Ethanol Interactions with Receptors

The inverse effects between the consumption of stimulant like caffeine and depressant like alcohol has been well established over the years. Alcohol has a paradoxical effect that makes it first appear as a stimulant (American heart association, 2015). The two faced nature is due to ethanol the most active ingredient in alcohol. Alcohol slows down the nervous system by acting on the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid. Studies have shown Bradycardia (slow or decreased heart rate) in people who consume too much alcohol (ehealthMe, 2015). Drinking alcohol can completely alter a person’s concentration, mood, and coordination (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2013). Too much consumption of alcohol could

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).

As a college student, alcohol is a very real and prevalent temptation. It is a normal occurrence for a Friday night to be filled with friends, a bonfire, and alcohol out on the lake. Unfortunately, not many students know the effects of alcohol on their brain. I took a personal interest in this subject because alcoholism runs deep in my family. I want to know what effects my personal consumption of alcohol have on my brain and how they will affect my life if I continue to drink or choose to stop.

As state in our class notes, “All drugs impact the nervous system and specific neurotransmitters; additionally, whenever alcohol is ingested, the neurotransmitter dopamine is initially released. Dopamine provides a feeling of euphoria as it is release into the nucleus accumbens. Next, alcohol looks for a specific receptor site to bind to. It is displacing the neurotransmitter which binds to the receptor site. Alcohol enhances the inhibitory effects of the neurotransmitter GABA by mimicking it causing sluggishness.” (class notes) Alcohol can alter the limbic system such as the orbitofrontal cortex. It is a part of the

Due to the influx release of serotonin alcohol produces, the cerebral cortex is damaged and impairs one 's ability to learn, make informed decisions, and retain information. Glutamate is an additional neurotransmitter extremely susceptible to alcohol. Glutamate affects memory and is the reason why some individuals experience loss of remembrance when consuming large amounts of alcohol.

It is generally accepted that alcohol affects the nerve cell by preventing the production and propagation of electric impulses along a network consisting of axons and synapses. The brain functions much as an electronic system in which one nerve cell, acting as a current generator, communicates information to many other cells, which in turn receive impulses from many other areas. Some impulses are enhanced, others are blunted. Memory and conditioning appear to play an important role in integrating the impulses which are finally expressed as behaviors. Studies in the United States and England have shown that when alcohol becomes dissolved in the membrane of the cells, it fluidizes or disorganizes the membrane, which in turn leads to changes in the physical and biochemical characteristics of the latter. Chronic exposure to alcohol alters the composition of the membrane and its rigidity, so that alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs ("Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol: It's Time To Treat It That Way"). Alcohol is generally classified with similar drugs such as barbiturates, minor tranquilizers and general anesthetics (Uschah). Alcohol is linked to more than 37,000 annual U.S. deaths("Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol: It's Time To Treat It That Way"). Alcohol can harm the heart, brain and nervous system. Within minutes of having a drink alcohol has reached the brain, muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body. Five to ten percent of alcohol is transferred to the bloodstream directly through the lining of the mouth; this affects the brain because the heart pumps blood directly to the brain (Uschah). This information helps understand how badly alcohol can

Alcohol results in unstable movement, and it changes an individual’s awareness and doesn’t let them think clearly and distorts their judgment, black outs and impairs their vision and hearing. Depressants, back in the day were used as a sleep aid. An overconsumption of alcohol can lead to the substance becoming a depressant. There are many different forms and types of alcohol but the ethanol is what causes an individual to become addicted to drinking. The effects that alcohol has on the central nervous system starts When alcohol arrives in the brain it binds with the GABA receptors that are in charge of transmitting information from each synapse so it prevents the GABA from following through with transmitting information. And it also fixes itself with glutamate, thus causing the glutamate to not recycle through the cell. This slows everything down leading the individual to react slowly to things and causes decreased cognitive function, decreased reflexes, and decreased coordination. Which then causes the individual to have impaired judgment and decision making due the brains receptor sites being blocked by the alcohol (Sullivan, Harris, & Pfefferbaum, 2010). The larger the dose of alcohol the more extreme the effects are. With a larger dose of alcohol, the individual has very poor fine motor skills and is emotional and seizures are likely. The rest of the alcohol goes through the liver and metabolizes breaking down the toxicity within your body but the more alcohol that the individual drinks the harder it is on their liver which can also cause liver failure (Capuzzi & Stauffer,

Most of us have witnessed the effects of alcohol, whether it be slurring words, lack of balance, or lack of judgement. These physical signs occur due to the effect of alcohol in our brains and central nervous system. Although many of us have witnessed or experienced effects of alcohol, very few of us have knowledge of what exactly is happening to our body and brain when consuming alcohol. It has always been evident that alcohol has an effect on the brain, which can in turn impair the behavior and thinking processes of individuals. However, most of society is unaware of the chemical reaction that is occurring within their body and brains every time they consume alcohol. Alcohol affects brain chemistry by the altering levels of neurotransmitters. Alcohol increases the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitters GABA in the brain, causing slower or sluggish movements and slurred speech that is a common occurrence with

The effects of ethanol on humans starts when the alcohol enters the bloodstream, and the more alcohol that enters the bloodstream, there’s a higher risk for effects. Some of the effects include, “reduced inhibitions, slurred speech, motor impairment, confusion, memory problems, concentration problems, coma, breathing problems, and even death. Additionally, alcohol can cause car crashes and accidents, risky behavior, violent behavior, and suicide or homicide.” Alcohol can also take effect on the brain, heart (cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stoke, HBP), liver (alcoholic hepatitis), pancreas, can cause cancer, and can cause damage to one’s immune system.

Alcohol interferes with the brains communication pathways such as motor loss, memory loss, and impaired judgement.

Alcoholism is perhaps the most common form of drug abuse in North America today. Scientists report that the reason alcohol is so popular to people is because it is pleasant, relaxing, and is considered a "social beverage." But what individuals often do not take in to consideration is the fact that alcohol dulls the brain and confuses physical reactions. This can lead to numerous injuries, accidents, and death. Alcohol affects every part of an alcoholic's life: their body, their mind and their family life. The body has a natural chemical that gives a feeling of a "natural high". It happens in the presence of a life-endangering situation. This chemical is adrenaline, which is meant to prepare the body for defense in

The effects associated with alcohol are produced by the ethanol in the alcohol. The severity of these effects is reflected by the concentration of alcohol in an individual’s blood, which is dictated by the amount of alcohol ingested, the volume of blood, the individual’s metabolism, and amount of time since ingestion. In large doses, alcohol acts as a depressant of the central nervous-system. A blood alcohol level of 0.1% affects some of the motor areas of the brain associated with speech, balance and manual dexterity. A blood alcohol level of 0.2% depresses all motor functions and the area concerned with emotions is depressed. At a blood alcohol level of 0.45% the entire section of the brain that handles perception is depressed and the individual becomes comatose. At a blood alcohol level of 0.7% the parts of the brain that control the heartbeat and breathing are depressed and the individual

In Jill Dombrauckas’s (2015) report, she discussed that the Pennsylvania DUI Association made a large amount of researches about alcohol’s effect on body systems. In one research, alcohol affects the central nervous system which means when the individual drink alcohol, the messages that are carried to and from the brain and the body’s muscles can be slowed delivery. For example, the incoming signals from the brain, like the painful sensory that will decrease the injury’s awareness. Also the signals from the brain to the muscles will lead the motor skills becoming insensitive.

Ethyl alcohol, which is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks, enters the bloodstream through the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, mostly from the walls of the stomach and of the small intestines. Once ethyl alcohol enters the bloodstream, it passes through the brain and bathes the brain cells. This is how alcohol "kill" brain cells and damages the brain. (5) Different levels of alcohol in the blood have different effects on the behavior of a person; however, these effects are not predictable. At low levels, the inhibitory centers are usually suppressed and there is a "false sense of increased confidence and a feeling of well being." The depressing effects of alcohol on the brain may relax a person but equally likely, may make a person irritable, mistrusting, and very sensitive. (3) (4) (5) (6) While feeling relaxed is generally good for a person, it carries negative effects when a person gets in trouble from being overly relaxed. For example, there are cases in which women are raped as a result of being too comfortable with the men they drink with. Studies show that a substantial percentage of victims of violent crimes were intoxicated at the time of their assault (2). Offenders may