HE101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Headache, Delirium Tremens, Birth Weight
1. Alcohol & Tobacco Use
Alcohol use & abuse
Its common (78% Cdns use it)
Moderate consumption = health benefits
Abuse = significant public health issue
CDN Guideline For Low Risk
Guideline 1 – chronic use
Women – <10 drinks/week, <2 drinks/day most days
Men – <15 drinks/week, <3 drinks/day most days
Guideline 2 – acute use
<3 drinks (women), <4 drinks (men)
on any single occasion
within weekly limits – guideline 1
CAMH, CCSA
<2 drinks/day - weekly max of 9 (women), 14 (men)
Alcohol in the body
it’s a drug, modifies body function
quickly absorbed in the stomach, broken down by alcohol dehydrogenase, absorption &
metabolism (liver) before most nutrients
absorption & metabolism is influenced by food in the body, sex, body size, composition
BAC (blood alcohol level)
Determined by Breathalyzer, urinalysis, blood tests
drinking & driving:
>0.05% provincial infraction
>0.08% criminal offense
<21 years, all novice drivers = 0 tolerance
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Short term effects
CNS depressant – Decrease HR, BP, respiration
Relaxation, altered mood
Loss of judgment
Reduced alertness, concentration, memory
Slurred speech, motor impairment, vision
Reduced inhibitions
Diuretic effect - ↑ urine output
↑ risk of accidents, risky behaviour, violence
Alcohol poisoning - ↓ respiration, coma → death
Long term effects
alcohol in moderation:
Heart healthy
relaxation, stress relief
Chronic overuse:
Liver disease – cirrhosis, fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis
elevated blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias – CVD risk
↑ risk of several cancers
damage to CNS
chronic inflammation, impaired immunity, bone loss
↑ risk of accidents, violence, abuse, suicide
impaired relationships, work/school responsibilities
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
FASD - range of disabilities that may affect child if birth mother consumes alcohol during
pregnancy
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Women <10 drinks/week, <2 drinks/day most days. Men <15 drinks/week, <3 drinks/day most days. <2 drinks/day - weekly max of 9 (women), 14 (men) Quickly absorbed in the stomach, broken down by alcohol dehydrogenase, absorption & metabolism (liver) before most nutrients. Absorption & metabolism is influenced by food in the body, sex, body size, composition. Determined by breathalyzer, urinalysis, blood tests drinking & driving: <21 years, all novice drivers = 0 tolerance. Alcohol poisoning - respiration, coma death. Liver disease cirrhosis, fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis. Elevated blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias cvd risk. Risk of accidents, violence, abuse, suicide. Fasd - range of disabilities that may affect child if birth mother consumes alcohol during pregnancy. Physical disabilities, brain and cns disabilities, behavioral problems, learning disabilities. If you do drink: eat greasy food, avoid binge drinking, don"t mix with drugs, don"t overly mix alcohol, do not drive. Effects physical, financial and social health addiction - presence of tolerance, withdrawal.
