Transcript chapter 15 - grayhealth

CHAPTER 15
SECTION 2
PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF
ALCOHOL
• Heart rate and BP increase
• Core body temp decreases
• Kidneys increase urine
production
• Brain activity slows
• Coordination and reflexes are
impaired
Behavioral effects of
alcohol
• Alcohol decreases drinker’s natural
fears
• Can lead to anger expressed through
violence and destruction
• Lowers inhibitions and can lead to
behaviors that you normally would
not be a part of
• Blackouts( can happen to first time
drinkers as well as experienced
drinkers)
Blood alcohol
concentration (BAC)
• The higher a person’s BAC, the
more severe the physical and
behavior effects will be.
• BAC is a more accurate
measure of intoxication than
the number of drinks consumed
Factors affecting BAC
1. RATE OF CONSUMPTION
-- The rate is about one half to one
ounce of alcohol per hour
-- people who have a few drinks in
one hour have a higher BAC than
people who drink the same
amount over several hours.
Factors affecting BAC
2. GENDER
-- at the same rate and amount
of alcohol consumption, males
generally will have a lower BAC
than females.
Factors affecting BAC
3. BODY SIZE
-- in general, smaller people feel
the effects of alcohol more than
larger people
Factors affecting BAC
4. AMOUNT OF FOO IN THE
STOMACH
-- drinking on an empty stomach
increases the rate of alcohol
absorption into the blood
stream. A higher BAC will result
BAC continued….
• After drinking stops, BAC begins
to decrease and a person’s
reflexes and coordination return
to normal.
• Hangovers can also occur.
Symptoms: headache, nausea,
upset stomach, sensitivity to
noise.
LIFE THREATENING
EFFECTS
1. Motor vehicle crashes
-- alcohol is involved in about 40%
of fatal crashes.
-- for underage drinkers, the
effects of alcohol and driving
inexperience can be a
dangerous combination
• A BAC that exceeds 0.08 for drivers
over the age of 21 = a DWI OR DUI.
• Zero tolerance means that there is
NO ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT FOR
MINORS.
• Jail time, taking of license, stiff
fines and being prosecuted can
occur if caught
LIFE THREATENING
EFFECTS
2. OVERDOSE
-- alcohol overdose= alcohol
poisoning.
-- can lead to death
-- binge drinking is a major
problem for underage drinkers.
Binge drinking effects teens more
severely than older drinkers.
LIFE THREATENING
EFFECTS
• Warning signs of alcohol
poisoning
•
•
•
•
Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
Slow or irregular breathing
Vomiting while “sleeping”
Can not be wakened (unconscious)
LIFE THREATENING
EFFECTS
3. INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER
DRUGS
-- sometimes, two drugs can
interact to produce effects that
are greater than either drug
would produce by itself.
-- in extreme cases, this can lead
to death