Effects of Alcohol On the Body
Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions in your packet
on page 3.
Many organs are affected by alcohol abuse. The Liver is an organ that
aids in digestion and helps break down alcohol and many other drugs. The liver
can become seriously damaged if someone intakes more alcohol than it can
process. This can lead to liver diseases and possibly liver failure. Cirrhosis- is a
late stage of liver disease that occurs when scarring forms on the liver. The liver
damage done by cirrhosis cannot be undone. If cirrhosis of the liver progresses,
more scar tissue is formed, which makes it difficult for the liver to function
normally. Advanced cirrhosis is
life threatening.
How does alcohol effect other organs?
Brain: alcohol gets to the brain in a matter of minutes; it slows down the brain's
ability to control the body's nervous system
• it impairs memory,
• loss of fine motor coordination
• alters perceptions, emotions, vision, hearing and coordination
•
nervous system diseases
Stomach: alcohol may cause inflammation and irritation
•
•
affects motor functions of the stomach,
heartburn
Liver: alcohol can cause an excess of fats in the liver
•
•
damage to the liver - kills cells
cirrhosis of the liver
alcohol hepatitis- inflammation of the liver
•
cancer of the liver
•
Heart and Circulatory System:
•
•
•
weakening of the heart muscle
chest pains, fatigue, high blood pressure
strokes, increased cholesterol, and increased workload on the heart
Lungs:
•
infections, pneumonia
•
may suffocate if vomits in his/her sleep
aggravates other lung diseases
•
Effects of Tobacco On the Body
What makes tobacco products so harmful? “Tobacco smoke
contains tar and the poison gases carbon monoxide and nitrogen
oxide. The ingredient that produces the effect people are looking for
is nicotine, an addictive drug and one of the harshest chemicals in
tobacco smoke” (National Cancer Society, p.5).
Tobacco products are detrimental to your health. Smokeless
tobacco can cause numerous types of cancers including mouth,
throat, cheeks, lips, etc. It is assumed that cigarette smoke causes
lung cancer, but it is known to cause several other types of cancers
as well. “Smoking also causes cancers of the nasopharynx (upper
throat), nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, lip, larynx (voice box), mouth,
pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), and bladder. It also
has been linked to the development of cancers of the pancreas,
cervix, ovary, colorectum, kidney, stomach, and some types of
leukemia. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and spit and other types of
smokeless tobacco all cause cancer. There is no safe way to use
tobacco” (American Cancer Society, p. 6). Smoking is also known to
cause problems for the heart and circulatory system.
About half of the people who keep smoking will die because of it.
In the United States, tobacco causes nearly 1 in 5 deaths, or about
480,000 premature deaths each year –almost half a million in the US
alone. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in our
society.
Diseases Associated with Tobacco Use
Lung Cancer- abnormal cells (cancer cells) that form in tissues of the lung,
usually in the cells lining air passages. Smoking causes 90% of lung cancer
deaths.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a name for long-term lung
disease, which includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is the 3 rd
leading cause of death in the U.S. and smoking causes 80-90% of COPD deaths.
Chronic bronchitis a disease where the airways make too much mucus, which
forces the person to cough it out. No cure, but quitting can help relieve
symptoms.
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily
causes shortness of breath due to over-inflation of the alveoli