Health - Alcohol and Tobacco

Tobacco

a plant with leaves that contain the chemical **nicotine**. 

Nicotine

a toxic substance that gives tobacco products their addictive quality.

Vaping Devices

tobacco products that heat tobacco or synthetic nicotine without burning it, producing an aerosol.

E-liquid

substance made of nicotine ( or another substance) and other chemicals; it is heated during vaping; is man-made.

Health Effects of Cigarettes

Long term users of cigarettes die 13-15 years earlier than people who do not use cigarettes. 

People who smoke have a higher risk of:

* Type 2 diabetes
* Colorectal and liver cancer
* Vision loss
* Tuberculosis
* Arthritis

Carbon monoxide

colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that interferes with the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.

carcinogens

cancer causing substances in cigarette smoke (more than 70) that increases the risk of a person developing cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, lung and bladder.

Tar

residue consisting of small, thick sticky particles; builds up in the lungs as a result of smoking. It builds up in the lungs and disrupts the ability of the cilia to clear the lungs.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

group of conditions that make breathing more difficult;includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

Chronic Bronchitis

condition in which the bronchial tubes become swollen and irritated, narrowing the pathway to the lungs

Emphysema

condition that causes the lungs to lose elasticity; permanently enlarges airways and destroys the alveoli in lung tissue. Alveoli are the tiny air sacs that allow for gas exchange.

Asthma

chronic condition in which airways constrict and fill with mucus which blocks airflow to and from the lungs.

Aerosol

Suspension of fine particles or droplets in the air.

Popcorn lung

condition that damages the lungs’ smallest airways and can lead to coughing and shortness of breath.

Diacetyl

flavoring found in more than 75 percent of flavored e- liquids; is directly responsible for causing popcorn lung.

Smokeless Tobacco

tobacco product that is chewed or snuffed rather than smoked; contains nicotine and carcinogens. Because it is placed directly into the mouth, people who use these products actually absorb even more nicotine than people who smoke.

Leukoplakia

condition characterized by thickened, white, leathery spots inside the mouth and can develop into oral cancer.

Secondhand smoke

smoke that people inhale involuntarily when someone nearby is smoking.

Secondhand aerosol

suspension of fine particles that people inhale involuntarily when someone nearby is vaping

Thirdhand smoke

particles of gases left over after someone smokes a cigarette; it remains on a nearby surfaces like carpets, car interiors, and walls

Alcohol

addictive depressant with the active ingredient ethanol; alters brain function

Ethanol

also known as pure alcohol

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood; this percentage compares the amount of alcohol in a person’s body to the amount of blood. 

intoxicated

A person that has a BAC of 0.08% or higher are considered legally impaired or _______.

Factors that affect BAC

Body Weight, Biological Sex, Food consumption, and Ethnicity

Body weight

The same amount of alcohol affects people who weigh less more than people who weigh more. Someone who weighs more has more water in the body which dilutes the alcohol and lowers BAC.

Biological Sex

Females tend to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly because they tend to have more fat than muscle. Muscle absorbs alcohol easier than fat. So in females it's not absorbed as easily and then it is more concentrated. Females also have lower levels of enzymes that help process alcohol.

Food consumption

factor that will slow down the absorption of the alcohol, so BAC will be lower.

Ethnicity

Up to 50% of people of Asian heritage have difficulty processing alcohol due to a difference in an enzyme that processes it.

Cerebral Cortex

This part of the brain controls thinking. Alcohol reduces the brain’s ability to to process information. It makes it difficult to think clearly. Alcohol reduces **inhibitions**. This is the psychological restraint that keeps people from acting in dangerous ways. Reduced inhibition can lead to poor decision making.

Hypothalamus and pituitary gland

control the release of hormones in the body.

Cerebellum

controls movement and balance. Coordination is affected. Alcohol can cause slurred speech, longer reaction time, and increased risk for accidents including motor vehicle accidents and falls.

Medulla

controls automatic functions in the body like breathing and consciousness.

Hippocampus

a brain structure linked to learning and memory. Consuming alcohol can lead to memory loss (blacking out). Long term use can increase the risk for demetia

Hangover

negative symptoms caused by excessive alcohol use. This happens because the brain will stop producing **vasopressin**.

vasopressin

This hormone helps the body reabsorb liquids. Without enough of this, liquids go straight to the bladder. This means the body expels four times as much liquid as it consumed causing dehydration resulting in thirst, headaches, and muscle aches.

Alcohol Poisoning

a medical emergency in which a person consumes more alcohol than the body can break down. Alcohol suppresses the nervous system and vital body functions to dangerous levels. This is also referred to as alcohol overdose.

Cirrhosis

buildup of scar tissue in the liver.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

A set of health conditions that affect the baby born to a person who has consumed alcohol during pregnancy.

Typically these conditions are present at birth and include:

* Poor growth
* Decreased muscle tone and poor coordination
* Heart conditions
* Changes in facial development

Driving under the influence (DUI)

operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08% for anyone 21 or older.