PDHPE Notes on Effects of Alcohol

Summary - Alcohol contains ethanol which can have numerous effects on the body both overtime and at the time of consumption. The severity of the symptoms depending on the amount of intake.

The affects of alcohol are due to the ethanol being consumed faster than the liver can function. This changes the messages sent from the brain around the body.

Short term effects

-            Dizziness and Imbalance due to excessive fluid in inner ear

-            Fatigue alcohol depresses the central nervous system becoming a sedative

-            Stomach Irritation is caused by the acidity levels of alcohol. This and the inner ear fluid can cause nausea and vomiting.

Severe effects (if consumed regularly)

-            Can affect parts of the brain responsible for different functions shutting them down.

-            Struggle breathing

-            Loss of temperature control

-            Heart rate high

Long term effects

-            Addiction

-            Heart disease

-            High Blood pressure

-            Cancer

-            Death

Affects of Alcohol on the Brain

-            Alcohol is bad for the brain

-            It affects the messages, sent from the brain to other parts of the body.

-            Neurotransmitters are either excitatory or exhibitory.

-            Alcohol acts as an agonist increasing the number of inhibitory neurotransmitters increasing the slowing of brain activity.

-            Brain becomes slowed down.

-            Can start to become something your body relies on too function.

-            Excitatory = Push messages on further.

-            Exhibitory = block or prevent the chemical message from being passed along any farther.