Facts on How Alcohol Affects the Mind

1. Alcohol is a Depressant

Alcohol slows down the central nervous system, causing decreased motor coordination, reaction time and intellectual activity. Large amounts of alcohol can slow down the respiratory system, leading to slower breathing, coma or death. Alcohol moves from your mouth into your stomach where some of it is absorbed into the blood. The rest of the alcohol enters the small intestines where it is absorbed into the blood through the intestines' walls. Enzymes in the liver break down alcohol so that it can be removed from the blood. This process prevents build up of alcohol in the body and the intoxication and harm to cells and organs that can follow as a result. About one drink can be metabolized per hour.

2. The Amount of Alcohol in the Body is Measured Through Your Blood Alcohol Content

Your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is the ratio of alcohol to blood in your body. For example, if your BAC is .10, there is one part alcohol to every 1,000 parts of your blood. As your BAC increases, so does the affect of alcohol on your brain and body. At first, you might like the effects of alcohol. It helps you feel more confident and daring. As you BAC increases, however, more and more of your body will be affected to the point where you may have trouble seeing, walking, standing or staying awake. If your BAC is too high, you can die. Eating before drinking and limiting the number of drinks you consume can help keep your BAC down. Remember, your BAC can continue to rise even after you stop drinking. If you take breaks from drinking, you may be able to better access how much you are being affected by what you already drank.

3. Alcohol Affects Different People Differently

Men and women do not respond to alcohol the same way. This is even true of men and women who are they same size. Men have higher amounts of body water which makes it easier to dilute alcohol. Men also produce a larger amount of hydrogenase, the liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol. This does not mean that all men can drink more than women, since other factors, such as genetics, body fat, tolerance and medications also influence how alcohol affects individuals.

4. Limited Amounts Can Be Good for Your Body

Not all drinking is bad. Moderate drinking has been shown to have a range of positive health effects, especially for the heart. One daily drink for women and two for men can prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Some studies also indicate that moderate drinking can decrease the risk of developing diabetes and prevent mental decline in old age.

5. Heavy Drinking Can Lead to Liver Diseases and Other Problems

Alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Even small amounts of liquor can irritate your stomach and halt digestion, and large amounts can damage the lining. Even moderate drinking can harm your liver. The first stage of alcoholic liver disease is known as "fatty liver" and consists of fat globules and water leading to swelling of the liver. Hepatitis can cause pain and swelling and makes it hard for your body to break down waste in the blood, causing jaundice (a condition where the skin to take on a yellow tinge). The waste that remains in the blood can lead to body aches, nausea, itchiness and fever. Cirrhosis causes liver cells to die and leave behind scar tissue, which builds up and blocks the flow of blood in the body. Blood can no longer be filtered. This leads to excessive amounts of waste and toxins in a person's system, which can cause confusion, shaking, agitation and coma. There is no way to reverse the damage caused by cirrhosis. The only hope is to prevent further damage. Liver transplants are possible, but livers are difficult to find.