Alcohol Flashcards
What is Alcohol
a natural by-product of fermentation
Sugar + Water + Air
Microbial growth (yeast) consumes sugar
Metabolic by product- ethanol + CO2
When and from where were distillation processes brought to Europe?
In the middle ages from the Middle East.
Distillation procedures were brought to Europe in the middle ages from the middle east
What is the oldest known alcoholic beverage
Wine ( e.g. ancient egypt and rome)
Distillation procedures brought to Europe in the middle ages frm the middle east led to …..
Led to the making of spiriits, such as brandy, whiskey (WATER OF LIFE) etc.
Where is alcohol metabolized?
Metabolized in the stomach and the liver…
Book says 80% in the liver… Slides say more than 95% in the liver
Major Enzymes involved in Alcohol Metabolizing
alcohol dehydrogenasse ( converts alcohol into acetaldehyde) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase further breaksdown
What are the variations in enzymes - females vs males and ethnic wise
Females have 60% less alcohol dehydrogenase- higher risk of liver failure
Ethnic - 50% Asians have low acetaldehyde dehydrogenase- which can lead to nausea when drinking
What is BAC influenced by? (5 things)
Rate of absorption (e.g. 30 -90 mins) Weight - greater weight = lower BAC Adipose tissue (direct relationship) Aspirin (reduces metabolism- makes you drunker- not good) Metabolic Rate
Behavioral Effects of Alcohol..
Mild Euphoria/Relaxation = Positive Reinforcement - This reinforces continued drinking
Relieves anxiety/arousal = Negative Reinforcement - This also reinforces continued drinking
What is the Lethal Dose of Alcohol - LD50? - 50% of your population has to die at this rate
approximately 25 standard drinks per hour
Is it true that alcohol is easily soluble in water and fat? If so what does this mean?
yes. Therefore, it readily diffuses across all cell membranes and easily crosses the blood brain barrier, with brain levels of alcohol rising quickly .
This means that alcohols ability to cross cell membranes means that alcohol can disrupt cell functions
What is the constant rate of the metabolism of alcohol?
Approximately .035 oz per hour
What are the grim facts of alcohol (3)?
Alcohol is a greater cost to society than any other drug
A large percentage of deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are related to alcohol
Alcohol is the leading cause of mental retardation due to consumption by pregnant women
What countries consume the most alcohol? (4)
Great Britain, Eastern Europe, France, and Germany
What is Korsakoff’s Syndrome?
observed quite commonly in alcoholics, due to a Vitamin B deficiency - It leads to impaired functioning in the frontal lobe, basal ganglia, and amygdala - which are all responsible for controlling your behavior.
You begin to observe confabulatiton- what these people say is not true at all- however, they begin to believe what they are saying is true
Basic Statistics of Alcohol Use
Males drink more than females ( 4:1 )
Greater % of drinkers are Caucasian
Alcohol related car accidents are seen more with males then females (4:1)
In 2009, alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 325 of all traffic fatalities
There is one alcohol-related fatality every 48 minutes (in 2009)
True or False 56% of fatal car accidents involved a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or higher in 2009?
True
What is binge drinking? About how many female students will binge drink? and about how many male students will binge drink?
Binge Drinking is having 5+ more STANDARD drinks on a single occassion
Approx 40% of female students will binge drink
Approx 50% of male students will binge drink
Pharmacology of Alcohol
Alcohol is a Central Nervous System Depressant
Its lipid solubility disrupts cell function- interferes with neural impulses
Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol Use (mild-moderate)
Mild-Moderate : anxiety/nervousness, depression, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, irritability/excitability, jumpiness/shakiness, nightmares, emotional lability
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol - Mild to Moderate
clammy skin/perspiration, pupil dilation, headaches, insomnia, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, paleness, tachycardia, tremors
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol - SEVERE
Agitation, fever, seizures, delirium tremens (visual hallucinations and excessived confusion
Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol ( through the body)
Largely intestinal absorption
Limiting Factors: Food in stomach slows absorption
Ethanol concentration
Pylorospasm- can restrict approximately 75% of alcohol leaving the stomach -keeps alcohol in the stomach and doesnt allow it to go to the intestines
Does alcohol increase activity of the HPA axis? If so what does this produce
Yes it does, producing stress like effects
What are the effects of activating HPA?
increased cortisol in humans
Altered metabolism
Gene suppression
Risk of suppressing immune system- increased infection
