Alcohol and BAC Understanding

Study Notes

Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is an addictive drug found in beer, wine, and liquors. It's produced through fermentation.
Fermentation is the process where yeast breaks down plant sugars to create ethanol.
Distillation is a process that releases alcohol vapors at high temperatures. These vapors are then condensed and mixed with water to create a final alcohol product.

BAC is the ratio of alcohol to total blood volume.
One drink is equivalent to .54 ounces of alcohol.
BAC levels increase with the number of drinks consumed in a given timeframe.
BAC levels differ between men and women. At equal consumption rates, women's BAC levels will increase more noticeably.

Increased BAC levels lead to decreased attention, reduced control.
Impacts cause problems with information processing, judgment, coordination, eye movement control, and steadiness when driving.
Higher BAC's affect divided attention, choices, reaction times, and visual function, further jeopardizing driving ability.

Dehydration: Alcohol causes dehydration.
Hangover symptoms include muscle aches, headaches, upset stomach, anxiety, depression, and thirst.
Shrinkage in brain size and weight: The brain is affected directly by alcohol consumption.
High blood pressure: Alcohol consumption leads to increased blood pressure. Increased heart rate is also a common effect.
Cirrhosis of the Liver: Liver cells die, causing permanent damage to the liver.
Cancer: Alcohol can cause cancer in various parts of the body including the esophagus, stomach, mouth, tongue, and liver.

FAS is a disorder that affects a fetus when the mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy.
Effects include mental retardation, small head size, tremors, and abnormalities in the face, limbs, heart, and brain.

AA is an organization that helps alcoholics quit.
Al-Anon: Group for adult relatives and friends of alcoholics. It helps them understand the disease and their role in recovery.
Alateen: Group for teenagers and adolescents who live with an alcoholic parent.

Nicotine is the primary stimulant in tobacco products, along with approximately 4000 other chemicals.
Substances found in cigarettes are also found in everyday products like lighter fluid, road surfacing materials, and industrial solvents.

Nicotine is released and inhaled through various methods like cigarettes, pipes, or cigars.
Chewing or snorting tobacco (snuff) also releases nicotine, absorbed into the mouth's membranes through saliva.

Smoking leads to various health problems across different parts of the body.
Examples of negative outcomes include cancer of the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, larynx, and the esophagus. Other systems of the body are also impacted, such as the heart, blood vessels, and the circulatory system.
Additional effects include shortness of breath, lung cancer, leukemia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, kidney and bladder cancer, and problems affecting fertility.
Other effects include stroke, impaired vision, and gangrene.

Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of developing lung cancer, even in older adults.
Lung function improves as toxins are removed and the body heals from damage.
The immune system is able to function more efficiently, aiding in fighting off potentially harmful foreign particles.

Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some soft drinks.
Side effects of caffeine include wakefulness, insomnia, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, nausea, indigestion, and heartburn.