Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

4/20/2021 Print Preview Chapter 3: The Remarkable Body: 3-9d Short-Term Effects of Too Much Alcohol Book Title: Nutrition: Concepts & Controversies Printed By: Alvard Tsaturyan (alla.tsaturyan1@gmail.com) © 2020 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning 3-9d Short-Term Effects of Too Much Alcohol A person who drinks too much experiences negative effects on the body, some transient, others more damaging. The short-term effects of alcohol toxicity are often reversible, but the long-term effects may not be. Dehydration Excess alcohol exerts impacts on every other body organ. It penetrates all the tissues and dehydrates them—an effect familiar to anyone who drinks too much. Alcohol depresses the brain’s production of a hormone (antidiuretic hormone) that curbs excretion of body water— so urine output increases. The resulting dehydration leads to thirst, and unwary drinkers who respond by drinking more alcohol only make matters worse. The only fluid that relieves thirst is water. Water lost due to dehydration takes with it important minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and zinc, depleting the body’s reserves. These minerals are vital to nerve and muscle coordination and fluid balance. When drinking incurs mineral losses, minerals must be made up in subsequent meals to prevent deficiencies. Hangover The hangover—the next morning’s miserable headache and nausea—is the result of drinking too much. Dehydration of the brain is a major cause of a hangover. Alcohol depletes the brain’s cells of water; when they rehydrate, they swell and cause pain. In addition, several chemicals in the body contribute to the hangover. Recall that the stomach and liver are busy converting alcohol to acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that accumulates in the body for a while, awaiting further breakdown. The later breakdown steps require the participation of still other liver compounds (glutathione, an important antioxidant, and cysteine, an amino acid), and these run out before the job is done. Time alone can clear the hangover-producing toxins from the body. Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

Paradoxically, because it is toxic, acetaldehyde offers a benefit to drinkers who want to quit. It is the active ingredient in a drug known as Antabuse (a drug that increases acetaldehyde, which produces such misery in combination with alcohol that a drinker will refrain from drinking after taking it. (Acetaldehyde is a product formed during alcohol metabolism.) The generic form is disulfiram.) , and it produces aldehyde toxicity symptoms so severe that people addicted to alcohol choose not to drink when they have it in their systems. Heart and Brain https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 1/3 4/20/2021 Print Preview So long as excess alcohol is in the body, toxic effects are felt by every organ. The heart, stomach, and brain are examples. Emergency room nurses describe a condition in intoxicated people called “holiday heart syndrome,” marked by life-threatening, irregular heartbeats. This syndrome can occur in people of any age who take more than a few drinks in too short a time. But the stomach may come to the drinker’s rescue, because a major overdose triggers the vomiting reflex, one of the body’s primary defenses against ingested poisons. In the brain, small quantities of alcohol selectively sedate inhibitory nerves, producing a false impression of stimulation. Some people use alcohol to achieve this “high,” believing that it helps relieve anxiety and enables them to relax, but additional alcohol counteracts the high and then, in many people, produces tension and stress. When the blood alcohol concentration rises high enough, it sedates all of the nerve cells. Figure C3–2 displays the impacts on the brain of progressively higher blood alcohol concentrations. At 0.08 percent, judgment, reasoning, and emotional control are impaired. At 0.1 percent, speech centers in the midbrain are sedated. At 0.15 percent, control of muscles and reflexes becomes impaired. At higher levels still, unconsciousness ensues and, if the person has drunk fast enough to ingest a lethal dose before vomiting or passing out, respiration and heartbeat cease. Most highway safety ordinances set the legal limit for intoxication at 0.08 percent, but driving ability may be impaired at lower concentrations. Figure C3–2 Effects of Rising Blood Alcohol Levels on the Brain The higher the blood alcohol, the more severe its effect on brain tissues. This is a typical progression, but individual responses vary to some degree. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 2/3 4/20/2021 Print Preview Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abstinence from alcohol, together with good nutrition, reverses some of the brain damage caused by heavy drinking if it has not continued for too many years. Prolonged drinking beyond a person’s capacity to recover, however, can severely and irreversibly damage vision, memory, learning, reasoning, speech, and other brain functions. Clearly, there is a marked contrast in risk between moderate drinking and excessive drinking. Studies show that although the former may in some ways benefit drinkers, the latter is extremely harmful. Chapter 3: The Remarkable Body: 3-9d Short-Term Effects of Too Much Alcohol Book Title: Nutrition: Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

Concepts & Controversies Printed By: Alvard Tsaturyan (alla.tsaturyan1@gmail.com) © 2020 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning © 2021 Cengage Learning Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this work may by reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, or in any other manner – without the written permission of the copyright holder. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 3/3 4/20/2021 Print Preview Chapter 3: The Remarkable Body: 3-9c Drinking Patterns Book Title: Nutrition: Concepts & Controversies Printed By: Alvard Tsaturyan (alla.tsaturyan1@gmail.com) © 2020 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning 3-9c Drinking Patterns Drinking patterns influence alcohol’s effects on the body. Occasional drinkers who take a glass of wine or two, perhaps once or twice a month, may not be affected at all. A moderate daily drinker, that is, a woman taking a single drink or a man two drinks a day, may be affected by this choice, for better or worse. People who drink more than this often suffer the consequences of dehydration (alcohol suppresses antidiuretic hormone (a hormone produced by brain that stimulates the kidneys to conserve water in response to dehydration.) ), and the famous hangover (a delayed, usually morning-after, reaction to drinking too much alcohol too fast the night before, characterized by a headache and sometimes nausea.) of the morning after. Those who drink excessively suffer significant harm to all the body’s organs. Alcohol is an addictive drug, and an alcohol addiction is alcoholism (dependency on alcohol characterized by compulsive, uncontrollable drinking with negative effects on physical health, family relationships, and social health.) . Abstinence from Drinking People who abstain from alcohol may make this choice for cultural, religious, or health reasons. Some people should not drink because it poses special risks to them. You shouldn’t drink at all if: You are under the legal drinking age limit. Drowning, car accidents, and traumatic injuries are common causes of death in children and teens, and alcohol use intensifies these risks. You are pregnant or may be pregnant. No safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been established. You are breastfeeding (you may consume one drink if you then wait four hours before breastfeeding). You are taking medications that interact with alcohol. Such medications come with labels that warn you of the risks. You have liver disease, high blood lipids, pancreatitis, or other conditions that amplify the harmful effects of alcohol. You plan to drive, operate machinery, or take part in other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination such as swimming, biking, or boating. You cannot limit your drinking to moderate levels. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 1/5 4/20/2021 Print Preview Nonalcoholic drinks can also produce some of the pleasant sensations that drinkers seek (these contain, at most, 0.5% alcohol). Nonalcoholic beers and wines that elevate mood and ease social interactions are available—as are coffee and sodas. People who don’t drink alcohol can drink these beverages instead. Moderate Drinking Many people drink moderately, sticking within defined limits. Moderate drinkers will not present the liver with more than it can handle, and a night of restful sleep after a pleasant social evening is all that is needed to restore the original healthy state. The key to achieving this result, of course, is to stop before drinking too much. It is worth repeating that alcohol intake shown to do no immediate damage is: One standard drink a day for women. Two standard drinks a day for men. The left column of Table C3–2 shows how moderate drinkers manage alcohol. You will be invited to visit the right column in a later section. Table C3–2 Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

Drinking Behaviors of Moderate and Problem Drinkers Moderate Drinkers Typically Problem Drinkers Typically Drink slowly, casually. Gulp or “chug” drinks. Eat food while drinking or Drink on an empty stomach. beforehand. Don’t binge drink; know when to Binge-drink; drink to get drunk. stop. Pressure others to drink. Respect nondrinkers. Turn to alcohol when facing Avoid drinking when solving problems or making decisions. Do not admire or encourage drunkenness. Remain peaceful, calm, and problems or decisions. Consider drunks to be funny or admirable. Become loud, angry, violent, or silent when drinking. unchanged by drinking. Physically or emotionally harm Cause no problems to others or others when drinking. themselves, family members, or themselves by drinking. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 2/5 4/20/2021 Print Preview Excessive Drinking Excessive drinkers drink more than half an ounce of alcohol per hour. The euphoria that comes on at first is transient and is soon superseded by alcohol’s large-dose effects of impeding social interactions and diminishing euphoria. Rapid drinkers will quickly manifest intoxication (a condition of diminished mental and physical ability, hyperexcitability, or stupor induced by intake of alcohol or other drug.) , especially when drinking on an empty stomach. If a person drinks more than can be metabolized by the stomach and liver, the excess flows in to the bloodstream to the brain and the rest of the body. The lungs and kidneys then excrete some 10 percent of the blood alcohol in the breath and urine. The alcohol in the breath is directly proportional to that in the blood, so a breathalyzer test administered by law enforcement officers can accurately determine the degree of intoxication. There is no way to hasten the liver’s rate of alcohol clearance: only time alcohol’s largedose effects of impeding social interactions and diminishing euphoria. Rapid drinkers will quickly manifest intoxication (a condition of diminished mental and physical ability, hyperexcitability, or stupor induced by intake of alcohol or other drug.) , especially when drinking on an empty stomach. If a person drinks more than can be metabolized by the stomach and liver, the excess flows in to the bloodstream to the brain and the rest of the body. The lungs and kidneys then excrete some 10 percent of the blood alcohol in the breath and urine. The alcohol in the breath is directly proportional to that in the blood, so a breathalyzer test administered by law enforcement officers can accurately determine the degree of intoxication. There is no way to hasten the liver’s rate of alcohol clearance: only time restores sobriety. Walking around will not help because muscles cannot metabolize alcohol. Nor will drinking coffee: caffeine is a stimulant, but it won’t speed up the metabolism of alcohol. The police say that a cup of coffee only makes a sleepy drunk into a wide-awake drunk. Table C3–3 presents other alcohol myths. Table C3–3 Myths and Truths Concerning Alcohol Myth: A shot of alcohol warms you up. Truth: Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

Alcohol diverts blood flow to the skin, making you feel warmer, but it actually cools the body. Myth: Wine and beer are mild; they do not lead to addiction. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 3/5 4/20/2021 Print Preview Truth: Wine and beer drinkers worldwide have high rates of death from alcohol-related illnesses. It’s not what you drink but how much that makes the difference. Myth: Mixing drinks is what gives you a hangover. Truth: Too much alcohol in any form produces a hangover. Myth: Alcohol is a stimulant. Truth: Alcohol depresses the brain’s activity. Myth: Alcohol is legal; therefore, it is not a drug. Truth: Alcohol is legal, but it alters body functions and is medically defined as a depressant drug. Binge Drinking Heavy episodic drinking (engaging in heavy consumption of alcohol over a short time period, with the intention of becoming intoxicated; for a man: drinking five or more drinks; or for a woman: drinking four or more drinks on at least one occasion within a 30-day period.) , often called binge drinking, is a problematic drinking style for a large and growing number of people. Young adults enjoy parties, sports events, and other social occasions, but these settings often encourage binge drinking. Binge drinking skews national statistics, making alcohol use on college campuses appear to be more common than it is. The median number of drinks consumed by all college students is 1.5 per week, but for binge drinkers it is 14.5 per week. This destructive drinking pattern is observed in the greatest numbers among people 18 to 34 and is responsible for most of this group’s alcohol-related accidents and illnesses. The harms grow worse with age. In the United States, six binge drinkers die per day— mostly men aged 35 to 64. Compared with nondrinkers and moderate drinkers, binge drinkers are also more likely to damage property, assault other people, or cause fatal accidents. They are also more likely to engage in unprotected sex, resulting in sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies. Female binge drinkers are more likely to be victims of rape. Binge drinkers on and off campus may not recognize themselves as problem drinkers until their drinking behavior causes a crisis such as a car crash, or until https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 4/5 4/20/2021 Print Preview enough years have passed to cause substantial, potentially irreversible, damage to their health. Chapter 3: The Remarkable Body: 3-9c Drinking Patterns Book Title: Nutrition: Concepts & Controversies Printed By: Alvard Tsaturyan (alla.tsaturyan1@gmail.com) © 2020 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning © 2021 Cengage Learning Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this work may by reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, or in any other manner – without the written permission of the copyright holder. https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 5/5 4/20/2021 Print Preview Chapter 3: The Remarkable Body: 3-9b Alcohol’s Chemistry and Handling by the Body Book Title: Nutrition: Concepts & Controversies Printed By: Alvard Tsaturyan (alla.tsaturyan1@gmail.com) © 2020 Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning 3-9b Alcohol’s Chemistry and Handling by the Body The alcohols (chemical compounds that consist of a carbon atom or chain of carbons to which a hydroxyl (oxygen-hydrogen) group is attached. The alcohol of alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which has two carbon atoms.) are a set of compounds, all of which have the same reactive chemical group at one end. The smallest alcohol is methanol, which has one carbon atom; the next-larger one is ethanol (the alcohol of alcoholic beverages, often called simply “alcohol”; a drug.) (two carbons), Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay

the alcohol of alcoholic beverages (you can see its structure on the first page of Appendix A). Glycerol (three carbons) is next, and shows up again in Chapter 5 in regard to fats. The suffix -ol identifies the alcohols. Alcohols affect living things profoundly, partly because they dissolve lipids. Most kinds are toxins that can injure or kill cells. Alcohol can easily penetrate a cell’s outer lipid membrane and, once inside, disrupt the cell’s structures and kill the cell. Because some alcohols kill microbial cells, they make useful disinfectants and antiseptics. The ethanol of alcoholic beverages is somewhat less toxic than other alcohols. Sufficiently diluted, taken slowly and in moderation, its action in the brain eases social interactions and produces euphoria (a state of intense happiness induced by an extremely pleasurable experience or by a drug such as ethanol.) , a pleasant sensation that people seek. Because it can be used this way, alcohol can be considered a drug (any substance that, when taken into a living organism, modifies one or more of its functions. Also defined in Controversy 2.) , and like many drugs, it presents both benefits and hazards to users. From the moment one starts to drink an alcoholic beverage, the body gives it special attention. Unlike food, which requires digestion before it can be absorbed, ethanol starts diffusing right through the stomach walls into the bloodstream. When the stomach is full of food, molecules of alcohol are less readily absorbed into the bloodstream; also food delays the flow of alcohol into the small intestine. Drinkers who want to drink socially and not become intoxicated eat snacks both before and during drinking. The stomach possesses an enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase, abbreviated ADH) that alters some of the alcohol consumed, leaving its major breakdown product, acetaldehyde (ASSset-AL-deh-hyde). Liver ADH also produces acetaldehyde from alcohol that is absorbed. Acetaldehyde is even more toxic than alcohol, but a second enzyme (acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, found in the liver) can break it down further to a nontoxic substance that ultimately becomes harmless water and carbon dioxide. Most of the body’s ADH occurs in the liver, and the liver metabolizes the most alcohol by far. Women make less stomach ADH than men do, and therefore absorb more alcohol from each drink than do men of equal weight. Experts often warn that women should not try to https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?eISBN=9781337907088&id=1052297674&nbId=2184131&snapshotId=2184131&dockAppUid=101& 1/2 4/20/2021 Print Preview keep up drink for drink with males for this reason. Alcohol’s next stop beyond the stomach is the small intestine. There, absorption into the blood takes place promptly. The capillaries that surround the small intestine merge into veins that carry the alcohol-laden blood to the liver. The liver, with its large quantities of ADH, is the major site for alcohol breakdown. If a person drinks slowly enough, the liver will collect nearly all of the alcohol available from the passing blood and process it without much affecting the other parts of the body. The liver can process about ounce of blood ethanol (about one st … Benefits & Risks of Alcohol Consumption Essay