Lesson 1Short-term physiological effects: central nervous system, motor function, sleep, and acute intoxicationLooks at immediate alcohol effects on the brain, behaviour, and body. Covers dose-based brain slowdown, movement and thinking problems, sleep disturbance, drunken states, and things that change short-term reactions.
Dose-response and blood alcohol levelsCNS depression and neurochemical changesMotor incoordination and reaction timeEffects on sleep architecture and qualityClinical features of acute intoxicationRisk factors for accidents and injuriesLesson 2Long-term effects on mental health: depression, anxiety, suicidality, and interaction with psychiatric medicationsExamines how long-term drinking harms mental health, leading to low mood, worry, suicide thoughts, and setbacks. Discusses two-way links, diagnosis hurdles, and clashes with mental health drugs and treatments.
Alcohol and depressive disordersAnxiety, panic, and alcohol useSuicidal ideation and attempt riskDiagnostic overlap and masking effectsInteractions with antidepressants and mood stabilizersIntegrated treatment and relapse preventionLesson 3Long-term organ-specific effects: brain (cognitive impairment, Wernicke-Korsakoff), neuroadaptation and dependenceFocuses on lasting brain damage from alcohol, like thinking decline, Wernicke-Korsakoff illness, and brain changes. Explains body adjustment, tolerance, addiction, and ties to checks and prevention.
Cognitive impairment and dementia riskThiamine deficiency and Wernicke-KorsakoffStructural and functional brain changesMechanisms of tolerance and sensitizationNeural circuits of dependence and cravingScreening and neurocognitive assessmentLesson 4Metabolism and elimination: alcohol dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, acetaldehyde, first-pass metabolism, elimination kineticsExplains body enzymes clearing alcohol, like alcohol dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, catalase. Covers acetaldehyde harm, stomach-first breakdown, steady removal rate, gene differences, and how sickness or drugs slow it down.
Alcohol dehydrogenase pathwaysCYP2E1 induction and toxic byproductsAcetaldehyde formation and detoxificationFirst-pass metabolism and gut-liver axisZero-order kinetics and clinical implicationsGenetic polymorphisms affecting metabolismLesson 5Distribution of alcohol: blood alcohol concentration, body water, sex and age differencesShows how alcohol spreads in body fluids, blood levels calculation, and how gender, age, body build, pregnancy affect it. Introduces Widmark ideas and meaning for tests and amounts.
Volume of distribution and body waterWidmark formula and BAC estimationSex differences in BAC and effectsAge-related pharmacokinetic changesImpact of obesity and body compositionPregnancy and lactation considerationsLesson 6Interactions with common comorbidities and medications (antihypertensives, diabetes medications, psychotropics)Reviews alcohol clashes with common long illnesses and drugs like blood pressure meds, sugar drugs, mind drugs. Discusses body and effect interactions plus handling tips.
Effects on blood pressure and heart drugsInteractions with diabetes medicationsAlcohol and psychotropic drug synergyHepatic metabolism and drug levelsAlcohol in chronic pain and opioidsCounseling patients on safe useLesson 7Ethanol absorption: oral intake, gastric emptying, and factors affecting rateStudies alcohol uptake after drinking, stomach and gut stages. Talks stomach emptying, food impact, drink strength, other things changing uptake speed and top blood levels.
Sites and mechanisms of ethanol absorptionRole of gastric emptying and motilityInfluence of food and meal compositionBeverage concentration and carbonationEffects of GI disease and surgeryPractical ways to slow absorptionLesson 8Alcohol withdrawal physiology and risk factors for severe withdrawal (delirium tremens, seizures)Describes brain changes in alcohol stopping, from light signs to shakes and fits. Reviews body overdrive, risks for bad withdrawal, and sorting patient danger levels.
Neuroadaptation of GABA and glutamateAutonomic hyperactivity mechanismsClinical spectrum of withdrawal signsPathophysiology of seizures and DTsRisk factors for complicated withdrawalAssessment tools and risk stratificationLesson 9Long-term organ-specific effects: liver (steatosis, hepatitis, liver hardening) and pathophysiologyLooks at how steady drinking harms liver, from fat build-up to swelling and scarring. Reviews cell damage ways, scar paths, signs, and how amount, pattern, other illnesses raise risk.
Progression from steatosis to cirrhosisHepatocellular injury and oxidative stressInflammation, fibrosis, and stellate cellsClinical features and diagnostic evaluationImpact of nutrition, obesity, and viral hepatitisLesson 10Long-term organ-specific effects: cardiovascular system (hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia)Analyses lasting heart effects of alcohol, like high blood pressure, heart muscle weakness, irregular beats. Reviews dose links, damage ways, signs, and risk talk advice.
Blood pressure changes and mechanismsAlcoholic cardiomyopathy pathophysiologyArrhythmias, including atrial fibrillationInteractions with cardiovascular drugsReversibility with abstinence or reductionRisk communication and patient advice
