Alcohol and Human Health

by Smart, Lesley

• ISBN13: 9780199237357
• ISBN10: 0199237352
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-09
• Publisher: The Open University

Summary

Alcohol has been drunk in human societies for at least ten thousand years, and today has become a common and accepted way to unwind from the pressures of life. But people are also aware that drinking alcohol has its dangers: it impairs our reaction times; it can damage our livers; it canincrease the risk of developing certain cancers; and it can be addictive, ruining careers and lives. But there are counter-claims that small regular amounts of alcohol improve health and lengthen life. What is the truth?Alcohol and Human Health explores the science behind drinking alcohol and its effects on human health. It first puts the problems into perspective by looking at the global health and accident statistics relating to drinking. It then goes on to study the basic chemistry of the ethanol molecule: howit is absorbed and metabolised by the body, and the damaging effects it has on the organs it encounters.It also explores the effects of drinking alcohol on behaviour, motor control and memory. In the process, it looks at the causes of addiction and the possibilities for treatment, using case stories to highlight the effects of excessive drinking.Alcohol and Human Health is accompanied by a fully interactive DVD, which includes molecular models of key chemical structures featured in the book; an animation, 'The alcohol journey'; a combination of animation and video clips, 'Alcohol - the link to brain, behaviour, and mind'; and a video,'Social, Physiological and Psychological Effects of Alcohol.'The Online Resource Centre features:For lecturers who are registered adopters of the book:- Figures from the book in electronic format, available to downloadFor students:- Access to ROUTES, a searchable internet database of online resources compiled by academic staff and subject-specialist librarians.

Author Biography

Dr Lesley Smart joined the academic staff of the Open University in 1977 and, since that time, has contributed to many undergraduate chemistry courses, most recently chairing the production of a new level two course bringing together the teaching of organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry for the first time. The third edition of her co-authored book, Solid State Chemistry: an introduction (CRC Press) was published in 2005. Lesley's research interests include solid state chemistry and catalysis, and in particular preparing and characterizing new materials and catalysts. Lesley became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2005, and is on the editorial board of Education in Chemistry.

Table of Contents

Alcohol and its effects on health

Alcohol has a long history

Problems in estimating alcohol consumption

Variations in alcohol consumption around the world

Alcohol, youth and gender - Rachel's story

Alcohol and the world's health

Economic costs of alcohol-related harm

The chemistry of alcohol

Introduction

The alcohol molecule

The properties of ethanol

The metabolism of ethanol in the body

The chemical reactions of ethanol

Does drinking alcohol make you fat?

Where does alcohol go in the body?

Absorption of alcohol from the gut

Transport of absorbed ethanol in the body

Ethanol from the gut first passes through the liver

The effect of ethanol on the kidneys

Alcohol - link to brain, behaviour and mind

How to understand why people drink alcohol

Psychological perspectives on drinking alcohol

Alcohol and the brain

Associations between alcohol, smoking and sex

Addiction to alcohol

How alcohol causes short- and long-term harmful effects

Introduction

Hangovers

Long-term problems for chronic alcoholism

Nervous system damage

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Treatment

Balancing harms with possible benefits

Is there a 'safe' level of alcohol intake?

Can moderate drinking bring any health benefits?

Final Comments

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.