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Healthstance:
Alcohol Awareness
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Welcome to Healthstance -a developing health and wellness library from
ARCpoint Labs of Milwaukee North
Presentations to educate, motivate and inform on health messages, health interventions, and health behaviors.
AWARE – Just Clinical© DISCLAIMER: This module is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice.
AWARE – Just Clinical©
@ARCpointMilwaukeeNorth
Join the conversation using hashtags:
#arcpointawareness#healthstancearcpoint
Follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ARCpoint-Labs-of-Milwaukee-North-571224153064382
Add LinkedIn account name and link www.linkedin.com/in/alanwedal
262.289.1664
ARCpoint Milwaukee North
4125 N 124th StSuite GBrookfield, WI 53005
Contact Us
Alcohol Consumption Overview
• People drink to socialize, celebrate and relax.
• Alcohol’s effects vary from person to person,depending on a variety of factors, including:
• How much you drink
• How often you drink
• Your age
• While drinking alcohol is itself not necessarily aproblem – drinking too much can cause a range ofconsequences, and increase your risk for a varietyof problems.
AWARE – Just Clinical©
April is Alcohol
Awareness Month
• Your health status
• Your family history
A Standard Drink
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Women don’t break down alcohol as quickly as men, keeping more of it in the blood.
Unhealthy livers have a reduced ability to break down alcohol, so BAC is higher for longer
The liver enzymes used
to break down alcohol differ from person to person, depending on genetic make-up.
Factors Influencing Metabolism
• Alcohol has to beprocessed andremoved as we drinkit.
• 90% of this job isdone by the liver.
• 10% of alcohol isremoved through oururine, sweat andbreath.
Having food in your stomach slows down the rate of alcohol absorption. Therefore alcohol doesn’t enter your bloodstream as quickly.
Food in Your
Stomach
Your Gender
Your Liver
Health
Your Genetics
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Reduced Inhibitions Confusion
Slurred Speech Risky or Violent Behavior
Motor SkillsImpairment
Concentration Problems
Coma Death
Breathing Problems Car crashes and other accidents
Memory Problems
Consequences of Drinking Too Much
• Alcohol’s immediate effectscan appear within about 10minutes – entering yourbloodstream as soon as youtake your first sip.
• As you drink, you increaseyour blood alcoholconcentration (ethanol, EtOH,BAC,BAL) level, which is theamount of alcohol present inyour bloodstream.
AWARE – Just Clinical©
• The higher your level, the moreimpaired you become byalcohol’s effects, including:
Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
BR
AIN • Interferes with the
brain’scommunicationpathways
• changes mood andbehavior, andmakes it harder tothink clearly andmove withcoordination.
HE
AR
T • Cardiomyopathy –Stretching anddrooping of heartmuscle
• Arrhythmias –Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke
• High bloodpressure
LIV
ER • Steatosis, or fatty
liver
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
PAN
CR
EA
S • Alcohol causes thepancreas toproduce toxicsubstances that caneventually lead topancreatitis, adangerousinflammation andswelling of theblood vessels in thepancreas thatprevents properdigestion. IM
MU
NE
SY
ST
EM • Chronic drinkers are
more liable to contractdiseases likepneumonia andtuberculosis thanpeople who do notdrink too much.Drinking a lot on asingle occasion slowsyour body’s ability toward off infections –even up to 24 hoursafter getting drunk.
CA
NC
ER • Increased risk of
developing certaincancers:
• Mouth
• Esophagus
• Throat
• Liver
• Breast
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Common Medicines That Interact with Alcohol
Symptom/Disorders Brand Name Examples Some Possible Reactions w/ Alcohol
Allergies/Colds/Flu Alavert®, Atarax®, Benadryl®, Claritin®, Sudafed®, Zyrtec®
Drowsiness; dizziness; increased risk foroverdose
Anxiety & Epilepsy Ativan®, BuSpar®, Klonopin®, Paxil®, Valium®, Xanax®
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems
Heartburn,Indigestion
Reglan®, Tagamet®, Zantac® Rapid heartbeat; increased alcohol effect; sudden changes in blood pressure (Reglan)
High Blood Pressure Accupril®, Cardura®, Catapres®, Cozaar®, Lotensin®, Norvasc®
Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Pain (muscle ache, fever, inflammation)
Advil®, Aleve®, Excedrin®, Motrin®, Tylenol®
Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat
AWARE – Just Clinical©
Alcohol Use Disorder Laboratory Testing at
• GGT – a liver enzyme that is increased by heavyalcohol intake and also by many other conditionsthat affect the liver
• MCV – measures the size of red blood cells, whichmay increase over time in those who are heavydrinkers but may also be affected by many otherconditions
• AST & ALT – enzymes that can indicate liverdamage
• CDT – tends to distinguish chronic heavy drinkersfrom light social drinkers.
• EtG & EtS – new biomarkers and direct analytes ofthe breakdown of alcohol
• Magnesium – can be low in those who arealcoholic, due to insufficient dietary intake andloss by the kidneys
AWARE – Just Clinical©
These tests are not meant to be a substitute for a comprehensive history and physical examination by an appropriate health professional. Instead, alcohol testing should be a complement to self-reported measures of drinking.
Blood alcohol levels, breathalyzer test results, urine drug screens, and, less commonly, hair and saliva analysis can be used to assess patients for possible alcohol use disorder.
AWARE – Just Clinical©
@ARCpointMilwaukeeNorth
Join the conversation using hashtags:
#arcpointawareness#healthstancearcpoint
Follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ARCpoint-Labs-of-Milwaukee-North-571224153064382
Add LinkedIn account name and link www.linkedin.com/in/alanwedal
262.289.1664
ARCpoint Milwaukee North
4125 N 124th StSuite GBrookfield, WI 53005
Contact Us
