Pathophysiology Of Alcoholism And Addictive Disorders

The pathophysiology of Alcohol affects virtually every organ system in the body. Therefore, consuming to much alcohol in high

After alcohol reaches the brain, it numbs the frontal lobe, which has direct control over the judgment, visual perception and decision making skills. Scientists believe this is what makes alcoholics believe they can conquer any task put before them. After drinking a good number of drinks everyday over a long period of time, many things can happen. Cirrhosis of the liver can occur, which means the liver tissues become hardened. Scientists also report that irreversible brain damage can occur before cirrhosis of the liver is even detected. Also, cancer of the liver, mouth, esophagus as well as lungs and pancreatic cancer often occur as a result of alcoholism. Alcohol also has an affect on the mind as well as the body. Alcoholics often report that they feel inferior to people and believe they can do anything. Many people believe that alcohol acts as a "social lubricant." Increased social pleasures, assertiveness talkativeness and even happiness are all expected by many, when they drink in these situations. Alcohol is said to reduce tension and anxiety. This in turn allows drinkers to feel more relaxed and comfortable in social situations. However, this also encourages the drinker to drink more when under more stress.

Describe and explain ethanol catabolism pathways in humans, the metabolic effects of excessive alcohol consumption and describe the long-term treatment and prognosis of this disease.

Also memory loss and later depression of the nervous system, like tranquilisers. Alcohol absorption and it effect to the liver is metabolised every hour of feeling intoxication.

Minor amounts of alcohol are metabolized to acetaldehyde in the digestive tract, revealing the tissues to acetaldehyde’s harmful effects.

The effects associated with alcohol are produced by the ethanol in the alcohol. The severity of these effects is reflected by the concentration of alcohol in an individual’s blood, which is dictated by the amount of alcohol ingested, the volume of blood, the individual’s metabolism, and amount of time since ingestion. In large doses, alcohol acts as a depressant of the central nervous-system. A blood alcohol level of 0.1% affects some of the motor areas of the brain associated with speech, balance and manual dexterity. A blood alcohol level of 0.2% depresses all motor functions and the area concerned with emotions is depressed. At a blood alcohol level of 0.45% the entire section of the brain that handles perception is depressed and the individual becomes comatose. At a blood alcohol level of 0.7% the parts of the brain that control the heartbeat and breathing are depressed and the individual

Alcohol, like many other drugs, is dose dependent, readily absorbed, and widely distributed. As a result, alcohol affects many organ systems of the body, including the central nervous system (CNS). Alcohol is easily absorbed, is soluble across all biological membranes, and does not bind to any plasma proteins. There is no place in our bodies where alcohol cannot reach. Alcohol absorption occurs between 80-90 minutes, and is affected by whether or not someone has eaten, as this will affect the speed at which the alcohol enters the blood stream. Alcohol is metabolized similarly to food. Approximately 85% of ingested alcohol is metabolized by the liver, 5-10% is metabolized in the stomach, and approximately 5% is excreted, unchanged, through sweat and the lungs. Men metabolize alcohol faster than women. This is due to the fact that women have 50% less enzymes in the stomach that metabolize alcohol than men, and the fact that women have more body fat than men. The blood supply to fat is much less than that found in muscles. Therefore, alcohol does not get metabolized as quickly in individuals with a higher fat content. When alcohol is metabolized, acetaldehyde, a poisonous byproduct, is formed. Alcohol dehydrogenase breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase further breaks down the poisonous acetaldehyde into acetic acid. Some ethnicities, such as some Asian groups, have less active acetaldehyde dehydrogenase leading to a buildup of

One of the alcohol’s effect on the major organ systems in the body is that alcohol affects the gastrointestinal system in a variety of ways. This system is the route by which alcohol enters the body and is absorbed. It is where the first steps of metabolism take place. Moderate amounts of alcohol can disturb the normal functioning of this system. Chronic heavy use of alcohol often raises havoc. Alcohol can have both direct and indirect effects. Direct effects occur as a consequence of the initial, direct effects. In addition, both acute and chronic use of alcohol stimulates the stomach lining’s secretion of hydrochloric acid and irritates the lining of the gut in general. It also inhibits the muscular contractions, called peristalsis, that

Alcohol or ethanol is a chemical compound which is classified as a depressant. Depressants slow down the human brain and affect the way the brain interprets information and alters feeling and human behaviour according to (alcoholthinagain, 2017). Alcohol just like any other liquid must pass through the stomach, from there it must pass through the liver. According to (myDr, 2017) the liver must process the alcohol into a chemical compound called acetaldehyde. The acetate is further metabolised and eventually leaves the body safely. However, if excessive alcohol is consumed over a prolonged period of time will result in alcohol related liver disease, from alcohol related fatty liver disease to worst case scenario of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs in response to excessive damage felt to the liver, each time the liver is damaged it attempts to heal itself, in the process creating scar tissue.

This is usually translated into 6 – 9 gram ethanol per hour for a healthy subject. These fundamental processes are common to all human beings and sufficient to break down moderate quantities of alcohol. However, environmental factors (drinking habits) and genetic factors

It is important that alcohol is metabolised as it is toxic and must be broken down in to safer byproducts for the body to handle. However, as the liver has both the two major functions of metabolising alcohol and returning BGL back to stasis, it must prioritise. The toxic alcohol can potentially harm the rest of the body if it is continuously  circulated in the blood, and not metabolised into safer components. Thus, the liver metabolises the alcohol first; and as it is occupied with this task it is unable to respond to the low BGL. Thus, Glucagon secretion is inhibited. Once alcohol metabolisation is complete, the liver can respond to the glucagon being secreted by the alpha cells and start the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose. This will cause BGL to increase and reestablish stasis. Prolonged heavy drinking can cause the body to become unresponsive or increasingly resistant to insulin resulting in hyperglycemic conditions. This may also damage the liver and its metabolising ability. Short term consumption of alcohol doesn't affect the body's response to insulin although it causes a disruption to the BG mechanisms working to maintain

In Jill Dombrauckas’s (2015) report, she discussed that the Pennsylvania DUI Association made a large amount of researches about alcohol’s effect on body systems. In one research, alcohol affects the central nervous system which means when the individual drink alcohol, the messages that are carried to and from the brain and the body’s muscles can be slowed delivery. For example, the incoming signals from the brain, like the painful sensory that will decrease the injury’s awareness. Also the signals from the brain to the muscles will lead the motor skills becoming insensitive.

Past literature define cirrhosis as a non-reversible end result of liver disease, however recent studies have shown it’s a dynamic process. If K.D stops his alcohol intake, he will reduce the acetaldehyde and acetate in his body which is the main causes of cell and tissue damage. The mechanism of tissue reversal takes place by blocking the formation of excessive acetaldehyde in the mitochondria. In the absence of excessive alcohol in the cells, only the primary alcohol oxidative metabolic pathway takes place. Alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde by the cytosolic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Due to the ADH’s high affinity and low capacity, saturation occurs very quickly. If the patient consumes excessive alcohol, the body has to start

What launches alcohol addiction is how it effects the mind. GABA receptors are inhibited by alcohol which is why it produces a relaxing effect. What makes alcohol consumption so dangerous is how it effects motor coordination and results in slower reaction time which is especially dangerous when operating any kind of machinery. There is evidence that points to genetic components playing a role in alcoholism which went hand and hand with what the speaker said at the meeting. His dad had been an alcoholic and so had his wife’s dad.

Most alcoholics become dependent to the alcohol and literally cannot function without it. “The problems linked to alcohol dependence are extensive and affect people physically, socially, and mentally” (American Academy of Pediatrics 1). One crazy thing people do not know is “fish oil may protect alcoholism abusers and alcoholics from dementia” (Smith, Lawrence, and Jeanne 1). Complications of alcohol consumption include: fatigue, memory loss, liver disease, and hypertension, black outs, blurred vision, skin problems, lack of co-ordination, alcohol poisoning, cancer, and diabetes. Out of all of the complications, liver disease is the biggest problem linked to alcohol. “Long term heavy drinking eventually takes its toll resulting in liver scarring-cirrhosis, or end stage liver disease which may lead to death” (Alcoholism Sourcebook 1). “If red blood cells increase it could be an indication of long-term alcohol abuse” (American Academy of Pediatrics 1). “Some stress is linked to alcohol and alcohol abuse as well” (Narcotic Education of America 1). When being addicted to alcohol, another problem partnered with alcohol abuse and addiction is withdrawal. “Withdrawal symptoms such as, nausea, sweating, shaking, and anxiety occur when