How does alcohol affect the systems of the body?
Statements:
Its OK to drive if you’ve only had a few drinks
Drinking black coffee can sober you up
Mixing drinks will make you drunker
Drink milk before drinking to coat the stomach and you won’t get as drunk
Taking a cold shower can sober you up
All of these statments are MYTHS:
Its OK to drive if you’ve only had a few drinks- MYTH-even a couple of drinks can impair judgment, reaction time, vision, etc.
Drinking black coffee can sober you up- MYTH- Drinking black coffee will make you no less drunk. Time is the only think that can sober you up. You’ll only be a wide-awake drunk
Mixing drinks will make you drunker- MYTH- mixing drinks may make you ill, but it’s the amount that you drink that makes you drunk, not the flavor
Drink milk before drinking to coat the stomach and you won’t get as drunk= MYTH- Milk and all other foods (bread) may slow down alcohol’s effects, but the alcohol will still get into your blood stream
Taking a cold shower can sober you up- MYTH- The only thing you’ll be is wet. Showers cannot sober you up.
What’s in a drink?
One drink = 12 oz glass of beer (beer is 4-6% alcohol)
4-6 oz glass of wine/champagne (12-16% alcohol)
2 oz shot of liquor (100 proof)
All of the drinks above contain 0.5% alcohol
Drinks that are 100% alcohol are ILLEGAL in the US because pure alcohol could slow down the systems of the body so much that they would stop functioning (death)
BAC- Blood alcohol concentration- refers to the amount of alcohol in the blood stream
Proof- Equals twice the percentage of alcohol (something 100 proof is 50% alcohol)
DWI- driving while intoxicated- in NYS DWI = a BAC of .08%
Binge Drinking- the consumption of 3 or more drinks of alcohol in one sitting. Binge drinkers are more likely to drive while intoxicated, have unprotected sex, and deny drinking problems.
Alcohol's effect on the systems of the body
Factors that influence the absorption of alcohol into the system:
Intoxication occurs when alcohol is consumed faster than the liver can break it down. It takes the liver approximately 1 hour to metabolize one drink of alcohol. If alcohol is consumed at a faster rate than this, intoxication will occur. Intoxication is when the drinkers BAC levels rise quickly. There are some factors that influence the rate of intoxication among individuals.
1- Size- smaller individuals will have higher BAC levels after one drink.
2- Lean tissue vs. fatty tissue. Individuals with more fatty tissue will have a higher BAC because alcohol is not absorbed into fatty tissue (so it stays in the blood). This is why a woman will have a higher BAC than a man who weighs the same (because women generally have more fatty tissue than men).
3- Carbonated beverages speed up the absorption of alcohol into the system
4- Food present in the stomach will slow the absorption of alcohol. Eventually, the alcohol (along with the food) will be absorbed and the drinkers BAC will rise.
How does alcohol leave the body?
5% of the alcohol leaves the body through breath vapor. This is how breathalizers work.
5% of the alcohol leaves the body through sweat and urine. The only reason why people need to urinate so much when they drink is because the kidneys overwork to get rid of the poison (the alcohol) in the system. The urine is simply extra water relased by the kidneys. It contains no alcohol. This is the reason for dehydration when people drink.
90% of the alcohol is metabolized (broken down) by the liver. It takes one hour for the liver to break down one drink.
Effects on the brain
The first part of the brain to be affected by alcohol is the area which controls decision making and inhibitions. Next, fine motor skills are affected, along with reaction time and emotions. As a person continues to drink, gross motor skills are affected- including the ability to walk. If drinking continues, a person may vomit, they may pass out or may become unresponsive, or may fall into a coma.
When a person vomits, this is the first sign of alcohol poisoning. It is the body's way of telling you that the BAC levels are rising too quickly, and to dangerous levels. A BAC level of .35 can become lethal if a person becomes unconscious. Their breathing rate may slow to the point that it stops, and death may occur. If a person passes out from drinking, put them on their side and monitor their breathing.
Effects on other parts of the body
Heart- prolonged use can actually increase heart rate, thus increasing the risk of heart disease.
Liver- cirrhosis of the liver- the tissues of the liver become hard and can no longer function. This is the most common cause of death among alcoholics.
FAS- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: a series of birth defects and mental retardation caused by a woman drinking during pregnancy.
Alcohol is responsible for 40% of all car accident deaths in the United States.