Topic 9, 10, 11: Alcohol, Smoking, and Immunity & Infection

Flashcards covering key concepts from the topics of alcohol, smoking, and immunity & infection.

Alcohol

The most popular psychoactive drug in the western world.

Moderate drinking guidelines

1 drink per day for women, 2 drinks per day for men.

Types of Alcohol

Beer 3-8% alcohol

Wine 9-14% alcohol

Hard Liquor 30-50% alcohol

One drink =

13.6 g alcohol

What happens to the alcohol in your body?

20% rapidly absorbed from stomach into blood stream, 75% absorbed through small intestine

rapidly distributed through body tissues, metabolized most by liver

crosses blood-brain barrier and disrupts brain networl

Chronic heavy use of alcohol

Can cause permanent damage such as liver cirrhosis and brain damage.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Percentage of alcohol in the blood; legal limits vary, such as 0.08% for criminal charges.

0.04% 1st offence experienced driver - vehicle seized, 4 points, impaired driving course, $500-$1500

Number of Drinks and impacts

• 1-2 drinks: 0.05 —> more relaxed and judgement, alertness and reaction time decrease

• 3-4 drinks: 0.05 - 0.10 —> clumsy, exaggerated behaviour

• 5-7 drinks: 0.10-0.15 —> vision, emotional

• 8-10 drinks: 0.15-0.30 —> slurring, staggering

• over 0.35 —> coma, over 0.40 = death

Chronic Abuse of Alcohol

• digestive system: accumulates in liver cells, fatty liver, inflammation, alcohol hepatitis, destroyed cells, liver cancer

• brain damage: alcohol interferes with production of new brain cells, especially under age 21; shrinkage and reduced blood flow

• mortality: 6% deaths globally, alcoholic life expectancy 15 years less

Alcohol and Pregnancy

• alcohol and its metabolic products cross the placenta

• alcohol = teratogen: agent that can cause malformations to fetus

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

A range of effects caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy, including physical and mental growth issues.

Alcohol Health Benefits

lowers rate of CVD

possible mechanisms: increased HDL in blood, thinning blood, reducing inflammation

Tobacco addiction

Nicotine dependence characterized by loss of control and intense cravings.

Why Smoke?

• nicotine addiction

• social factors

• genetic factors

Short Term Effects of Smoking

• symptoms of mild nicotine poisoning

• stimulates brain, adrenal glands

• inhibits urine function

• constricts blood vessels, increased heart rate and bp

• depressed hunger

Long Term Effects of Smoking

• coronary heart disease

• atherosclerosis

• angina

• permanently accelerates rate of plaque formation in arteries

• primary cause of lung cancer

• COPD

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)

• Involuntary inhalation of smoke from cigarettes, posing health risks, especially to children

• mainstream smoke: smoke inhaled by a smoker than exhaled into atmosphere

• side stream smoke: 85%, smoke that escapes from the tip of cigarette

• CO lingers in blood stream for up to 5 hours

Costs of Smoking

• over $16 billion

Vaping

• inhalation of aerosol produced by battery powered electric devices

• electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

• not water vapour

Dangers of Vaping vs Smoking

• breathing issues, organ damage, addiction

• harmful particles suspend in the air

• 2nd hand exposure

• device explosions

• no long term data on health risks and damage to lungs and body

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A progressive breathing disease, often caused by long-term smoking, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Communicable disease

A disease that can be spread from person to person, often of shorter duration (infectious)

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

Pathogens: Bacteria

• most abundant living organisms

• pneumonia, strep throat, TB, etc

Pathogens: Viruses

• lack function to grow and reproduce unless in a host

• common cold, influenza, chicken pox, mumps, rubella, polio

• most can vaccinate against

Viruses: Fungi

organisms that absorb food from organic matter

Viruses: Protozoa

single-celled organisms that can cause diseases in humans, animals, and plants, often transmitted through contaminated water or food

Chain of Infection

1. infectious agent (pathogen)

2. reservoirs (medical, insect/rodent, quarantaine)

3. portal of exit (condoms, masks)

4. means of transportation (hand washing, avoiding sex)

5. portal of entry (open wounds, mucous membranes)

6. susceptible host (immunization, health prevention)

Immune system

The body's defense mechanism against pathogens, with white blood cells playing a key role.

Defence Against Pathogens (1st, 2nd)

1st: physical and chemical barriers - prevents many micro-organisms from entering body, mouth (mucous membranes), respiratory tract (mucous membranes and cells)

2nd: immune system - body has been invaded —> response system activated, white blood cells are the defenders and continue to produce bone marrow

2 Types of Lymphocytes

T cells

B cells

Lymphocytes

• ability to distinguish self from non-self

• capable of great destruction

• autoimmune disorders: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis

Antigens

Non-self markers that trigger an immune response.

Inflammatory Response

• histamine and other substances released by special cells in area of invasion, cause blood vessels to dilate and fluid to flow out of capillaries to injured tissues

• white blood cells attack invaders

Incubation Period

• viruses/bacteria actively multiplying in body before immune system responds

• symptoms appear after incubation period

• many responses due to immune response, not invading organisms

Antibiotic Treatment

• bacterial infections only

• interrupt new bacteria production by damaging reproductive cycle or cause faulty parts

Immunity

• survival from infection

• infected person will never get same illness again

Immunization

• The process of stimulating an immune response through vaccines to prevent diseases

• manipulate immune system with vaccine: prevention of killed or weakened pathogens given to stimulate immune response; body produces antibodies to prevent serious infection if ever exposed to disease organism itself

Allergies

Hypersensitive reactions produced by an overactive immune system in response to allergens.