Alcoholic Beverages – Some Basic Facts
Alcoholic beverages have become almost as “American” as baseball and apple pie. Whether it’s Budweiser, Guinness or Sam Adams, drinking alcohol has become a social pastime for millions of Americans. However, on the downside, it has also become the #1 cause of automobile accidents, as people continually fail to follow the legal limits. Chasing that perfect buzz can be tricky, given all of the factors that influence how the body absorbs alcohol content, and there seems to be this fascination with drunken antics that pushes attention-seekers to the brinks of alcohol poisoning.
How does the binge drinking of alcoholic beverages affect the brain in the long run? As many as 80% of alcoholics have a thiamine deficiency, which predisposes them to serious brain disorders like Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). WKS consists of a short–lived (but severe) condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and a long–lasting (and debilitating) dysfunction known as Korsakoff’s psychosis. The encephalopathy side induces mental confusion, nerve paralysis in the eyes and poor muscle coordination. Korsakoff’s psychosis leads to learning and memory failure, frustration and forgetfulness bordering on amnesia. Chronic alcohol consumption hurts the cerebellum worst of all and 25% of patients who develop WKS require a caretaker.
Alcohol poisoning can occur from the over-consumption of alcoholic drinks — notably beer. Typically the body can flush out alcohol in an hour or so. Drinking several beers in an hour will increase blood alcohol concentration, in which case the central nervous system’s gag reflex, heart rate and breathing capacity are all diminished, leading to choking, comas and death. Binge drinking creates the same effect in the body as drinking ethanol alcohol, rubbing alcohol or household cleaners. Someone with alcohol poisoning needs immediate medical attention, intravenous fluids, breathing support and vitamins. Symptoms can closely resemble normal inebriation, with confusion and stupor, vomiting and passing out. However, in some cases breathing becomes slow or irregular, seizures occur, the skin turns blue and the body temperature drops.
A new study revealed that roughly 50% of pregnant women in France are uneducated about the dangers of consuming alcoholic beverages while carrying an unborn baby. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most preventable prenatal disorder. Characteristics include facial abnormalities and decreased brain cell count, as well as learning and behavioral problems that can last life-long. While some people speculate that a glass of wine here and there won’t do any damage, most doctors recommend to avoid any alcoholic drink altogether when pregnant, to avoid the chance.
For help and more information about alcoholism and how to stop drinking, visit Alcoholics Anonymous.
By Healthy Relationships Editor
