Booze, firewater, grandpa’s cough syrup, the reason my
girlfriend left me ““ alcohol has been around for thousands of
years and earned notoriety for nearly as many reasons.
If one is so inclined, alcohol can provide a release from
everyday stress. But awareness of its effects and the potential for
abuse can make drinking a more pleasurable and safer
experience.
First, the science. Alcohol is a central nervous system
depressant.
It has the effect of dulling your senses, as well as decreasing
your heart and breathing rate. Alcohol can decrease anxiety and
inhibition while producing euphoria ““ sometimes resulting in
behavior that fear of embarrassment or self-control would normally
prevent.
Although alcohol is broken down mainly in the liver, some of it
begins to be broken down by enzymes in the stomach.
In general, men have more of these enzymes than do women, and
this ““ in addition to their larger body size ““ allows
males to drink more without getting as drunk.
Food consumption does not affect how much alcohol enters your
blood, but it does affect how fast it enters. Foods high in
carbohydrates or fats will slow down alcohol absorption, and
carbonated beverages will speed it up.
Next, the cold, hard truth. Alcohol is a poison.
Although the body can break down small amounts of this poison,
even the products of the breakdown are toxic. They adversely affect
almost every organ in the body.
Over time, this toxicity leads to increased risk for liver
disease, heart disease and certain types of cancer. The more you
drink, the more likely you are to experience some of these negative
effects.
In addition, alcohol is a diuretic ““ it makes you
urinate.
This can cause dehydration, the loss of important minerals and
ultimately, a hangover.
The best way to treat hangovers is to prevent them by drinking
extra water. Drinking a glass of water between each alcoholic drink
will slow you down and keep you from getting dehydrated.
And what about the calories? A regular beer has about 150
calories, the same as a regular soda. A light beer usually has
about 100 calories, as does a glass of wine or a shot of hard
alcohol.
It doesn’t seem like much, but most people don’t
drink 10 sodas in one sitting. Mixed drinks with sweeteners can
have many more calories.
This means you will put on one pound for every 24 beers (or 35
light beers) you drink.
In other words, you would have to run up all the stairs at Drake
stadium ““ all of them ““ to burn off the calories from
one drink.
Now, the big question: My friend just got dumped and decided to
drink it off, but this time seems to have overdone it ““
vomiting, stumbling and passing out, the works. How do I know when
to call 911, or when to let him just sleep it off?
If you can awaken someone who has consumed too much alcohol,
then the effects can usually be slept off. However, you still need
to frequently make sure that he is lying on his side in case he
vomits.
DO NOT make him vomit, because he can accidentally inhale vomit
into his lungs.
If you are ever in doubt, call 911 or Poison Control.
On-campus resources like UCLA Student Psychological Services or
Alcoholics Anonymous can also help if you are unsure whether you
have a drinking problem.
Finally, the happy medium. Drinking is very common among college
students and generally not viewed as terribly abnormal.
So, if you choose not to drink, be happy with your choice. Your
liver thanks you. If you choose to drink, enjoy moderation, and
remember that a little foresight can save you a big headache in the
future.
Martin is a second-year medical student at the David Geffen
School of Medicine and a writer for The Diagnosis, an organization
comprised of UCLA medical students. The Diagnosis is coordinated by
Daniel Zaghi, a second-year medical student. Send questions to
DanZaghi@ucla.edu.