The Health Risks of Alcohol Use - PowerPoint Presentation

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The Health Risks of Alcohol Use

Health and Physical Education

Fall 2017

Alcohol

Alcohol advertisements show images of happy, healthy-looking young adults to sell a drug that is

addictive

, physically damaging, and often an entry into other drug use.

Alcohol, or more accurately

ethanol

–

the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages

– is a powerful and addictive drug.

Ethanol can be produced synthetically or naturally by fermenting

fruits, vegetables, and grains

.

Alcohol (Continued)

Fermentation

is the chemical action of yeast on sugars

.

Water, flavoring, and minerals are mixed with ethanol to produce beverages such as

beer

,

wine

, and flavored

malt-liquor

drinks.

Alcohol can also be processed to create spirits, or liquors, such as

whiskey

and

vodka

.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a

depressant

, a drug that slows down the central nervous system.

Using alcohol

slows

reaction time,

impairs

vision, and

diminishes

judgment.

If a person drinks too much alcohol, they will become intoxicated.

Intoxication

is the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance, and the persons physical and mental control is significantly reduced.

Alcohol stays in a person’s system until the liver can

metabolize

it, or break it down.

Factors That Influence Alcohol’s Effects

Body Size

:

A smaller person feels the effects of the same amount of alcohol faster than a larger person does.

Gender

:

Alcohol generally moves into the bloodstream faster in females than in males.

Food

:

Food in the stomach slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream.

Rate of Intake

:

If a person drinks alcohol faster than the lover can metabolize it, they will become intoxicated.

Amount

:

As the amount of alcohol consumed increases, the level of alcohol in the bloodstream rises.

Medicine

:

Alcohol can interfere with the effects of medicines, and medicines can heighten the effects of alcohol.

Alcohol and Drug Interactions

Alcohol can change the effect of medicines – these interactions can lead to

illness

or

death

.

Medicines that may cause reactions have

warning

labels that advise people not to use alcohol.

Note these typical alcohol-drug reactions:

The body may absorb the drug or alcohol more slowly, increasing the

length of time

that alcohol or drug is in the body.

Alcohol use can

decrease

the effectiveness of some medicines, and

increase

the effectiveness of others.

Enzymes in the body can change some medications into chemicals that can

damage

the liver or other organs.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol use can have long-term effects on the users

physical, mental/emotional, and social health

.

The effects of alcohol may also be felt by the people who are close to someone who uses alcohol.

Excessive alcohol use over a long period of time can damage many of the body’s systems, such as:

Damage

to brain cells

Reduction

of brain size

Increase

in blood pressure (which can lead to heart attack or stroke)

Buildup

fat cells in the liver (which can lead to cell death)

Damage to the digestive lining of the stomach (which can cause

ulcers

or

cancer

)

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol (Continued)

The Brain

The Cardiovascular System

The Digestive System

The Pancreas

Addiction

:

Physical dependence can lead to the inability to control the frequency and amount of drinking.

Heart Damage

:

The heart muscles become weakened and the heart becomes enlarged, reducing its ability to pump blood. This damage can lead to heart failure. Reduced blood flow can damage other body systems.

Irritation of the Digestive Lining

:

Can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer of the stomach and esophagus.

Swelling of the Pancreas Lining

:

The passageway from the pancreas to the small intestine can become blocked, and chemicals needed for digestion cannot pass to the small intestine. The chemicals begin to destroy the pancreas itself, causing pain and vomiting.

Loss of Brain Function

:

Loss of verbal skills, spatial skills, and memory.

Fatty Liver

:

Fat builds up in the liver and cannot be broken down, leading to cell death.

Brain Damage

:

Excessive use of alcohol can lead to brain damage and a reduction of brain size. The learning ability and memory can be impaired.

High Blood Pressure

:

Damages the heart and can cause heart attack and stroke.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

:

Inflammation of the liver.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

:

Liver tissue is replaced with useless scar tissue. This can lead to liver failure and death.

Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning

Binge Drinking

:

drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting

.

Binge drinking can severely impair the drinker’s body systems.

It can lead to

alcohol poisoning

–

a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose

.

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning

A person who drinks too much alcohol may pass out. Even though the person is unconscious, the alcohol continues to enter the bloodstream. So even if someone is unconscious, their blood alcohol level will still rise. This increases the risk of

alcohol poisoning

.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning:

Mental confusion and stupor

Coma and inability to be roused

Vomiting

and

seizures

Slow respirations (10 seconds between breaths OR fewer than 8 breaths per minute)

Irregular heartbeat

Hypothermia or low body temperature