Health Effect
Alcohol – the Body
& Health
Effects
A brief overview
3
Contents
5
5
6
21
Introduction
What is alcohol?
Body effects of alcohol
Mental health conditions
22 Alcohol and drug interactions
23 Effects of alcohol on other people
9
Brain and nervous system
24 Women
Breasts – women
24 Men
10
Eyes
25 Young people
10
Heart and blood pressure
25 Older people
11
Intestines
11
Kidneys and fluid balance
26 How much?
11
Liver
27
12
Lungs
Advice for parents of children and young people under 18 years
12
Mental health
27
What is a standard drink?
12
Mouth and throat
13
978–1–927138–42–7 (online)
Bones and muscles
10
978–1–927138–41–0 (print)
23 Children and families
9
ISBN
Blood and immune system
9
The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) would like to thank Dr Fiona Imlach Gunasekara, Public
Health Medicine Specialist, for preparing the summaries of the health and body effects of alcohol in this resource.
23 The unborn child
9
Acknowledgements
Overall body effects
Pancreas and digestion of sugar
13
Sexual health – men
13
Sexual health – women
14
Skin and fat
14
Stomach and food pipe (oesophagus)
15 Health effects of acute alcohol use
15
17
Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand
Kaunihera Whakatupato Waipiro o Aotearoa
PO Box 5023
Wellington
New Zealand 6145 alac.org.nz | waipiro.org.nz | June 2012
Alcohol poisoning
Hangover
18 Health conditions related to chronic alcohol use
24 Effects of alcohol on population groups
26 Low-risk alcohol drinking advice
28 When not to drink
28 Tips for low-risk drinking
28 Background to drinking advice
29 Where to find support and further information
30 Glossary
32 References
TABLES
7
Table 1: Symptoms of drunkenness at different levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
16
Table 2: Potential
& Health
Effects
A brief overview
3
Contents
5
5
6
21
Introduction
What is alcohol?
Body effects of alcohol
Mental health conditions
22 Alcohol and drug interactions
23 Effects of alcohol on other people
9
Brain and nervous system
24 Women
Breasts – women
24 Men
10
Eyes
25 Young people
10
Heart and blood pressure
25 Older people
11
Intestines
11
Kidneys and fluid balance
26 How much?
11
Liver
27
12
Lungs
Advice for parents of children and young people under 18 years
12
Mental health
27
What is a standard drink?
12
Mouth and throat
13
978–1–927138–42–7 (online)
Bones and muscles
10
978–1–927138–41–0 (print)
23 Children and families
9
ISBN
Blood and immune system
9
The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) would like to thank Dr Fiona Imlach Gunasekara, Public
Health Medicine Specialist, for preparing the summaries of the health and body effects of alcohol in this resource.
23 The unborn child
9
Acknowledgements
Overall body effects
Pancreas and digestion of sugar
13
Sexual health – men
13
Sexual health – women
14
Skin and fat
14
Stomach and food pipe (oesophagus)
15 Health effects of acute alcohol use
15
17
Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand
Kaunihera Whakatupato Waipiro o Aotearoa
PO Box 5023
Wellington
New Zealand 6145 alac.org.nz | waipiro.org.nz | June 2012
Alcohol poisoning
Hangover
18 Health conditions related to chronic alcohol use
24 Effects of alcohol on population groups
26 Low-risk alcohol drinking advice
28 When not to drink
28 Tips for low-risk drinking
28 Background to drinking advice
29 Where to find support and further information
30 Glossary
32 References
TABLES
7
Table 1: Symptoms of drunkenness at different levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
16
Table 2: Potential
References: (2010). Alcohol and public health: Frequently asked questions Alcohol. (2008). In C. Kuhn, S. Swartzwelder & W Roehrs, T., & Roth, T. (2001). Sleep, sleepiness, and alcohol use Y., & Patra, J. (2009). Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol The Lancet, 373(9682), 2223–2233. Brust, J. C. M. (2005). Alcoholism. In L. P. Rowland (Ed.), Merritt’s neurology (11th ed.) Lohr, R. H. (2005). Acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol withdrawal Zakhari, S. (2006). Overview: How is alcohol metabolized by the body? Alcohol Research & Schuckit, M. A. (2005). Alcohol-related disorders. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1213). 13. Fingerhood, M. I. (2007). Alcoholism and associated problems A. (2003). Prevention of harm from alcohol use: Get high on life without alcohol 16. Rehm, J. (2003). The relationship of average volume of alcohol consumption and patterns Addiction, 98(9), 1209–1228. 17. Humphrey, G., Casswell, S., & Han, D. Y. (2003).