by Hector Chapa

Created on: April 30, 2008   Last Updated: March 18, 2012

Excessive alcohol use contributes to more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. In addition to motor vehicle accidents, suicide and homicide, heavy drinking contributes to deaths from heart disease, cancer, and stroke. In women, menstrual disorders, early menopause, and osteoporosis are among the gynecologic consequences of alcohol abuse.

Effects on the Brain (Central Nervous System)

Alcohol has a dual effect on the CNS. Primarily, it acts as a mood "modifier" by serving as a depressant substance. Similarly, it causes "dis-inhibition" of one's behavior. In other words, alcohols effects on behavior come mainly from it's effects on our "limbic" system which is the area of our brain that controls our emotion.

By affecting the transmission of "neuro-chemicals", our behavior and even our perception is altered. This accounts for acts performed under the influence that otherwise would not usually be performed in good judgment.

Alcohol's effects are not limited to the CNS. In part, alcohol also has a muscle relaxer type of effect. Historically (in the past), alcohol was actually used intravenously to treat pregnant women in pretrerm labor in an attempt to stop the uterine contractions. That was, of course, the effects of alcohol were well known.

This "muscle relaxing" effect contributes to the overall sedation of alcohol. These effects combined result in inability to drive under the influence, operate heavy machinery, or function at full capacity. The altered percetption which results from these effects is the cause of the motor vehicle collisions reported yearly as DWI. These effects are not only when intoxicated, as it's effects may be noticed even after one or two beverages, based on the person's weight, tolerance, race and gender.

Differences by individual

There does exist inherent differences concerning alcohols effects on a person. Males tend to, in general, have higher tolerance then females due mainly in differences in Body Mass Index (weight). Additionally, certain races tend to have lower tolerance. For example, those of Asian descent may have lower tolerance due to a genetic deficiency of the protein/enzyme that breaks it down in the body (alcohol dehydrogenase). Of course, these differences are highly modifiable by dependence, frequency of use and genetic pre-disposition.

Alcohol, in extremes, presents a health hazard as well as hazards on the open road to the person intoxicated as well as innocent bystanders. It must always be remembered, that the key is always to know one's limits to prevent a regretful, even life-threatening, encounter.

Information is from The American Medical Association, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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