Lesson 1Short-term physiological effects: central nervous system, motor function, sleep, and acute intoxicationLooks at quick alcohol impacts on brain, actions, and body. Reviews dose-based brain slowdown, movement and thinking issues, sleep problems, sudden drunken states, and factors changing short effects.
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 lasting alcohol effects on mind, leading to low mood, worry, self-harm thoughts, and setbacks. Discusses two-way links, diagnosis hurdles, and clashes with mind medicines 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 dependenceCenters on ongoing alcohol harm to brain, like thinking loss, Wernicke-Korsakoff illness, and body changes. Covers brain adjustment, tolerance buildup, reliance, 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 kineticsOutlines body enzymes clearing ethanol, like alcohol dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, catalase. Details acetaldehyde harm, stomach-first breakdown, steady removal rate, gene types, and illness/drug effects on clearance.
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 differencesDescribes ethanol spread in body fluids, blood levels calculation, and influences from gender, years, build, pregnancy. Introduces Widmark ideas and testing/dosing meanings.
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 usual long illnesses and drugs like blood pressure meds, sugar control pills, mind drugs. Covers body process and effect interactions plus care handling.
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 ethanol uptake from mouth, stomach and gut stages. Discusses stomach clear-out, food role, drink strength, other speed changers for peak 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)Outlines brain basis of alcohol pullout, mild to shaking fits and seizures. Reviews body changes, overactive nerves, severe risks, 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, cirrhosis) and pathophysiologyStudies chronic alcohol liver damage from fat build to swelling and scarring. Reviews cell harm ways, scar paths, signs, dose/use pattern/comorbidity risks.
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)Reviews long heart impacts of alcohol like high pressure, heart muscle weakness, irregular beats. Covers dose answers, harm ways, signs, risk advice meanings.
Blood pressure changes and mechanismsAlcoholic cardiomyopathy pathophysiologyArrhythmias, including atrial fibrillationInteractions with cardiovascular drugsReversibility with abstinence or reductionRisk communication and patient advice
