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).