JonDEffects of Alcohol on the Brain
June 2nd 2008 08:31
Having a beer after a hard day’s work or a glass of red wine to help wash down your beautifully cooked rump steak can be a very effective form of stress relief. This is because alcohol is actually a nervous system depressant, which means nerve messages to the brain are slowed down when small amounts of alcohol are consumed. But this can lead to many problems; people can become addicted to this initial warm glowing feeling of well being, and will carry on with their alcohol consumption trying to stay on this initial high. The problem is that prolonged alcohol consumption has many devastating side effects.
We have all heard of people be being described as bad drunks, this happens because excessive drinking can in many cases exaggerate peoples anger or frustration, this can lead them to getting in to difficult confrontations that they otherwise would never dream of. It’s these dramatic mood swings can severely test marriages and friendships. But it’s alcohols effects on our judgement and our fine motor skills can prove deadly.
As the alcohol levels in our blood stream begin to rise so the nerve messages to the brain slow even more. It’s at this point that you will find that even the most medial tasks start to become difficult. It may become almost impossible to pour your wine without spilling it, your speech will become slurred and your feet and legs may not work in tandem any more. And while this may seem very funny to on lookers, watching people stumble around unable to speak, there are many who still think that getting behind the wheel of their car in this state is a logical thing to do.
The effects of alcohol on your driving skills are immense. It is estimated that every eight minutes someone somewhere in the world dies due to drink driving with the majority of those being aged 18 to 25. It’s an horrendous fact, but it’s one that doesn’t look like going away anytime soon. Driving is often thought of as being an easy task, but people don’t realise the judgement that is needed. People who drive after drinking may feel overconfident and not recognize that their driving skills are reduced. As the messages to your brain become nearly none existent you can’t react as quickly, your vision may become blurred or doubled. Alcohol also alters depth perception, making it hard to tell whether other vehicles, pedestrians or objects are close or far away. On top of these devastating effects younger drivers drive with an air of invincibility, pushing their cars to their limits but the truth is they don’t have the experience behind the wheel that older drivers have had. Although as we grow older our alcohol tolerance decreases, older people tend not to take the risk of drinking and driving.
We have all heard of people be being described as bad drunks, this happens because excessive drinking can in many cases exaggerate peoples anger or frustration, this can lead them to getting in to difficult confrontations that they otherwise would never dream of. It’s these dramatic mood swings can severely test marriages and friendships. But it’s alcohols effects on our judgement and our fine motor skills can prove deadly.
As the alcohol levels in our blood stream begin to rise so the nerve messages to the brain slow even more. It’s at this point that you will find that even the most medial tasks start to become difficult. It may become almost impossible to pour your wine without spilling it, your speech will become slurred and your feet and legs may not work in tandem any more. And while this may seem very funny to on lookers, watching people stumble around unable to speak, there are many who still think that getting behind the wheel of their car in this state is a logical thing to do.
The effects of alcohol on your driving skills are immense. It is estimated that every eight minutes someone somewhere in the world dies due to drink driving with the majority of those being aged 18 to 25. It’s an horrendous fact, but it’s one that doesn’t look like going away anytime soon. Driving is often thought of as being an easy task, but people don’t realise the judgement that is needed. People who drive after drinking may feel overconfident and not recognize that their driving skills are reduced. As the messages to your brain become nearly none existent you can’t react as quickly, your vision may become blurred or doubled. Alcohol also alters depth perception, making it hard to tell whether other vehicles, pedestrians or objects are close or far away. On top of these devastating effects younger drivers drive with an air of invincibility, pushing their cars to their limits but the truth is they don’t have the experience behind the wheel that older drivers have had. Although as we grow older our alcohol tolerance decreases, older people tend not to take the risk of drinking and driving.
| 63 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
