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Showing posts with label effects on lungs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label effects on lungs. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Sensory organs and alcoholism-dizziness-unconcious state of brain- effects on memory

Sensory Organs and alcoholism

The potency of an individual drink is, of course, determined by the percentage of alcohol it contains. Commonly, alcoholic content is measured by "proof," a term indicating concentration by volume. The proof number is actually twice the percentage of alcohol-so that 86 proof Scotch, for example, is 43 percent alcohol. While there are variations between individuals, generally these are the effects of various blood concentrations of alcohol.

Sensory organs in the mouth and digestive tract are stimulated; blood circulates more rapidly; and there may be feelings of well-being. Bodily warmth is experienced; inhibitions begin to disappear; the drinker talks freely. Some dizziness may be felt; judgment and memory now are affected. Reaction time has slowed considerably; the drinker may be gay but somewhat wobbly. 

There may be some boisterousness, lack of self-control, unjustified confidence in the ability to drive and do other tasks. In some states, this is considered legally to be drunkenness. At this level, the drinker has little if any conscious control left. For the average drinker, this level is induced by 6-7 ounces of whiskey. It produces incoherence, confusion, inability to walk normally. 

If the drinker is still conscious, he needs help even to stand up; bladder control is lost. The drinker now may alternately sleep and wake to vomit, is unable to understand what is said to him when he is awake. When this level of blood alcohol is reached, the drinker is unconscious.


While it is possible to become drunk quickly, sobering up takes much longer. Most of the alcohol in the body is handled by the liver. There it goes through a chemical process, oxidation, in which its energy is released as heat. A feeling of warmth is experienced at first but the heat is quickly lost through the skin. Some alcohol also is oxidized or burned off in the lungs; and some is removed through sweat and urine.