Lesson 1Short-term physiological effects: central nervous system, motor function, sleep, and acute intoxicationLooks at quick alcohol effects on brain, actions, and body. Checks dose-based slowdowns, movement and thinking problems, sleep issues, drunken states, and things 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 medicationsShows how steady drinking harms mind health, leading to sadness, worry, self-harm thoughts, and setbacks. Covers two-way links, hard diagnosis, and clashes with mind 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 dependenceCenters on lasting alcohol harm to brain, like thinking loss, Wernicke-Korsakoff illness, and body changes. Explains body adjustment, getting used to it, reliance, and checks for care and stopping.
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 dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, catalase. Covers bad acetaldehyde, first liver pass, steady clear rate, gene types, and how sickness or drugs change it.
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 differencesTells how alcohol spreads in body fluids, blood levels set, and how man-woman, young-old, body build, pregnancy change it. Starts Widmark ideas 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)Checks alcohol mix with common long sicknesses and drugs like blood pressure, sugar, mind meds. Talks body and effect clashes, and ways to handle in clinic.
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 rateLooks at alcohol uptake from mouth, stomach and gut steps. Covers stomach empty, food slow, drink strength, other things changing speed and top blood level.
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 stop, from small signs to shakes and fits. Checks body overdrive, bad stop risks, and ways to sort 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 pathophysiologyShows steady drinking liver harm, from fat build to swelling and scarring. Checks cell damage, scar paths, signs, and how amount, habit, other ills 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)Looks at lasting heart harms from alcohol, like high pressure, weak muscle, uneven beats. Checks dose answers, damage ways, signs, and advice for risks.
Blood pressure changes and mechanismsAlcoholic cardiomyopathy pathophysiologyArrhythmias, including atrial fibrillationInteractions with cardiovascular drugsReversibility with abstinence or reductionRisk communication and patient advice
