Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body - Essay Example

_____________ ID: _________ ID: _________ Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body Alcohol exposure apart from the side effectsof intoxication and death produces devastating and long-lasting effects on the exposed individual like throat cancer, liver damage, heart attacks, it also causes dehydration while consuming and requiring more and more water due to the heat generated by heavy alcohol intake. Continuous usage of alcohol effects the brain cells thereby making those cells work slower. These effects include physical irregularities and cognitive and behavioral impairments with outcomes ranging in different severities ranging from prenatal death to subtle behavioral problems. Alcohol is the only type of beverage that once adopted as a heavy drinker, cannot simply withdraw as it causes various chronic diseases in situations where a heavy drinker is forced to quit alcohol intake. How it affects the Brain "Alcohol travels through the bloodstream by simply entering the main tissues of the mouth and throat. After reaching the stomach it searches the outlet and after founding it open, it passes into small intestine thereby absorbing every single drop of it. In case the outlet of stomach is closed, stomach walls don't take longer to absorb the alcohol. The bloodstream then distributes the alcohol uniformly throughout the body. In this manner, the alcohol reaches the brain and other parts of the body". (ACS) "Blood is the main distributor of alcohol, which virtually transfers it to every cell in the body. In nursing mothers it rapidly enters the breast milk. In pregnant women it crosses the placenta and thus reaches the unborn child as well". (Zamula, 1986) Although alcohol affects the entire human body but there are particular parts of the body that are resistant to the harmful effects of alcoholism. In general, according to alcohol consumption alters health by one of the following mechanisms: 1) Effects of alcohol oxidation on intermediary metabolism, 2) Effects mediated by toxic breakdown products such as acetaldehyde, 3) Effects due to coexistent malnutrition, and 4) Effects that are a secondary consequences of alcohol-induced organ injury per se. (Korsten & Bronx in Ammerman et al, (1999) p. 65) Liver Damage Liver and Pancreas are the most affected organs that are subjected to alcohol exposure as liver is the major organ for metabolism of ethanol and it is this metabolism, with subsequent altered cellular homeostasis, that is thought to be central to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (Lieber, 1995). Metabolism of ethanol results in the production of a toxic metabolite substance called acetaldehyde that can bind irreversibly to cellular proteins and enzymes. In addition, complexes of acetaldehyde with various cellular proteins may form the basis of a cellular immune response directed toward the hepatocyte (Hoerner et al., 1988). Metabolism of ethanol also results in the production of hydrogen, which when interacts with carbohydrate metabolism and mitochondrial function is subjected to accumulate fat within the liver called alcoholic fatty liver (Lieber, 1995) which is main cause of liver failure. The abuse of alcohol is a frequent cause of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. These complications of alcoholism arise as a result of: 1) Direct effects of alcohol on the bone marrow, 2) Associated nutritional deficiencies especially of folic acid and pyridoxine, and 3) Alcohol-induced liver injury. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 79) Alcohol During Pregnancy - Fatal Alcohol Syndrome Alcoholism during pregnancy leads to a disease called "Fatal Alcohol Syndrome" (FAS), which is marked by reducing birth weight and size, small head circumference of the foetus, microophthamalia, micrognathia, an elongated upper lip, ear abnormalities, and mental retardation. So, alcohol effects the foetus following lower or mild doses of alcohol, may lead to mild abnormalities, learning problems, and behavioral disturbances in the child. The placenta is readily permeable to alcohol in the maternal blood stream. (Westermeyer, 1986, p. 39) FAS is characterized by pre and postnatal growth deficiency, craniofacial anomalies, and evidence of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction (Jones & Smith, 1973). Findings using several techniques revealed that children resulting from FAS have specific volumetric reductions in their overall brain size, cerebellum, basal ganglia, diencephalon, and corpus callosum. (Goodlett et al, 1999, p. 11) According to a research women and men with chronic alcoholism have less alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the gastric mucosa than men without alcoholism. This enzyme detoxifies alcohol, so deficiency results in higher availability of alcohol. Women therefore suffer the effects of alcohol intake at much lower doses in a shorter time span than men. (Schenker & Speeg, 1990) Central Nervous System Alcohol, no doubt, is a mood elevating, central nervous system depressant that affects every organ in the human body, but the post profound effects are on the central nervous system. Areas of the brain associated with the highly integrated functions are depressed, causing loss of control, disorganized thought processes, and decrease coordination. Alcohol is respiratory depressant that affects temperature-regulating mechanism of the human body. Heart Tremors As soon as the alcohol rapidly crosses into the blood stream, producing physiologic effects a second or two faster than intravenous administration. It requires only several seconds for the alcoholic blood to leave the lungs, flow to the left side of the heart, and up to the brain, there it causes the deterioration thereby pumping the blood harder and harder ultimately causing heart attacks. Tremors resulting from alcohol withdrawal occur about 4-6 hours after the last drink ingested. Shakes may be accompanied by irritability, retching, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and increased body temperature, heart rate, respirations, and blood pressure. The peak effects of minor withdrawal occur 12-24 hours after the last drink. Diseases linked with alcoholism Polyneuropathy, Wernicke's disease, and Korsakoff's psychosis with memory loss are potential long-term complications of Alcoholism. Wernicke's syndrome consists of neurological problem such as ataxia, nystagnus, and paralysis of certain human ocular muscles. Korsakoff syndrome consists of psychological symptoms such as severe recent memory loss, confusion, and confabulation (made up stories to fill in gaps in memory loss). (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 380) Hormonal Imbalance Alcohol alters hormonal balance and carbohydrate metabolism, sometimes resulting in glucose in tolerance. It also interferes with adrenocortical, adrenomedullary, thyroid, gonadal and pituitary functions. Hematologic abnormality include anemia and sequestration of white cells in the spleen. Anemia is caused by folate deficiency and granulocytopenia from toxic effects of ethanol on bone marrow. In addition, alcoholics are vulnerable to infectious diseases and have difficulty combating them. (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 380) Long standing alcohol intake causes cardiomyopathy whose symptoms includes shortness of breathe, fatigue, palpitations, anorexia, and dependant edema. Hypertension, coronary artery disease and cardiac dysrhythmias are also prevalent. (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 380) Cancer and Intestinal Diseases Continuous usage of alcohol can increase the incidence of esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, pharynx, larynx and liver, as well as esophageal and gastric varices, peptic ulcer cancer, duodenitis, esophagitis, pancreatitis and other pancreatic disorders. Alcohol absorbed from the intestine pass by way of the portal vein to the liver before being distributed more generally throughout the body. That is the main reason of affecting liver the utmost. Malabsorption and alteration in intestinal motility, structural changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and impaired transport of glucose, amino acids, electrolytes, thiamine, vitamin B12 and calcium also frequently occur. (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 380) Nutritional Imbalance Alcohol use is fundamentally related to nutritional status, because alcohol intake decreases intake of food with nutritional value. In addition, alcohol affects organ systems involved in the digestion and absorption of nutrients and produces deficiencies of folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, iron, zinc and vitamins A, D, and K. Pregnant women with a zinc deficient diet who drink alcohol possess substantially impaired ability to metabolize alcohol. Therefore, for these women Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or alcohol effects may be increased. (Cefalo & Moos, 1988) Nutritional Deficiencies Following deficiencies are common in alcohol dependants: Folic acid deficiency: Extremely common in alcoholics and can cause megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and granulocytopenia. Key factors in the development of folic acid deficiency are poor dietary intake, intestinal malabsorption, and abnormal utilization. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 67) Pyridoxine deficiency has been implicated in the development of sideroblastic anemia. In addition to poor dietary intake, increased breakdown of pyridoxal-5-phosphate has been implicated by a number of investigators. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 67) Thiamine deficiency probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of the Wernecke-Korsakoff syndrome. The deficiency has been traced to poor dietary intake, decreased absorption and, perhaps, defective activation. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 67) Iron deficiency may develop after gastrointestinal hemorrhage and may require replacement therapy. However, since iron absorption may be increased in some individuals. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 67) Deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins (ADK): In addition to poor intake, these vitamins are particularly prone to malabsorption in the presence of liver or pancreatic injury. Clinical exposure includes decreased night vision and hypogonadism (vitamin A), increased susceptibility to osteoporosis and fractures (vitamin D), and coagulopathy (vitamin K). As is the case with iron supplementation, caution must be exercised when replenishing fat-soluble vitamins given their potential toxicity. (Ammerman et al, 1999, p. 67) Psychological disorders Alcoholic hallucinosis involving a confused state in which the person misinterprets existing stimuli can occur in up to 25% of those withdrawing from alcohol. Visual or tactile misinterpretation and disorientation give rise to restlessness and sometimes fearfulness with paranoia. (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 389) Alcohol withdrawal also leads a person to hallucinations. Auditory and visual hallucinations usually involve voices familiar to the patient and may often be threatening in a sense that the patient believes such voices to be true and often acts on the hallucinations, which can cause any consequences. Delirium Tremens Delirium Tremens is the most serious form of alcohol withdrawal, which refers to heightened autonomic nervous system activity, which produces tremors, agitation, rapid pulse, and fever. Delirium tremens may begin 48 to 72 hours after the last drink, with insomnia, hallucinations, and delusional thinking. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, magnesium deficiency, intercurrent infection, nutritional deficiency, or head trauma may contribute to onset and severity of delirium. Disorientation and marked agitation may also occur. Mortality of untreated delirium tremens ranges between five and fifteen percent, with death from cerebral edema, status epilepticus, aspiration, arrhythmias, fluid and electrolyte problems. Elevated temperature, prolonged delirium over several days, and coma are poor prognostic signs. (Westermeyer, 1986, p. 34) A person's behavior can affect the onset and intensity of drug effect. For example, gastrointestinal absorption is facilitated by sitting or reclining since, at rest, about one fifth of the cardiac output goes directly to the brain. With standing or more vigorous activity, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is retarded, and the percentage of cardiac output going to the brain is reduced. A delayed effect may result if one consumes a larger-than-usual volume of a drug such as alcohol while playing a baseball game or standing at a cocktail party. Subsequently, with sitting and relaxing, the extent of the drug effect may be greater than anticipated since the intoxicating effects have been delayed. (Westermeyer, 1986, p. 29) Alcohol dependency increases the flow of saliva and gastric hydrochloric acid and inhibits the metabolism of carbohydrate, with resultant accumulation of fat in the liver. Alcohol also produces numerous endocrine effects, probably through direct action on the pituitary gland. Through its effects on vasopressin, it is a potent vasodilator. Even in moderate doses, urine flow is initially impeded, with increased extra cellular fluid as a result of antidiuretic hormone stimulation, followed later by a diuresis. In the case of chronic alcohol ingestion, this can lead to hypertension, renal disease, and coronary artery disease. Alcohol may alter the mechanical performance of the heart. Stroke is more apt to occur in predisposed individuals under the effects of alcohol. (Shannon & Hill, 1998, p. 380) Alcohol Withdrawal On abrupt withdrawal of alcohol, the research indicates that subjects experienced significant symptoms, including tremor, sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, hyper-reflexia, fever, raised blood pressure and insomnia; two subjects experienced convulsions and four subjects experienced hallucinations or delirium. (Heather & Stockwell, 2004, p. 38) According to Kobler, the Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction promoted some scientifically proven facts about alcohol consumption: 1) When alcohol passes down the throat it burns off the skin leaving it bare. 2) It causes the heart to beat many unnecessary times and after the first dose the heart is in danger of giving out so that it needs something to keep it up and, therefore, the person to whom the heart belongs has to take drink after drink to keep his heart going. 3) It turns the blood to water 4) A man who never drinks liquor will get well, where a drinking man would surely die (Kobler, 1973, p. 143) "Long-term alcohol abuse cuts 10 years or so off the lifespan and prematurely ages the brain by about the same. Regular use withers the limbs and swells the belly along with spidery red lines crawl over the nose and cheeks, the face sags, the hands tremble, and the eyes water leaving a forever regret for the drinker". (Zamula, 1986) Works Cited & References Ammerman T. Robert, Ott J. Peggy & Tarter E. Ralph, (1999) Prevention and Societal Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ. Bowman M. Angela, Fillmore T. Mark & Marczinski A. Cecile. (2005) "Acute Tolerance to Alcohol Effects on Inhibitory and Activational Mechanisms of Behavioral Control" In Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Volume: 66. Issue: 5. Cefalo, R. C., & Moos, M. K., (1988) Preconceptional health promotion. Rockville, MD: Aspen. Goodlett R. Charles, Hannigan H. John, Spear P. Linda & Spear E. Norman. (1999) "Alcohol and Alcoholism: Effects on Brain and Development": Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ. Halgren Eric, Klopp John, Maltzman Irving & Marinkovic Ksenija. (2000) "Alcohol Effects on Movement-Related Potentials: A Measure of Impulsivity" In Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Volume: 61. Issue: 1. Heather Nick & Stockwell Tim, (2004) The Essential Handbook of Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems: Wiley: Hoboken, NJ. Hoerner M., Beh U. J., Worner T. M., Blacksberg I., Braly L. F., Schaffner F., & Lieber C. S. (1988). "The role of alcoholism and liver disease in the appearance of serum antibodies against acetaldehyde adducts". Hepatology, 8, 569-574 Jones & Smith, (1973) in Goodlett R. Charles, Hannigan H. John, Spear P. Linda & Spear E. Norman. (1999) "Alcohol and Alcoholism: Effects on Brain and Development": Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ. Kobler, (1973) in Ammerman T. Robert, Ott J. Peggy & Tarter E. Ralph, (1999) Prevention and Societal Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ. Korsten A. Mark & Bronx V. A., Health effects of Alcohol in Ammerman et al (1999) Prevention and Societal Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ Lieber C. S. ( 1995). "The metabolism of alcohol and its implications for the pathogenesis of disease". In V. R. Preedie, & R. R. Watson (Eds.), Alcohol and the gastrointestinal tract (pp. 19-39). New York and London: CRC Press. Schenker, S., & Speeg, K. V. (1990). The risk of alcohol intake in men and women: all may not be equal. New England Journal of Medicine, 322(2), 127. Shannon M. Diane & Hill Marykay, (1998) Alcohol In High Risk and Critical Care: Intrapartum Nursing, second Edition: New York Westermeyer Joseph, (1986) A Clinical Guide to Alcohol and Drug Problems: Praeger Publishers: New York. Zamula Evelyn, (May, 1986) "Bodily Harm; the Health Effects of Excessive Drinking" In Magazine: FDA Consumer. Volume: 20. ACS, accessed from Read More