ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS
...rowing away all inhibitions and acting differently. He or she will slur speech, lose hand-eye coordination, lose control of motor skills and the bladder, and lose body heat. Biologically, what is happening involves the alcohol suppressing the central nervous system, blood vessels dilating to increase heart rate and blood pressure, and more urine being produced by stimulation of the pituitary gland. Because the body considers alcohol a poison, vomiting may occur to force the alcohol out of the body. The liver will also try to diffuse the alcohol by a process called oxidation. The liver can only oxidize ¼ ounce of pure alcohol an hour; this means that the only way to get over intoxication is time. After a tough night of drinking, a hangover may follow. Headaches, nausea, delusions, diarrhea, vomiting, and a blackout of what happened the previous night characterize a hangover. After enough bouts with alcohol, a tolerance will develop; it will take more alcohol to feel the effects that the drinker turns to alcohol for. Some people become psychologically and physiologically dependent in this stage; alcoholism sets in. Alcoholism is just as painful in relatives and friends as it is to the alcoholic. Blackout, hangover, sleeplessness, jumpiness, and convulsions characterize alcoholism withdrawal. The most dangerous phase of withdrawal is delirium tremens. Disturbed sleep, irritability, heavy sweating, fever, hallucinations, tremors, and convulsions characterize delirium tremens. In some cases, delirium tremens can lead to hypothermia and cardiovascular collapse. Alcoholism can also be characterized by recovery and relapse. An alcoholic may have a wake-up call and quit drinking; he could receive a trigger and restart non-problematic, controlled drinking. Once intake begins again, it is highly likely that heavy drinking and other problems may continue; thus, the cycle goes on. Alcoholism is thought to be an inherited disease because the risk of getting addicted is four times more likely in people closely related to alcoholics. Other long-term consequences of alcohol abuse are common. Cancers of the stomac...