alcohol 🫖 Flashcards
how much ethanol (g) is in 1 unit
8g
how many units a day maximum should one drink
2-3
how many units a week maximum should one drink
14 - men + women
where is alcohol metabolised
liver
(also brain, stomach, pancreas)
if 90% of alcohol is metabolised what happens to the rest of it
5-10% is excreted by the air or urine
what effects does alcohol have on the cardiovascular system
cutaneous vasodilation - causes warm feeling but increases heat loss
what effects does alcohol have on the endocrine system
diuresis - inhibits release of ADH from pituitary
what effects does alcohol have on the gi system
increased salivary + gastric secretion
what effects does alcohol have on the liver
most serious long term consequence
increased fat accumulation - leads to hepatitis + hepatic necrosis + fibrosis
affects lipid metabolism, platelet function, atherosclerosis
what effects does alcohol have on fetal development
FAS
alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)
what is acute alcohol effects on CNS
slurred speech
motor incoordination
increased self confidence
euphoria
effect on mood varies - loud/outgoing or quiet/withdrawn
intellectual / motor performance + sensory discrimination show uniform impairment
what effects does chronic ethanol intoxication have long term
irreversible neurological effects - dementia, peripheral neuropathy
may be due to ethanol, also its metabolites (acetaldehyde and FA esters)
some effects are due to thiamine deficiency - Wernicke’s-Korsokoff syndrome
how do dependence drugs work?
activate the reward pathway - the mesolimbic/mesocortical dopaminergic pathway
what does alcohol reduce the action of
GABAergic interneurons
alcoholics have hypofunction of mesolimbic system
the severity is depended on the amount consumed
what are withdrawal symptoms of ethanol
1 - tremor, nausea, sweating, fever, hallucinations
2 - epilepsy like seizures 3 - delirium tremens - results in confusion, agitation, aggression + severe hallucinations
