Health 10 Flashcards
alcohol
broad term used to describe a drink that contains ethanol
Depressant
substance that slows central nervous system and causes chemical changes in brain
Inhibition
psychological restraint that discourages people from engaging in dangerous behavior
Affects of alcohol on the brain
changes in chemical levels in brain causing
-slurred speech
-sluggish body movements
-struggle to think clearly
How alcohol affects cerebral cortex
-reduce ability to process information
-reduce ability to think clearly
-Inhibition is reduced
How alcohol affects cerebellum
-difficult to walk
-poor coordination
How alcohol affects medulla
-sleepiness
-hard to breath
-lower body temperature
What does alcohol affect
all cells and muscles
What’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
% of alcohol in blood
Where does alcohol stay
stays in liver until liver metabolizes it (0.25-0.50 ounces per hour)
BAC
-8% of blood or 0.08 BAC is considered drunk/impaired
-Around 2-4 drinks
Factors influencing BAC
-Weight
-Gender
-Food
-Ethnicity
-Rate of consumption
How weight effects BAC
alcohol has stronger impact on less heavy people
How gender effects BAC
Woman get drunk faster because
-higher amount of fat and less muscle than man so more alcohol in bloodstream instead of being absorbed by muscles
-lower level of alcohol processing enzyme in stomach
How food consumed effects BAC
If you eat food you process alcohol slower because the body has to process food so alcohol can’t be processed into bloodstream as fast
How ethnicity effects BAC
50% of people with Asian heritage have difficulty metabolizing alcohol because of a problem of an enzyme in the liver
What is a hangover
uncomfortable symptoms caused by excessive alcohol intake
Symptoms of hangover
-tiredness
-headaches
-muscle aches
-dizziness
-vomiting/nausea
-sensitive to light and sound
-irritability/depression/anxiety
-trouble falling asleep
-thirsty
-shaky
Why does alcohol cause accidents and violence?
Alcohol slows your central nervous system causing a decrease in reaction time, poor coordination, bad judgment, and inability to process information
How many people get arrested and die from driving under the influence
-1.4 million arrested
-10,000 die in alcohol related accidents
What’s a DUI
Driving under the influence. A legal offense when your BAC is above 0.08 when driving. Your license can get suspended
Other kinds of alcohol related accidents
-falls
-burns
-homicides
-suicides
-firearm injuries
-electrical shocks
-drowning
Violence and alcohol
Alcohol causes some people to behave more violently ex. child abuse, child neglect, partner abuse
What’s binge drinking
large consumption of alcohol in a short period of time
women-4 drinks and men-5 drinks in one occasion
more common in young people and men
can lead to alcohol poisoning
Alcohol poisoning
medical emergency caused by a person consuming enough alcohol to suppress their central nervous system. Characterized by unconsciousness, low body temp, low blood pressure, breathing trouble, and even death
0.4 BAC-permanent brain damage or death
Signs someone has alcohol poisoning
unconsciousness, confusion, vomit, seizures, slow/irregular breathing, hypothermia
chronic diseases caused by alcohol
-liver damage because high levels of alcohol cause fat to build up in the liver which blocks blood flow. This blockage causes cirrhosis
-cardiovascular problems
-gastrointestinal problems
-cancers
cirrhosis
-1 of the 15 leading cause of death in U.S.
-buildup of scar tissue in the liver
How alcohol long term affects brain and cognitive functions
-large amounts of alcohol consumed on a daily basis can lead to neurological problems like
-dementia
-stroke
-memory problems
-disorientation
-drowsiness
Drinking while pregnant
-Pregnant woman drinks alcohol it passes from her bloodstream to the the fetus bloodstream
-Risks fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
physical and mental birth defects caused by woman consuming alcohol while pregnant
-poor growth
-decreased muscle tone
-poor coordination
-delayed developments
-heart and face defects
Immediate consequences of underage drinking
-Physical problems (hangover)
-School problems (difficulty concentrating)
-Family and social problems (withdraw from activities)
-legal problems (suspended licence)
-risky sexual behavior (STI, pregnancy)
Long term consequences of underage drinking
-disrupts normal growth and sexual development
-teens who drink more are more likely to abuse other drugs and alcohol dependence
-more likely to commit homicide or suicide
