Alcohol Flashcards
What are the affects of alcohol in lower doses?
- Euphoria
- Reduced anxiety
- Relation
What are the affects of alcohol in higher doses?
- Intoxication (the pathological state produced by a drug, serum, alcohol, or any toxic substance; poisoning)
- Impaired attention and judgement
- Unsteadiness
- Flushing
- Nystagmus
- Mood instability
- Disinhibition
- Slurring
- Stupor
- Unconsciousness
What is the harful use of alcohol classified as?
Harmful use: pattern of use causing damage to physical or mental health. Use >1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
How is alcohol dependence diagnosed?
○ Dependence: 3 or more of the following for >1 month or repeatedly over 12 months
- Cravings/ compulsions to take
- Difficulty controlling use
- Primacy (where you rank alcohol in your priorities)
- Increased tolerance
- Physiological withdrawal on reduction/ cessation
- Persistence despite harmful consequences
What is the definition of a withdrawal state?
Withdrawal state: Group of symptoms of variable clustering and severity on complete/ relative withdrawal of a psychoactive substance, after persistent use of that substance
What are the symptoms of the alcohol withdrawal state?
○ Tremor ○ Weakness ○ Nausea ○ Vomiting ○ Anxiety ○ Seizures ○ Confusion ○ Agitation ○ Death ○ Delirium Tremens
What neurological problems can alcohol cause?
□ Brain damage □ Loss of memory □ Hallucinations □ Fits □ Dementia □ Tingling nerves □ Numbness □ Trembling hands □ Confusional state □ Korsakoff's/ Wernicke's
What is Korsakoff’s/ Wernicke’s caused by?
® Caused by thiamine deficiency
◊ Poor intake and poor absorption
◊ Poor hepatic function
◊ Increased requirement for alcohol metabolism
What are the symptoms of Wenicke’s encephalopathy?
◊ Confusion
◊ Ataxia
◊ Ophthalmoplegia
◊ Nystagmus
What are the symptoms of Korsakoff’s psychosis?
◊ Prominent impairment of recent and remote memory ◊ Preservation of immediate recall ◊ No general cognitive impairment ◊ Retrograde and antegrade memory ◊ Impaired learning and disorientation ◊ May exhibit nystagmus and ataxia
What pulmonary problems can alcohol cause?
□ Risk of chest infection
□ Infection
What cardiovascular problems does alcohol cause?
□ Enlarges heart
□ High blood pressure
□ Irregular
What GI problems does alcohol cause?
□ Swollen liver □ Hepatitis □ Cirrhosis □ Pancreatitis □ Ulcers □ Gastritis □ Vomiting blood
What reproduction problems does alcohol cause?
□ Risk of STIs and HIV/ AIDs
□ Impotence in men
□ Infertility in women
What physical problems (other than in neuro, cadio, pulmonary, GI and repro) does alcohol cause?
- Endocrine □ Poor control of diabetes - MSK □ Loss of muscle - Accidental injury - Violence - Cancer □ Mouth □ Oesophagus □ Liver
