Alcohol

What is Alcohol? Alcohol is a clear drink that is made from corn, barley, grain, rye, or a beverage containing ethyl. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. In other words, it is a drug that slows down the nervous system.

How is it made? Beer and  wine are called fermented beverages. They are made by adding yeast to a substance that contains sugar. The yeast starts the formation process, which turns sugar into ethyl and carbon dioxide gas. Another type of alcoholic beverage is called a distilled beverage. That is made from fermented grain mash or fermented juice. Distilled beverages include drinks such as whiskey, vodka, liqueurs, gin, rum, and other beverages.

What happens when alcohol enters the body? alcohol is technically a food because it supplies a concentrated number of calories, but they are empty calories - no nutrients, just calories. Lots of calories. Alcohol is fattening! 95% of alcohol - absorbed through the stomach wall moves through the bloodstream into the heart and increases the heart rate

It immediately travels to your brain. Once there, it alters: your response time your motor responses your reflexes your balance your muscle control your judgment your ability to delay or inhibit your words or actions your emotions

Alcohol has four stages when it reaches the brain. Whether the drinker moves to any stages beyond number one depends on how much and how fast he/she drinks

Stages: It stimulates and produces a sense of euphoria It depresses and sedates, producing calmness It anaesthetizes It induces a hypnotic state and sleep

 After the brain, the alcohol moves into the muscles and impairs reflexes and muscle coordination (in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol that has been consumed.) The alcohol next moves into the liver. Only 5% of alcohol is eliminated from the body through the breath, urine or sweat. The rest, 95%, is broken down in the liver.  

The short-term effects of alcohol abuse include: distorted vision, hearing and coordination altered perceptions and emotions impaired judgment temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure decreased heart rate slowed reaction time loss of balance bad breath and hangovers

Alcohol abuse usually leads to other problems heavy drinking disrupts eating and sleeping patterns and lowers one's resistance to illness slowed reaction times and impaired judgment frequently contribute to accidents, injuries, increased aggression and risky behaviour

The long-term effects of alcohol abuse include: loss of appetite vitamin deficiencies stomach ailments skin problems liver damage heart and central nervous system damage memory loss and blackouts hallucinations

While these conditions generally occur when someone has abused alcohol over an extended period of time, it is important to understand that even a single episode of excessive drinking can lead to unconsciousness and even death if the amount consumed is large enough and is consumed fast enough.  

What are the "day after" effects of alcohol abuse? Alcohol is a depressant and has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. When this depressant effect is removed there is a rebound of sensitivity to all stimuli noise,light..... Digestive organs are affected. Alcohol is an irritant which produces a flow of gastric juices to the stomach. The next day a 'rebound effect' is produced as the stomach works extra hard to neutralise the gastric acid. Nausea usually results.