Short-term Effects of Alcohol

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).

4) The general effects of alcohol on the brain are blurred vision, weakened motor skills, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times and impaired memory. In the liver alcohol causes fat deposits to develop in the liver and cause inflammation even eventually liver disease. Similarly, in the pancreas prolonged use can cause inflammation which yields vomiting, fever, weight loss, and is potentially fatal. Lastly, in the kidneys alcohol can increase the risk of high blood pressure developing in chronic kidney disease.

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

The students that drink too much do not understand that drinking just a little can affect the brain with a lot of force. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol reaches the brain quickly and begins to affect nerve cells. It slows the messages that travel along nerve fibers. Only a small amount of alcohol is needed to impair the normal

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

Also, low doses are known to alter motor coordination and time and space perception, important aspects of car driving (about 50% of all fatal traffic accidents are caused by intoxicated drivers). Some effects are already seen at levels of 0.05%. Pain sensitivity is diminished with moderate doses. In some individuals, alcohol is known to diminish feelings of self-criticism and to inhibit fear and anxiety, effects which are probably related to an alcohol-induced sociability. These effects act, no doubt, as psychological reinforcers for the use of alcoholic beverages.

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

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

After alcohol reaches the brain, it numbs the frontal lobe, which has direct control over the judgment, visual perception and decision making skills. Scientists believe this is what makes alcoholics believe they can conquer any task put before them. After drinking a good number of drinks everyday over a long period of time, many things can happen. Cirrhosis of the liver can occur, which means the liver tissues become hardened. Scientists also report that irreversible brain damage can occur before cirrhosis of the liver is even detected. Also, cancer of the liver, mouth, esophagus as well as lungs and pancreatic cancer often occur as a result of alcoholism. Alcohol also has an affect on the mind as well as the body. Alcoholics often report that they feel inferior to people and believe they can do anything. Many people believe that alcohol acts as a "social lubricant." Increased social pleasures, assertiveness talkativeness and even happiness are all expected by many, when they drink in these situations. Alcohol is said to reduce tension and anxiety. This in turn allows drinkers to feel more relaxed and comfortable in social situations. However, this also encourages the drinker to drink more when under more stress.

Alcohol consumption affects the nervous system in many different ways. In a more broad statement, alcohol affects the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, autonomic nervous system, motor nerves, and sensory nerves. The Public Health Agency notes that, after drinking alcohol, it enters the bloodstream within about 10 minutes. Alcohol affects the brain before any other part of the body. Alcohol causes the brain to start to dull certain parts. Drinking will first impair judgement. Drinking alcohol not only affects many

Along with the central nervous system, the outer layer of the brain is also affected by alcohol. The main part of the brain that is affected is the frontal cortex. This part of the brain is in charge of conscious thought. When people drink alcohol, they tend to lose their conscious thought, or otherwise known as their inhibitions. Alcohol disturbs many parts of the brain, but another important area that is affected is the cerebellum. The cerebellum is located towards the back of your brain, and is in charge of controlling your balance, coordination, and your eye movements. When alcohol is consumed, the brain can misread the judgment of distances and heights. Throughout the course of a flight, the pilot is going to constantly be looking out the window to judge the distance and height of things. This is mostly important when the pilot is coming into land at the airport. If the pilot misjudges the correct distance to touchdown, everyone on the plane could die due to overshooting or undershooting. Pilots need their senses to be perfect while they are flying because they are in charge of potentially hundreds of

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.

Alcohol is a substance that has numerous diverse affects on the body-both positive and negative. Alcohol not only kills brain cells, but when taken in profusion it has almost no constructive affects. Sure it can make one overlook his/her problems, but the consequences of drinking in excess far outweigh the benefits. It is not a crime to get drunk, however alcohol will almost always cause one to conduct them self in a way he or she would not normally behave. For instance, a sober man will not usually drive ninety-five mph down I-95, however, after consuming a good amount of alcohol, his eyesight, judgement, reflexes and abilities are hindered to the point that he feels

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