Short and long term effects Alcohol Short and long term effects

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL Factors that may influence how an individual may be affected by alcohol: Quantity How quickly they have drunk the alcohol  Whether they have mixed other drugs How regularly they drink Their mood Their age, sex and body weight Food Women will almost always have a higher BAC. One reason is that a woman’s body contains more fatty tissue and less water than a man’s body and women are often smaller than men. A smaller person will have a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) than a larger person, because the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass

BRAIN: Function: oversees bodily functions and allows consciousness Short term effects: Reduced control over reaction time, co-ordination, thinking and speech Alcohol poisoning Unconsciousness Long term effects: Memory loss Alcohol related brain injury Hallucinations Impaired motor skills

THROAT Function: to swallow food Short term effects: Dryness Long term effects: Cancer of the throat, mouth and oesophagus

HEART Function: to pump blood around the body Short term effects: Some types of heart problems and stroke by affecting heart rate, blood pressure and blood flow. Long term effects: Heart disease Stroke Hypertension

KIDNEYS Function: to filter out toxins (eg. alcohol) from blood and remove them through urine. Balance fluid. Short term effects: Dehydration Long term effects: Kidney disease

STOMACH Short term effects: Irritation Diarrhoea Long term effects: Stomach lining inflamed and irritated Bleeding Loss of appetite Ulcers Cancer Weight gain

SMALL INTESTINE Function: digestion and absorption of food Long term effects: Inflammation Irritation of lining Cancer

LIVER Functions: removes toxins (alcohol) from the body. Alcohol is processed by the liver at a fixed rate, getting rid of about one standard drink per hour. Long term effects: Inflammation (hepatitis) Cirrhosis of the liver Liver failure Cancer

Other effects of alcohol? Social Emotional