Lesson 1Short-term Physiological Effects: Brain, Movement, Sleep, and Acute IntoxicationLooks at immediate effects of alcohol on the brain, behaviour, and body. Covers how much you drink affects brain function, movement and thinking problems, sleep disturbance, drunkenness stages, 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, Suicide Risk, and Psychiatric MedsShows how long-term drinking affects mental wellbeing, leading to depression, worry, suicide thoughts, and relapse. Covers two-way links, diagnosis difficulties, and how it mixes with mental health 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 Brain Effects: Thinking Problems, Wernicke-Korsakoff, Adaptation and DependenceFocuses on lasting alcohol damage to the brain, like memory loss, Wernicke-Korsakoff illness, and brain changes. Explains body adaptation, tolerance, dependence, and how to check and prevent in clinic.
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, KineticsDetails body enzymes that process alcohol, like alcohol dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, catalase. Explains harmful acetaldehyde, stomach processing, steady elimination rate, genes, and how sickness or drugs change 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 5Alcohol Distribution: Blood Levels, Body Water, Sex and Age DifferencesExplains how alcohol spreads in body fluids, blood alcohol levels, and how man/woman differences, age, body build, pregnancy affect it. Introduces Widmark ideas and meaning for tests and dosing.
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 Illnesses and Medicines (Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Mental Health Drugs)Reviews how alcohol mixes with common long-term illnesses and medicines like blood pressure pills, diabetes drugs, mental health meds. Discusses body processing and effect interactions plus clinic management.
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: Mouth Intake, Stomach Emptying, Rate FactorsExamines alcohol uptake after drinking, stomach and gut phases. Discusses stomach emptying, food effects, drink strength, factors changing absorption speed and 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 Body Changes and Severe Risk Factors (DTs, Fits)Describes brain changes in alcohol withdrawal from mild shakes to delirium tremens and fits. Reviews body adaptations, overactive nerves, risks for bad withdrawal, clinic risk checking.
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 Liver Effects: Fatty Liver, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and CausesExplores chronic drinking harm to liver from fat buildup to swelling and scarring. Reviews cell damage, scar pathways, signs, how amount, drinking pattern, other illnesses shape 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 Heart Effects: High Blood Pressure, Heart Muscle Weakness, Irregular BeatAnalyses lasting heart problems from alcohol like high pressure, weak heart muscle, irregular beats. Reviews dose effects, damage causes, signs, advice for risk talks.
Blood pressure changes and mechanismsAlcoholic cardiomyopathy pathophysiologyArrhythmias, including atrial fibrillationInteractions with cardiovascular drugsReversibility with abstinence or reductionRisk communication and patient advice
