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Health Chapters 20 & 21 Notes
Tobacco & Alcohol
Tobacco
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Tobacco is the leading cause of
preventable death and disability in the US
Approximately 90% of adult smokers
began the habit as teenagers
It’s easier to avoid tobacco use rather than
quit later
Tobacco is an addictive drug (substance
that causes physiological or psychological
dependence)
Tobacco
• Nicotine is the addictive drug found in
tobacco leaves
– Nicotine is a stimulant (increases the action of
CNS, heart, and other organs)
• Tobacco is a carcinogen (cancer-causing
substance) as it contains tar, CO2, and
other poisonous compounds
Tobacco
• Tar is a thick/dark/sticky fluid produced
when tobacco burns
– Paralyzes and destroys cilia, destroy alveoli,
and reduce overall lung function
• CO2 is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous
gas
– Deprives body tissues/cells of oxygen and
increases the risk of high BP, heart disease,
and hardening of the arteries
Tobacco
• Smokeless tobacco can be sniffed through
the nose, held in the mouth, or chewed
• It is NOT a safe alternative to smoking
• Exposure to harmful chemicals is often
three times longer with smokeless tobacco
• Leukoplakia - thickened/white/leathery
spots on the inside of the mouth that can
develop into oral cancer
Tobacco
• Short-term effects include…
– Brain chemistry changes, respiration and HR
increase, dulling of taste buds (appetite
reduction), and bad hygiene (bad breath,
yellow teeth, and smelly)
• Long-term effects
– Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lunc cancer,
heart disease and stroke, and a weakened
immune system
Tobacco
• Other consequences of tobacco use…
– Costs to society (~$165 billion in US)
– Costs to individuals (~$1,500 annually for
“pack-a-day” habit)
– Legal consequences
Alcohol
• Ethanol is the type of alcohol in alcoholic
beverages (is both powerful & addictive)
• Fermentation is the process by which
alcoholic beverages are created (chemical
action of yeast on sugars)
• Alcohol is a depressant (drug that slows
the central nervous system)
Alcohol
• Short-term effects of alcohol use
– Slows reaction time, impairs vision, and
diminishes judgment
– Intoxication - state where body is poisoned by
a drug and their physical/mental control is
significantly reduced
• Alcohol stays in a person’s system until the
liver can metabolize it or break it down
• Alcohol intoxication varies by person
Alcohol
• Some factors that influence onset and
intensity of alcohol’s effects include…
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Body size
Gender
Food (have you eaten recently?)
Rate of intake
Amount consumed
Any medicines you might be taking
Alcohol
• Long-term effects of alcohol use
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Damage to brain cells and reduced brain size
Increases BP (leading to heart attacks/stroke)
Buildup of fat cells in liver (~cell death)
Damage to digestive lining of stomach (can
lead to ulcers/cancer)
– Destruction of pancreas
Alcohol
• BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is the amount
of alcohol in a person’s blood and is expressed as
a percentage
• BAC depends on the quantity and type of alcohol
that was consumed, the rate of consumption, and
body size/gender
– Any amount of alcohol in the system can cause slow
reflexes, reduced ability to judge distances/speeds,
increase in risk-taking behaviors, and reduced
concentration and increased forgetfulness
Alcohol
• Binge drinking is consuming five or more
alcoholic beverages in one sitting
• This can lead to alcohol poisoning (a
severe and possibly fatal physical reaction
to alcohol overdose)
– Alcohol acts as a depressant on body organs