Alcohol And The Gastrointestinal System

The pathophysiology of alcoholism begins after alcohol the ingestion of alcohol. It is absorbed and unaltered through the stomach and intestines. Next it is distributed throughout the body through the blood and absorbed by all tissues and fluids (Huether, 2012, p. 72). Furthermore, in the liver the alcohol blood content is metabolized into acetaldehyde by the enzymes process of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS), and catalase (Huether & McCance, 2012). Next, the metabolizing effects the central nervous system (CNS) and exhibits a depressant action. It is first expressed in the subcortical structures of the brain. This has an effect of disorientation of motor skills and intellect. With an increase in blood alcohol concentration, the medullary centers become depressed and as a result affects respiration (Huether & McCance, 2012). In addition, the effects of alcoholism encourage hepatic and gastric changes. The hepatic effect is caused by acetaldehyde, in which, induces inflammation, fatty deposits and enlargement of the liver (Huether & McCance, 2012).

The pathophysiology of Alcohol affects virtually every organ system in the body. Therefore, consuming to much alcohol in high

Over 2.5million people die every year to excessive alcohol use. Furthermore, alcohol is responsible for one in ten deaths of working age adults aged twenty to sixty four. Excessive drinking by the CDC is more than one glass a day for a woman and more than two glasses a day for a man. Also, drinking any while under the age or pregnant is classified as excessive drinking(“Alcohol Use and Your Health”). On top of the benefits becoming negative effects quickly, excessive drinking also comes with many more side effects. Excessive drinking damages the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and the immune system. Brain cells are lost along with loss of thinking and coordination. Heart beat, heart muscles, and blood pressure can be effected. A variety of liver problems and inflammations. The Pancreas produces unwanted toxins eventually leading to pancreatitis. Lastly the immune system is weakened, making the body a much easier target for disease and slowing the body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk(“Alcohol's Effects on the

It has long been known by researchers that the overconsumption of alcohol can lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which is when the amount of bad bacteria in the gut rises and good bacteria diminishes. Bernd Schnabl, a research gastroenterologist at the University of

Alcohol enters into the stomach shortly after the blood causing problems in the digestive system. When large amounts of alcohol are consumed the stomach is hit hard. The digestive system is instantly impaired with a very small amount of alcohol inside. It increases the production of acid; which inflames the stomach lining leading to stomach pain, puking, diarrhea, and sometimes even bleeding in the stomach. It also affects the digestive system which leads to problems with getting sleep and the excretory organ function (Hyde, Margaret, and John 39).

Cardiovascular system consists of Heart and blood vessels. Blood vessels carrying nutrients and other material and delivers them to organs in the body. Alcohol could be one of the material which is absorbed from digestive system in body and carry into the blood stream. Alcohol can affect the cardio vascular system by many ways. Since we drink the alcohol, it can cause the short-term Hypertension (which is high blood pressure), and Tachycardia (which is high heart rate). On the other hand, drinking lot of alcohol in long term may cause sever cardiovascular disease and in some cases, it may even be causing death. Some of the diseases are: Heart attack, Stroke. Heart is pumping oxygenated blood to the whole body, but the heart muscle itself needs

Alcoholic beverages, deliver two main nutrients which the body metabolises – sugar and ethanol. Normally, low BGL stimulates glucagon secretion (from the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets) to bring BGL back up to stasis through glycogenolysis. And when BGL beings to rise, additional insulin is secreted (from the beta cells of the pancreatic islets) to bring BGL back down to stasis through glycogenesis. However, alcohol consumption inhibits the liver’s ability to do this – BGR is interrupted. This is because the body reacts to alcohol as a toxin, so its detoxification is prioritised by the body (all energy is spent on expelling it). The liver can’t multitask

Minor amounts of alcohol are metabolized to acetaldehyde in the digestive tract, revealing the tissues to acetaldehyde’s harmful effects.

Alcohol can affect the nervous system from the immediate experience which is linked to behavioral changes. Initial alcohol consumption can impair cognition and psychomotor performance (Mumenthaler, Taylor, O 'Hara, & Yesavage, 1999) as well as decrease attention, alterations in memory, mood changes, and drowsiness (Valenzuela, 1997). Alcohol consumed by mouth is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine and is able to cross the blood brain barrier (Mumenthaler, Taylor, O 'Hara, & Yesavage, 1999). These changes may be observed because alcohol affects brain function by altering its ability to properly control behavior. Alcohol can act as a depressant by increasing inhibitory neurotransmission, by decreasing excitatory neurotransmission, or through a combination of both (Valenzuela, 1997). Neurochemical effects can occur. Alcohol increases GABA activity (Suzdak, Schwartz, Skolnick, & Paul, 1986). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is responsible for sending chemical messages through the brain and the nervous system. Therefore, as GABA activity increases, it may result in a

Among the United States one in ten pregnant women, between the ages of 18 and 44 years of age, are reportedly drinking when pregnant (“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, 2015). Many women believe that just one drink will be safe, but as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics: “There is no safe amount of alcohol when a woman is pregnant. Evidence-based research has found that drinking even small amounts of alcohol while pregnant can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, or sudden infant death syndrome”. Even just a minimal amount of alcohol consumption can cause many detrimental

For motor skills part, there are two factors to analysis, which include muscle control: leg muscles and heart muscles; eyesight effect by the alcohol consumption. An organization which is named Narconon Reviews (2013) claimed that motor-skills are those functions that muscles, hand, feet, etc work together. They are always executing specific actions, such as walking/running, driving a car, picking up an object/moving it. Motor skills also connect with sensory channels. These channels include sight, sound, touch, smell and even tastes. If an independent drinks alcohol, one of the channels will be limited.

Alcohol can have negative effects on liver function. When alcohol is consumed the body starts trying to metabolize it but has no way of doing so. The liver then has to work detoxify and remove the alcohol from the bloodstream. Once the liver finishes the oxidation process, the alcohol becomes water and carbon dioxide. If the alcohol accumulates in the body, it may destroy cells and organs. The oxidative metabolism prevents this from happening. When too much alcohol is ingested at once, the toxins take a toll on the body, starting with the liver. The oxidative metabolism of the alcohol creates molecules that lead to a condition called fatty liver. Research supports that fatty liver, the early stage of alcoholic liver disease, develops in nearly

Alcohol has no beneficial attributes on a person’s health. Alcohol can have several harmful effects on human organs. Some organs in the human body that are damaged by alcohol consumption are the brain, kidneys, and liver. The human liver is the one organ that suffers the most damage. As stated in an article published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Because the liver is the chief organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, it is especially vulnerable to alcohol – related injury” (NIAAA, 2005). Regular use of alcohol can lead to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The severity of ALD can vary based on several different factors. Some of these factors include gender, age, the amount consumed, and how often alcohol is used. “ALD includes three conditions: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis” (Alcohol Alert, 2005).

Relatively speaking, the twelve million U.S. College students drink over 430 million gallons of alcohol a year- that is 3,500 Olympic sized swimming pools filled with alcohol. Binge drinking is the number one public health hazard for more than six million college students in America (MADD 2). Only five percent of alcohol is eliminated from the body through the breath, urine, or sweat; the rest is broken down in the liver. In the Liver: -Alcohol is broken down in steps by enzymes until only carbon dioxide remain as by-products. -Alcohol is processed at the rate of three tenths of an ounce of pure ethanol per hour (less than one ounce of whiskey) and unprocessed alcohol circulates in the body. (The alcohol from two cocktails, each about 1.5 ounces, drank before dinner is still present in the body three to four hours later) (Overview 2). The liver’s fixed rate of alcohol breakdown means that drinking coffee or taking a cold shower does not speed the sobering process. Therefore, giving coffee to a person who is drunk may make a wide-awake drunk, who thinks he/she is sober enough to drive a car. Occasional users of alcohol, who are healthy, do not appear to suffer negative affects from use of alcohol. In moderate doses, alcohol has beneficial effects: relaxation, appetite stimulation. However, consumed in large amounts, alcohol is a toxin. The short-term

By the time this paper has been read approximately twenty-five people will be seriously injured in an alcohol-related accident. Alcohol can be very harmful in many ways if used incorrectly. The following is just a few of the many ways it can negatively affect one 's health.