Medical & Dental Issues Associated with Alcohol

Question 1

why is the alcohol concentration greater in the liver?

Answer 1

Blood comes directly to the liver from the stomach & small intestine

Question 2

what are the stages of alcohol absorption?

Answer 2

1. Water soluble
2. Slowly absorbed from stomach
3. Rapidly absorbed in small intestine

Aerated alcohol (champagne) gets into system more quickly

Question 3

where is alcohol metabolised and how much of it occurs?

Answer 3

90% in liver

2-5% in sweat, urine or breath

Question 4

why do women have a greater blood alcohol concentration for the same volume of alcohol?

Answer 4

women have SMALLER BLOOD VOLUME therefore the concentration % is greater

Question 5

how many pints of beer is needed that it is detectable in someones blood in the morning?

Answer 5

3 Pints

Question 6

what is the recommended number of units that adults should not drink more than?

Answer 6

14

Question 7

What are GI Tract medical problems associated with chronic heavy drinking?

Answer 7

• acute gastritis
• liver problems
• GI bleeding
• Oral & GI cancer
• Obesity & malnutrition
• Vitamin deficiency, folic acid, B1, B2, E, D

Question 8

what heart medical problems are associated with chronic heavy drinking?

Answer 8

• cardiomyopathy (heart disease making heart work harder to pump blood around body)
• hypertension
• arrhythmias (abnormal rhythms)
• increased triglycerides and LDL cholesterol

Question 9

what are the oral problems in chronic heavy drinking?

Answer 9

• oral ulceration, inflammation, dry mouth
• Erosion
• Salivary gland enlargement
• poor wound healing and osteomyelitis
• bruxism

Question 10

what are the main problems with liver disease?

Answer 10

• REDUCED synthesis of clotting factors (Vitamin K is used to synthesise these, also reduced absorption of Vit K in liver)
• REDUCED platelet numbers
• Platelet aggregation is reduced

All lead to prolonged bleeding

Question 11

what happens to drug metabolism in patients with liver damage?

Answer 11

• reduced drug metabolism
• LA, analgesia, sedatives and antibiotics may have reduced effects

Question 12

what can happen if alcohol interacts with drugs?

Answer 12

Sedative effect on the nervous system, could increase or prolong the effect, being very dangerous and hepatotoxic (toxic to liver)

Question 13

GI Bleeding can be caused by?

Answer 13

• Aspirin & NSAIDs
• irritant to gastric mucosa
• Alcohol is also gastric irritant
• If liver disease, clotting may be deranged EXACERBATING problem

Question 14

what is the % of patients with Hepatitis C develop cirrhosis?

and what affect does alcohol have on these patients

Answer 14

25%

any alcohol should be completely avoided - rapid development of severe liver disease