Alcohol Flashcards
How many units in a bottle of wine?
9.2 units.
How many units in a glass of whisky?
1 unit.
How many units in a pint of beer?
1 unit.
How many units in 1L of spirits?
37 units.
How many units of alcohol is recommended every week?
14 units.
State 2 features of alcohol dependence.
1) Liver problems (liver inflammation) - fatty liver progress to cirrhosis.
2) CNS - psychiatric problems, anxiety, Korsakoff’s psychosis +/- Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
3) Gut - obesity, gastric erosions, peptic ulcers, varices, pancreatitis, oesophageal ruptures.
4) Blood - anaemia, GI bleeding, folate deficiency.
5) Heart - arrhythmia, hypertension.
6) Reproduction - men (impotence, retarded ejaculation, premature ejaculation), women (vaginal dryness, inability to orgasm may result).
State 2 features of chronic alcohol use.
1) GIT - causes fat accumulation (in liver), inflammation leads to alcohol hepatitis, cirrhosis (fibrous scar tissue develops), can inflame pancreas
2) CVD - small amounts can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, large amounts (increased BP, heart attack)
3) Neoplasia - increased chance of throat, larynx, oesophagus, upper stomach cancer
State 2 complications of alcohol in pregnancy.
1) Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - babies have smaller heads, heart defects 2) Alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) - babies appear normal but have learning/behavioural problems.
What does an alcohol assessment score of over 20 indicate?
Increased risk of delirium tremens.
State the cause of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.
Hypothalamic, thalamic damage and cerebral atrophy due to thiamine damage.
State a symptom of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.
Confusion. Ataxia. Tachycardia. Hypothermia. Opthalmoplegia (paralysis of muscles of eye).
State a treatment of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.
Pabrinex (replace thiamine).
State a cause of Korsakoff’s Syndrome.
Permanent damage to the areas of the brain involved with memory due to thiamine damage.
State a symptom of Korsakoff’s Syndrome.
Loss of memory of recent events. Disorientation/confusion. Confabulation (invent new memories).
Define hepatic encephalopathy.
Liver fails therefore nitrogenous waste (ammonia) builds up in circulation (cerebral oedema).
State the a stage of hepatic encephalopathy.
Stage 1 - altered mood, sleep disturbance
Stage 2 - increased drowsiness, confusion
Stage 3 - restless, incoherent, hyperreflexia
Stage 4 - coma
Define the alcoholic hepatitis.
Inflammation of the liver following excessive alcohol.
State a clinical features of alcoholic hepatitis.
Loss of appetite. Nausea/vomiting. Hepatomegaly. Fatigue/weakness. Fever.
State a sign of alcoholic hepatitis.
Fluid accumulation in abdomen (ascites). Jaundice (yellow of the skin and eyes).
State 2 factors which can predispose alcohol immunosuppressive (increases chance of infection).
Pneumonia. Spontaneous bacteremia. Meningitis. Endocarditis. UTI.
State one effect of alcohol ketoacidosis.
1) Stimulates ketogenesis - elevated anion group metabolic acidosis
2) Stimulates hypoglycaemia (reduces gluconeogenesis, reduces insulin secretion)
3) Stimulates hypomagnesaemia (reduces confusion, seizures)
State a symptom of alcohol ketoacidosis.
Starvation. Vomiting. Abdominal pain. Seizures. Confusion. Tremours. Dehydration.
State medication used for the management of alcohol conditions.
Pabrinex (thiamine deficiency).
State a drug used in alcohol withdrawal.
Benzodiazepine - diazepam, chloridiazepoxide.
State the 2 main drugs used in alcohol dependence.
1) Acamprosate - used to prevent relapse to reduce craving.
2) Disulfiram - produces acute sensitivity to alcohol resulting in unpleasant reactions (nausea, chest pain, vomiting, dizziness)
Where is 70-80% of alcohol absorbed?
In the small intestine.
State a factor affecting alcohol absorption.
Concentration of drink. Food in stomach. Pylorospasm (spasm of valves).
