Alcohol Consumption :: Health Alcohol Drinking Essays

Alcohol Consumption As we discussed in class, there is a concept that each individual has more than one "self." An individual has both a physical "self" and a mental or emotional "self." I will give you an example to illustrate this concept. Many people who wake up to an alarm in the morning often find it very difficult to get themselves out of bed. They may know that they will be late for class or for work if they stay in bed but their bodies are in need of more sleep. This is an example of a conflict between the two selves. Although there are arguably two selves, they are actually both rooted in the physical. As a result, a chemical change in the body can result in a significant change in the mental/emotional self. Specifically, I will explore how the effects of alcohol consumption can significantly impact one's choices, how causing a physical change by choice can influence a person mentally. The experiment that I designed following the "Time to Think?" lab heightened my interest on how alcohol consumption effects the body and the brain. As I looked into research about alcohol consumption I visited the websites for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the American Medical Association under the assumption that they would provide a significant amount of research regarding the biological effects of alcohol consumption. I actually found a much larger concentration of material covering the dangerous and/or self-destructive actions taken when under the influence of alcohol, specifically as a result of binge drinking. Still, I will begin my discussing the basic biology of what takes place as a result of alcohol consumption. So, what's happening to one's brain as an individual consumes more and more alcohol? If one drinks two drinks in one hour or one reaches a blood alcohol level of .02 - .06% the association area of the cerebrum is progressively affected. This impairs one's ability to reason as well his/her judgement. Symptoms include dizziness, less inhibited behavior, overestimation of skills, and slower reaction time. After consuming two to three drinks in one hour or one reaches a blood alcohol level of .6 - .10% most of the cerebrum is progressively affected. The ability to reason, judgement, one's senses, merit, coordination, vision, and speech are all functions that are affected and/or impaired.