Test Review Questions

Name two effects of ethyl alcohol on neurons.

Effects of Ethyl Alcohol on Neurons

• Affects the dopaninergic neurons

• Fatal Toxicity

• Central Nervous System Depressant

Test Review Questions

Why is it illegal to drink and drive?

Why is it illegal to drink and drive?

• Impaired reflexes

• Impaired processing

• Impaired judgment

• Impaired motor function

Test Review Questions

Why do people think that alcohol is a stimulant?

Why do people think ETOH is a stimulant?

• Initial Euphoria

• Disinhibition

• Reduction of fear and anxiety

• Increase loquacity

• “social lubricant”

Test Review Questions

How many drinks does a person have to have before it begins to

affect the cells?

How many drinks does a person have to have before it begins to

affect the cells?

One

Test Review Questions

What are the symptoms of “hangover”?

What are the symptoms of “hangover”?

• Fatigue/sleepyness• Headache• Thirst/dehydration• Nausea• Diarrhea• Flu like symptom• Confusion• Sensitivity to sound and light• shakes

Test Question Review

What is the relationship of alcohol use and suicide?

What is the relationship of alcohol use and suicide?

• Anesthesia (putting to sleep) of the frontal lobe decreases impulse control

• Shutting down of the executive functions inhibits problem solving

• Interference with the frontal lobe diminishes reasoning ability

• Stimulation of the limbic system produces mood swings

• The rate of suicide increases drastically when alcohol is involved.

Test Review Questions

What is the effect of alcohol on the circulatory system?

What is the effect of alcohol on the circulatory system?

• Enlargement of heart – cardiomegalopathy

• Constriction of blood vessels with increased blood pressure and heart rate

• Degeneration of capillaries

• Inhibition of clotting factors – increased bleeding

Test Question Review

What is the effect of alcohol on the digestive system?

What is the effect of alcohol on the digestive system?

• Increased stomach acids (ulceration)• Gastritis• Depletion of nutrients• Disruption of bowel movements• Enlargements of esophogeal arteries• Pancreatitis• Fatty liver

Test Question Review

What is the effect of alcohol on the urinary system?

What is the effect of alcohol on the urinary system?

• Retain toxins, excrete proteins

• Higher rate of prostate problems – painful urination

• Less sensitivity of bladder - increased incontinence

Test Question Review

What is the effect of alcohol on the muscular/skeletal system?

What is the effect of alcohol on the muscular/skeletal system?

• Leaching (flushing out) of calcium from bone causing brittle bone and osteoporosis

• Lower production of white blood cells• Atrophy of muscles (flabby)• Fatigue and poor tone• Increased back problems/pain

Test Question Review.

What is the effect of alcohol on the reproductive system?

What is the effect of alcohol on the reproductive system?

• Atrophy of ovaries and testicles

• FAS

• Lower production of testosterone and estrogens

• Impotence &

Test Question Review

What is the relationship of genetics to the development of

chemical dependency

What is the relationship of genetics to the development of chemical

dependency?

• Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become chemically dependent.

• Fewer receptors for dopamine

Test Question Review

Which organ of the body has the most functions?

Which organ of the body has the most functions?

• Liver

• Takes out toxins

• Metabolizes ingested items (digestion)

Test Review Questions

What organ is responsible for taking toxins out of the body?

What organ is responsible for taking toxins out of the body?

The liver is the filter for the toxins.

Test Review Questions

What are the signs and symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

What are the signs and symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

• Smaller eyes• No frenulum• Lower IQ• maxillofacial expansion & other deformity• Congenital cardiac dysformity (hole in between

the chambers of the heart)• Poor impulse control• Lacunae (holes) in the brain• Malformed joints/dislocation• Problems with coordination

Test Review Questions

Can alcohol be found in breast milk?

Can alcohol be found in breast milk?

Yes, you bet!

Test Question Review

Name some of the main reasons people use alcohol.

Name some of the main reasons people use alcohol.

• Liquid courage (decrease inhibitions)

• Socialization

• Peer pressure

• Anxiety relief

• Sleep

• Pain relief

• euphoria

Test Review Questions

What are the first brain functions to be affected by

alcohol? What are the results?

What are the first brain functions to be affected by alcohol? What are

the results?

• Frontal lobe- decisions, problem solving, inhibitions, planning (executive functions)

Test Review Questions

If drinking continues, what is the next set of brain functions to be affected by

alcohol? What are the results?

If drinking continues, what is the next set of brain functions to be

affected by alcohol? What are the results?

Memory

Language

Emotional Regulation

Coordination

Reflexes

Test Review Questions

If drinking continues, what is the third set of brain functions to be affected by

alcohol? What are the effects?

If drinking continues, what is the third set of brain functions to be affected by

alcohol? What are the effects?

• Loss of Coordination Muscular control

• Vomiting

• Results in falling

• Unconsciousness

Test Review Questions

If drinking continues uninterrupted, what is the last of the brain functions to be affected by alcohol? What are the

effects?

If drinking continues uninterrupted, what is the last of the brain functions to be affected by alcohol? What are the

effects?

• The primitive brain (medulla oblongata)

• Alcoholic coma

• Termination of heartbeat & breathing

Test Question Review

What percentage of fatal accidents involve alcohol.

What percentage of fatal accidents involve alcohol.

At least 50%

Test Question Review

What is a “black out”. What causes it? What can be done

about it?

What is a “black out”. What causes it? What can be done

about it?

Failure of the brain to encode memory due to the chemical

interference. Only abstinence from alcohol can prevent it. There

is no way to regain memory, because it was never encoded.

Test Question Review

What is a “gray out”? Does it have any implications for a diagnosis of alcohol

dependence?

What is a “gray out”? Does it have any implications for a diagnosis of

alcohol dependence?

Partial or hazy memory of events that occurred under the influence of alcohol. Black outs and grey outs are one of the early signs

of chemical dependence, though not everyone that has them develops dependency, most

dependents experienced them early.

Test Question Review

Why do people do things when they are drinking that they would

not do sober?

Why do people do things when they are drinking that they would not do

sober?

• Alcohol acts first on the executive functions in the frontal lobe

• Putting to sleep of the impulse control centers, judgement, insight, problem solving causes disinhibition

What is disinhibition, and what happens are the results of

becoming disinihibited.

• Inhibition is the little voice in the head that says “you shouldn’ t do that!”

• When the voice is sleeping, people become expressive, impulsive, and without usual conscientious behavior

Test Question Review

What is “blood alcohol level”? How is it determined?

What is “blood alcohol level”? How is it determined?

• The percentage of alcohol that is absorbed into the blood stream.

• Determined in percentages of .01 and up

• .02 is one drink (one beer, 4 oz of wine, 1 ½ oz of alcohol

• .08 or four drinks in an hour is the legal lower limit for DWI in NM

• .35- .40 is death

Test Question Review

How does a person “detoxify” from alcohol?

How does a person “detoxify” from alcohol?

• There are no medications that will expel the alcohol

• Time• Can be fatal• High blood pressure - Stroke• Seizures • Heart arrhythmia• There are medications that can help with the

symptoms