placenta and so every drink of alcohol a mother
takes causes the developing fetus to “drink”
alcohol. This causes abnormal brain
development – ITS TRUE!!! Exposing un born
babies to alcohol impairs proper development
the main connection between the right and left
sides of the brain, reducing the size of important
areas of the brain and ultimately causing
permanent brain damage.
FAS babies have…
• smaller heads and brains
• some degree of mental retardation
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• poor coordination
• hyperactivity
• abnormal facial features
Not all alcohol use is bad…
Some people are able to drink alcohol without experiencing any
negative consequences...
• Age appropriate drinking—in the United States adults 21 years or
older are allowed to drink and they won’t always become addicted
• Occasional drinking—socially or at celebrations, religiously or even
with a meal every now and then
• Responsible drinking—making transportation arrangements, when
one intends on drinking—NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE
21 years old=
Occasionally=
NEVER=
So what’s the point?
• It’s simple…making an educated choice
about what you will and will not put into
your body…that’s it…it’s up to you, are
you willing to take the chance…after all
your brain might really like it…but you
could loose everything…eventually.