ALCOHOL

Alcohol (also known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol) is an ingredient found in alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and spirits. It is produced when yeasts ferment (breakdown without oxygen) sugars in different foods. Alcohol can act as a depressant at high doses, where its effects on the brain can result in slurred speech, unsteady movement and disturbed perceptions. Alternatively, at lower doses alcohol can act as a stimulant inducing feelings of euphoria, relaxation and talkativeness. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, where it is converted to a product that is more easily eliminated from the body. It takes an average adult around an hour to process one unit of alcohol so that there is none left in the bloodstream, however this varies for persons depending on gender, weight and age. Alcohol has a dependence-producing property, which means it can be addictive. 

 
Tip#1:

TYPES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

 Most alcoholic beverages can be separated into three groups:

1) BEER

Fermenting a variety of starches such as malted barley, rice, wheat, or maize creates Beer. Their strengths can range from 2% to 12% ABV (alcohol by volume). Types of beer include:

• LAGER BEER
• ALES
• WHEAT BEER
• FRUIT BEER

 
2) WINE

Wine is made from the fermentation of grapes or other fruits. Their strengths range from 9% to 16% ABV. Types of wine include:

• RED WINE
• WHITE WINE
• CHAMPAGNE

3) SPIRITS

Spirits are alcoholic drinks that have been distilled to make them stronger. They are produced by distillation of grains, fruit, or vegetables that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Their strengths range from 20% to 80% ABV. Types of spirits include:

• VODKA (made from grains or potatoes)
• WHISKY (made from fermented grain mash)
• RUM (made from sugarcane juice)
• TEQUILA (made from the agave plant)
• GIN (made from juniper berries)
• BRANDY (distilled from wine or fruit juice)
• LIQUEURS (flavored spirits by infusing woods, fruits, flowers, etc.)

 
Tip#2: 

 Alcohol affects persons in different ways and this is determined by:

• The amount of alcohol ingested
• The pattern of drinking
• The quality of alcohol consumed

 
The harmful use of alcohol can also result in harm to persons including road traffic crashes, violence, and suicides.

Tip#3:

GLOBAL STATISTICS

1) According to the WHO, about 3.3 million deaths every year result from the harmful use of alcohol, this represent 5.9 % of all deaths.

2) Alcohol abuse is responsible for a significant number of deaths among young persons. In the age group 20 – 39 years approximately 25 % of the total deaths are alcohol-attributable.
 
3) Men account for more of these deaths than women. The percentage of alcohol-related deaths among men amount to 7.6 % of all global deaths compared to 4.0 % of all deaths among women 

Tip#4:

HEALTH RISKS
 
Over time, excessive alcohol use, both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, can lead to numerous health risks involving:
1.     Cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and hypertension.
2.     Gastrointestinal problems, including pancreatitis and gastritis.
3.     Liver diseases, including fatty liver and cirrhosis.
4.     Psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicide.
5.     Dementia, stroke and neuropathy (damage to nerves).
6.     Increased risk for many kinds of cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, and esophagus.
7.     Unintentional injuries, such as falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
8.     Social problems, including unemployment, family troubles, and violence

Tip#5:

DRINKING GUIDELINES

1. The United Kingdom guidelines suggests that in order to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is SAFEST NOT TO DRINK MORE THAN 14 UNITS A WEEK on a regular basis.
2. It’s best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days.
3. (One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol)
4. The alcoholic content of a drink is expressed as a percentage of the whole drink. For example, a drink that says 14 ABV (alcohol by volume) or 14% on the label, contains 14% of pure alcohol.

Tip#6:

CALCULATING YOUR ALCOHOL UNITS

You can work out how many units there are in any drink by multiplying the total volume of a drink (in ml) by its ABV (measured as a percentage) and dividing the result by 1,000.

• Strength (% ABV) x volume (ml) ÷ 1,000 = UNITS

For example, to work out the number of units in a pint (568ml) of beer (ABV 5.2%):

• 5.2 (%) x 568 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2.95 UNITS

Alternatively, you can use an online “ALCOHOL UNIT CALCULATOR” such as the one at http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccalcoh2.htm
 
Tip#7:

HANGOVERS

1. Drinking excess alcohol causes a hangover. Some of the effects include: headache, dizziness, dehydration, fatigue, weakness, nausea, shakiness, increased sensitivity to light and sound, and decreased ability to concentrate.
2. Alcohol is a diuretic so it makes you urinate often, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover. There are no cures for a hangover.

Tip#8:

TIPS TO AVOID A HANGOVER

1. Don't drink more than you know your body can cope with.
2. Don't drink on an empty stomach. Food helps to slow down the body's absorption of alcohol.
3. Avoid dark-colored drinks such as whiskey, brandy and tequila. They contain natural chemicals called congeners, which can make a hangover worse. Colorless drinks such as vodka, gin and rum have lower levels of congeners.
4. Drink water or non-fizzy soft drinks in between each alcoholic drink. Carbonated (fizzy) drinks speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system.
5. Drink about 2 cups of water before you go to sleep.

 
TIP#9:

ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is the most severe form of alcohol abuse and involves the inability to manage drinking habits. Individuals struggling with alcoholism often feel as though they cannot function normally without alcohol. Common signs of alcoholism include:

• Difficulty controlling alcohol consumption
• Craving alcohol when you are not drinking
• Putting alcohol above personal responsibilities
• Feeling the need to keep drinking more
• Spending a significant amount of money on alcohol

Treatment for alcoholism usually involves detoxification, rehabilitation and maintenance (support groups and counseling).

If you or anyone you know has an alcohol addiction, contact a health provider for information on how to receive treatment.
 

Hope you enjoyed these tips on ALCOHOL, Remember, YOUR HEALTH IS INVALUABLE.

By Dr. Lawarna Matthew