Alcohol Jack Nicholson
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol
Short-Term Effects of Alcohol
Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning
Factors that Influence Alcohol's Effects
Food - Alcohol takes affect slower on a full stomach.
Rate of intake - A person becomes intoxicated only when alcohol is consumed faster than the liver can break it down.
Gender - Females experience the effects of alcohol faster than males because their bodies are usually smaller.
Body Size - A smaller person feels the effects of alcohol faster than a larger person.
Medicine - Some medicines can interfere with the effects of alcohol.
Excessive alcohol use over time can cause damage to the following:
-damage to brain cells and reduced brain size
-increased blood pressure, raising the risk of heart attack or stroke
-buildup of fat in the liver, which is very dangerous
-damage to the digestive lining of the stomach
-destruction of the pancreas
Binge drinking is the consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting.
Alcohol poisoning is a severe, sometimes fatal, reaction to an alcohol overdose.
Effects of Alcohol Poisoning
coma
vomiting and seizures
mental confusion and stupor
slow respiration (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
irregular heartbeat
hypothermia (low body temperature)
sometimes done on a bet or dare
can lead to physical and mental impairment or alcohol poisoning
Short-term effects occur immediately after drinking alcohol. They usually include impaired judgment, decreased coordination, and slurred speech in normal doses.
Amount - The more alcohol consumed, the higher the blood alcohol level.