ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS.pptx

This presentation focuses on ill effects of alcohol on our health.

1. Alcohol and it’s effects on our health Dr. Amandeep Bijral

2. Facts About 1 in 5 alcohol drinkers aged 14 or older had put themselves or others at risk of injury or harm while drinking in the previous 12 months. Over 1 in 5 Australians aged 14 or older had been a victim of an alcohol related incident in 2019. This included many types of abuse, including verbal or physical abuse. Adults aged 18-24 were more likely to binge drink than the rest of the population. Men were more likely to binge drink than women .

3. Alcohol Alcohol usually refers to drinks such as beer, wine or spirits that contain a chemical known as ETHYL ALCOHOL (ethanol). Alcohol is a mood-changing drug that belongs to the class of drugs known as 'depressants‘ which means that alcohol slows down the central nervous system and inhibits many functions of the brain. When a person drinks alcohol it is absorbed into the blood stream through the walls of the stomach and small intestine, and then rapidly distributed to all parts of the body — including the brain. It also affects almost all of the body cell’s and system(s).

4. Alcoholism Alcoholism is characterized by: An increased tolerance to alcohol - which means that an individual can consume more alcohol. Physical dependence on alcohol - which makes it hard for an individual to control their consumption. The physical dependency caused by alcohol can lead to an affected individual having a very strong urge to drink alcohol. These characteristics play a role in decreasing the ability to stop drinking of an individual with an alcohol use disorder. Alcoholism can have adverse effects on mental health, contributing to psychiatric disorders and increasing the risk of suicide. A depressed mood is a common symptom of heavy alcohol drinkers.

5. Absorption Rate Although the rate of absorption can differ depending on a number of factors including: Gender Body size and composition Age E xperience of drinking Genetics Nutrition I ndividual metabolism The liver is the main body organ responsible for removing alcohol from the bloodstream. Alcohol generally only takes a few minutes to reach the brain.

6. No level of alcohol consumption can be considered safe. To reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury for healthy men and women, drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day . Alcohol is processed at a fixed rate, and it generally takes about 1 hour to break down the alcohol content of 1 standard drink. You cannot remove alcohol from your blood by vomiting, having a cold shower or drinking coffee or other caffeine drinks

7. Standard drink One  standard drink contains 10g of pure alcohol (equivalent to 12.5ml of pure alcohol) , regardless of glass size or type of alcohol (such as beer, wine or spirits ). A standard drink is a can of mid-strength beer, 100ml of wine, or a 30ml shot of spirits.

8. Contraindications Age below 18 and above 65 Pregnant females Cardiac and diabetic patients Depressive and anxiety disorder patients Hypertensive patients

9. Warning Signs The consumption of increasing amounts of alcohol and frequent intoxication P reoccupation with drinking to the exclusion of other activities P romises to quit drinking and failure to keep those promises T he inability to remember what was said or done while drinking (colloquially known as "blackouts ") P ersonality changes associated with drinking D enial or the making of excuses for drinking T he refusal to admit excessive drinking D ysfunction or other problems at work or schoo T he loss of interest in personal appearance or hygiene M arital and economic problems T he complaint of poor health L oss of appetite R espiratory infections I ncreased anxiety

10. Short term effects of alcoholism Dizziness L ack of judgment Loss of coordination Memory Loss Headache Blurry vision Red appearance of face Vomiting- Aspiration Hangovers Accidental Injury (To Yourself Or Others) Deliberately Harming Yourself Or Others Alcohol Poisoning (Which Can Be Fatal)

11. Long term effects of alcoholism Depression Anxiety Increase risk fore suicide Hypertension Stroke Dementia Heart disease Liver disease (cancers and cirrhosis) Stomach ulcers Infertility

12. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) A BAC is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your body, expressed as grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood. This means that a 0.05 BAC is the equivalent of 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

13. Binge drinking Binge drinking means drinking heavily on a single occasion, or drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks. A person might be more likely to engage in this behavior if they feel peer pressure to do so, or if they're feeling awkward or uncomfortable at a party. Binge drinking also has adverse effects on their health and wellbeing which include : S hort-term effects: Nausea R isk of injury( to self or others). Long-term effects: Significant damage to the brain and liver P hysical and psychological dependence on alcohol T he risk of developing emotional and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

14. Hangover Some people get a hangover after just one drink, while others may drink heavily and not experience a hangover at all. It depends on how the body processes alcohol. A hangover is when you have a bad headache, sickness, dizziness and dehydration after drinking alcohol. Usually , the more your drink, the worse the hangover will be.

15. The symptoms of a hangover Headache : Alcohol makes the blood vessels expand, which leads to a headache. Dehydration : Alcohol is a diuretic (meaning it removes fluids from the body), so drinking excessively can lead to dehydration. It is the dehydration that causes many of the symptoms of a hangover, including thirst, dizziness and light headedness . Feeling ill: Alcohol triggers the immune system to release chemicals that cause problems with concentrating, loss of appetite and memory problems . Nausea, vomiting and aching tummy : Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and increases the amount of acid in it. Shakiness: Alcohol can cause blood sugar to fall , which can make you weak, tired and shaky . Tiredness : Even though you may fall asleep when you drink, alcohol prevents the body from reaching the deeper stages of sleep. You may wake in the middle of the night after drinking heavily. This means you may not be safe to drive or operate machinery.

16. Cure to hangover Hangover cures are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover. To avoid a hangover, don't drink more than you know your body can cope with.  All you can do is ease the symptoms and wait until it goes away . Drink water to treat dehydration. Don't drink any more alcohol. Try to eat some simple food to boost your blood sugar and settle your stomach. Take pain relief  for your headache. G o back to bed to sleep it off if you can.

17. Alcohol Dependence If you drink a lot of alcohol, you might become dependent on it to make you feel good. Your drinking behavior could be harmful and a form of substance abuse. Treatment options vary with strength of alcohol dependence. For low level dependence, your doctor might discuss the problem with you and suggest changes you can make or recommend counseling. For high level dependence will need different treatments to manage the effects of alcohol withdrawal which include: Supportive Psychotherapy Cessation of alcohol intake Positive behavioral therapy Medication Peer support therapy Detoxification/ De-addiction centers

18. Tips for drinking responsibly Keep an eye on what you’re drinking; set limits for yourself and stick to them. Start with non-alcoholic drinks and alternate with alcoholic drinks, or try drinks with a lower alcohol content. Eat before or while you are drinking. Don’t drink and drive. If you are going out in a group, work out who will drive everyone home. If no one wants to be the nominated driver, bring enough money for a taxi. Avoid mixing medications with alcohol. Understand that your blood alcohol will continue to rise after you have had your last drink. You generally won’t reach your maximum BAC until 45 to 90 minutes after having your final drink.

19. Commonly used drink calculators: Android/Apple store App On Track with The Right Mix Website https://drinkwise.org.au/standard-drinks-calculator