Sonia Gutierrez

HLTH 1050-004
Alcohol Journal
Alcohol is created from the fermentation of an organic material that has sugar such as
honey, grapes, molasses, apples and rice. The type of drink determines the alcohol content; beers
have the least and spirits with the most. A standard drink contains about 0.5 fluid ounces of pure
alcohol. Alcohol works in the brain by releasing the cerebral cortex from its inhibitory control
over subcortical system. The level of alcohol consumed is measured through the Blood Alcohol
Level. As BAC levels increase, the depressive action of alcohol begins to extend to the lower
areas of the brain.
The acute effects of alcohol includes a toxic reaction, diuretic effects, increases
drowsiness and hangovers the next morning caused by dehydration. Blackouts are also common,
especially with higher levels of BAC and amnesia can occur. Motor skills are also heavily
impaired which combined with the impaired judgement makes for very common bad decisions to
drive, putting the lives of themselves and others at risk.
Drinking alcohol has also be linked with a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease,
diabetes mellitus, stroke and dementia, possibly because of the resveratrol found in red wine.
Alcohol is only beneficial however with moderate drinking which is defined as no more than two
drinks per day for men and one per women.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has also been linked with producing many
serious effects in the developing fetus, no matter how minimal the consumption. These effects
can include physical and facial malformations, low birth weight, decreased cognition and motor
skills. All of these effects together are called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.