Question

What is the influence of alcohol in the body? Please be specific and give at least 2 influences, ie influence in the GI tract, etc. Please be sure to enumerate these (so there is no confusion), ie. (1) and (2). Please also give 2 examples of alcohol's damage. Talk about at least 1 short-term effect and 1 long-term effect. Lastly, give your views on alcohol consumption and why you feel the way you do. You must complete at least 10 sentences and respond to 2 of your classmates to receive credit.

Answer 1

Alcohol is a substance which is easily available worldwide and accessible by all.The influence of alcohol in teenagers leads to long term impact,on psychiatric patient leads elation,violent behaviour, on drivers leads to accidents,on pregnant women leads to birth defects on the fetus,generally leads to addiction.

The influence of alcohol in body affects the liver majorily because of its metabolism.

1.Gastrointestinal system are first affected when one consumes alcohol. It acts as a irritant and if consumed in empty stomach will lead to erosion of the intestinal lining resulting in ulcers.When it is ingested the acid secretion are increased which overtime leads to gastritis. This causes nausea,vomiting, pain.In empty stomach the absorption is faster and giving rapid effects.Eating food generally decreases the absorption rate and preventing and slowing down immediate complications

2.Once when alcohol is absorbed by the gastrointestinal system it travel a to Liver ,where the breaking down and metabolism occurs.Then it reaches the circulatory system and in no time reaches the receptors in brain and brings a state of happiness.This effect lasts for minutes to hours,after its gone they are triggered to take more to get the effect.This causes burden to the liver cells overtime and can result in fatty liver or even cirrhosis of liver

Examples of alcohol 's damage

• Central nervous system: Behaviour changes,slurred speech,confusion, blackout, shrinking of brain,hallucination,loss of balance, stroke
• Heart :Atherosclerosis, raise in blood pressure ,heart failure
• Gastrointestinal :nause,vomiting, inflammation, pain,diarrhoea, digestion problems,acidity ,bloating
• Reproductive organs: decrease libido,infertility
• General :fatigue

Short term effect:

These lasts for minutes to hours (drowsiness, slurred speech, impaired judging ,decreased perception, vision problems etc.)

Long term effect

Irreversible damages to heart,liver ,unintentional injuries, falls, accident, loss of productivity, sexual assault,domestic violence, intentional injuries,cancer)

Hence alcohol consumption initially begins with family history,peer pressure,societal hi-tech changes,lifestyle, stress,happiness .Gradually this increases in frequency and quantiy of consumption to achieve the pleasure. Simultaneously the body functions are detoriated over a period of time.This results in loss of body functions and demanding to take it out of force unintentionally .Overtime this is termed as Alcohol addiction. If this continues can lead one to alcohol poison and death.