Module 12: Drinking Alcohol Responsibly and Ending Tobacco Use Flashcards
what is the largest preventable cause of death in the US
- tobacco
define ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
- addictive drug produced by fermentation that is the intoxicating substance in alcoholic beverages
define fermentation
- process in which yeast organisms break down plant sugars to yield ethanol and carbon dioxide
define distillation
- process in which alcohol vapors are condensed and mixed with water to make hard liquor
define proof
- measure of the percentage of alcohol in a beverage; strength
- proof is double the percentage of alcohol in the drink
define standard drink
- amount of any beverage that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol
- depends on the proof
how many ounces and % alcohol are in standard drinks for beer, malt liquor, wine, and spirits (gin, vodka, etc)
- beer: 12oz, 5%
- malt liquor: 8.5 oz, 7%
- wine: 5 oz, 12%
- spirits: 1.5 oz, 40%
what factors affect how quickly your body will absorb alcohol
- alcohol concentration in your drink
- amount of alcohol you consume
- amount of food in your stomach
- metabolism
- weight/BMI
- mood
which is absorbed more quickly: wine and beer or carbonated alcoholic beverages
- carbonated beverages absorbed more rapidly
how do carbonated beverages affect the pyloric valve and rate of absorption
- pyloric valve control passage of stomach contents into the small intestines
- relaxes valve causing stomach contents to empty quickly
- most absorption occurs in small intestine so carbonated beverages increase rate of absorption
define pylorospasm
- pyloric value becomes stuck in closed position
- alcohol becomes trapped in stomach causing irritation and vomiting
- occurs from drinking high concentrations of alcohol
does alcohol absorb faster when you are tense or relaxed
- faster when tense
where does alcohol go to be metabolized after entering the bloodstream
- liver
what is the rate of alcohol breakdown
- 0.5 ounce per hour
- slightly less than one standard drink
define blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
- ratio of alcohol to total blood volume
- factor used to measure the physiological and behavioral effects of alcohol
what is the legal limit of BAC for driving
- 0.08
what does a person’s BAC depend on
- weight
- percentage of body fat
- water content in body tissues
- concentration of alcohol in beverage consumed
- rate of consumption
- volume of alcohol consumed
why does BAC in men and women differ
- women have higher body fat
- women have half as much alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down alcohol in the stomach
- hormones
what is used to detect intoxication levels
- breathalyzer test
- urinalysis
- blood tests (most accurate)
define learned behavioral tolerance
- ability of heavy drinkers to modify behavior so that they appear to be sober even when they have high BAC levels
short term effects of alcohol use
- depress CNS functions: respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure
- diuretic; water pulled from cerebrospinal fluid not muscles; causes headaches
- indigestion or heartburn
- possible injuries or sexual inhibition
define hangover
- physiological reaction to excessive drinking
- headache, upset stomach, anxiety, depression, diarrhea, thirst
define congeners
- forms of alcohol that are metabolized more slowly than ethanol and produce toxic by products
- contributes to hangovers
define alcohol poisoning (acute alcohol intoxication)
- potentially lethal BAC (0.35) that inhibits the brain’s ability to control consciousness, respiration, and heart rate
- usually occurs as a result of drinking large amount of alcohol in short period of time
what is the leading cause of accidental deaths for ages 1-44 in the US
- traffic accidents
long term effects of alcohol
- nervous system: brain shrinks, damage to frontal cortex
- weight gain
- cardiovascular: increases HDL which reduces risk of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure
- liver disease: fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis
- cancer
- pancreas inflammation
- blocks calcium absorption causing osteoporosis
define cirrhosis
- last stage of liver disease
- chronic heavy use of alcohol
- liver cells die and damage becomes permanent
define alcoholic hepatitis
- prolonged use of alcohol
- inflamed liver
- can be fatal
how does drinking alcohol while pregnancy affect the baby
- causes fetal alcohol syndrome
- alcohol passes through placenta into fetus bloodstream
- greatest risk during first trimester
define binge drinking
- pattern of drinking alcohol that brings BAC to 0.08 or above
- corresponds to drinking 4-5 or more drinks in 2 hours
why are college students particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related problems
- alcohol exacerbates their already high risk for suicide, accidents, and falls
- many university customs encourage alcohol
- alcohol industry targets colleges students
- college students vulnerable to peer influence
- administrators deny alcohol issues on campus
define pre-gaming
- drinking heavily at home before going out to an event or other location