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#Post#: 2419--------------------------------------------------
Physiological Effects of Alcohol Consumption
DIR By: lubhan
Date: December 15, 2016, 4:25 am
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Alcohol (when used commonly refers to ethanol) is consumed
widely around the world for numerous reasons. Its properties
have been both praised and demonized. In humans it generally
acts as a depressant with, conversely, mild stimulating effects
of some parts of the brain.
At low levels of consumption alcohol has minimal effects on a
person; at higher levels it leads to disorientation, coma, and
death.
Most alcohol that is consumed is removed from the body via the
liver, which breaks alcohol down before removal. However,
alcohol can readily cross any cell membrane. Ethanol is widely
used as a solvent and disinfectant. It is used as a solvent
because it breaks down many proteins and other molecules, such
as lipids, which form the main structure of cell walls. It is
used as a disinfectant for the same reasons — it breaks down
bacteria and many viruses.
When consumed, alcohol has similar effects on cells in the body.
It can break down the lipids and proteins that form the walls of
cells. Body tissue left in alcohol will dissolve over time (this
is one reason why alcohol is sometimes used as a marinade or
tenderizer for meat). Most of the time, the concentration of
alcohol in the body is too low to do much, if any, damage to
cells; however, over time as alcohol continues to be consumed it
can have lasting effects on the body. This is one of the effects
that leads to sclerosis of the liver; eventually the toxicity
and solvent effects of alcohol are too much for the liver. In
the brain, alcohol easily crosses the blood brain barrier, which
serves to protect the brain from harmful substances (it also
keeps out many good ones), and directly affects the
neurotransmitters and receptors of neurons. At high enough
concentrations (or over time) alcohol can weaken the blood brain
barrier by damaging the tight junctions of blood vessels in the
brain that form the barrier.
At high concentrations alcohol acts as a vasoconstrictor,
increasing blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can
severely affect the brain leading to stroke and other disorders
such as vascular dementia. Volatile (rapid changes in) blood
pressure (such as could hypothetically occur secondary to
frequent binge drinking) has also been linked to Parkinson’s
disease. On the other hand, a recent study found lower rates of
Parkinson’s disease in people who had consumed alcohol versus
abstainers (Paganini-Hill, 2001). The etiology of this effect is
unknown.
Alcohol intake can also lead to vitamin deficiency, which can
severely damage the brain (e.g., Korsakoff’s Syndrome),
resulting in memory loss, emotional disturbance, gait problems,
and ataxia. Additionally, alcohol is physiologically and
psychologically addictive.
#Post#: 2420--------------------------------------------------
Re: Physiological Effects of Alcohol Consumption
DIR By: lubhan
Date: December 15, 2016, 4:27 am
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Effects of alcohol
What does alcohol do to your body and brain? Alcohol is a
substance that effects the whole body and can effect it in a
short time. When alcohol is taken into the body, it
travels to every part of the body effecting it in some way.
Bloodstream
What does alcohol do when alcohol enters the blood stream?
When alcohol enters the blood, it causes the blood vessels to
widen. More blood flows to the skin's surface.
However, the drinker's body temperature drops as the increased
blood flow to the surface allows body heat to escape.
People who drink alcohol in cold weather to get warm actually
accomplish the opposite.
Brain
How does alcohol effect the brain?
When alcohol reaches the brain, it immediately has a depressant
effect. People who drink alcohol may describe the change as
relaxing. What they actually experience are physical
changes such as loss of sensation and a decrease in sharpness of
vision, hearing, and other senses. Alcohol also affects
the parts of the brain that control muscle coordination, which
is why drinkers may loose their balance or stumble.
If drinking continues, alcohol depresses the part of the brain
that controls breathing and heart beat. Breathing rates,
pulse rates, and blood pressure, which initially increased, now
decrease. A drinker may loose consciousness, slip into a
coma, or die from alcohol poisoning
Heavy drinkers and many first-time drinkers may suffer
blackouts. Other people recall seeing the drinker walking,
talking, and in control. The following day however, the drinker
has no memory of some events the day before.
Liver
When alcohol enters the liver, the liver breaks down alcohol
into energy and the waste products carbon dioxide and
water. The carbon dioxide is released from the body in the
lungs. The water passes out of the body as breath vapor,
perspiration, or urine. When people drink alcohol faster
than the liver can break it down, they become intoxicated.
Kidneys
Alcohol prevents the release of body chemicals that regulates
how much urine the kidneys make. The kidneys produce more
urine than usual, and the drinker looses more water than
usual. The drinker becomes very thirsty. In extreme
cases, a drinker may loose water needed for the body to function
properly.
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