Alcohol and caffeine Flashcards
Alcohol definiton
A colourless, volatile, flammable liquid, synthesised or obtained by fermentation of sugars and starches and widely used, either pure or denatured
Alcohol chemistry formula
C2 H5 OH
UK guidelines
Total 14 units per week
Binge drinking
Half the weekly allowance consumed in one session
Absorption of alcohol following digestion
- Ethanol is rapidly absorbed
- It appears in the blood 5 mins after ingestion
- Most in the small intestine
First pass metabolism
Process by which a substance is metabolised by the liver before entering circulation
What are the 3 routes that ethanol is oxidised to acetaldehyde
- Alcohol dehydrogenase
- Microsomal ethanol oxidising system
- Catalase
What are the factors affecting alcohol metabolism (3)
- Prescence of food in the stomach
- Speed drinking
- Body weight
Acute effects of alcohol
In healthy adults consuming low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol typically has little acute effects on hemodynamic or blood pressure
J-shaped curve
A small-moderate level of alcohol consumption has been proposed to be protective
Caffeine mechanism of action
- Psychoactive
- Adenosine receptor antagonist
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Promotes sleep
- Suppresses arousal