What is an alcohol binge?

What is an alcohol binge?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or higher.

How is alcohol a carcinogen?

Alcohol can cause cancer by: ethanol (pure alcohol) and its toxic by-product acetaldehyde damaging cells by binding with DNA and causing cells to replicate incorrectly. influencing hormone levels, which can modify how cells grow and divide. direct tissue damage, increasing the absorption of other carcinogens.

What is meant by the term carcinogenic?

(kar-SIH-noh-jin) Any substance that causes cancer.

How is ethanol metabolized?

Ethanol is metabolized mainly by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to produce acetaldehyde. At high levels of ethanol consumption, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) becomes involved in metabolizing ethanol to acetaldehyde. Catalase (CAT) metabolizes ~60% of ethanol within the brain where physiologically active ADH is lacking.

What is considered binge drinking for females?

NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent – or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter – or higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about 2 hours.

Is ethanol a carcinogen?

The consumption of alcoholic beverages has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) since 1988. More recently, in 2010, ethanol as the major constituent of alcoholic beverages and its metabolite acetaldehyde were also classified as carcinogenic to humans.

How is alcohol digested?

Approximately 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach and most of the remaining 80% is absorbed through the small intestine. Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, where enzymes break down the alcohol. Understanding the rate of metabolism is critical to understanding the effects of alcohol.

What does alcohol get metabolized into?

Most alcohol is broken down, or metabolised, by an enzyme in your liver cells known as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). ADH breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde, and then another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), rapidly breaks down acetaldehyde into acetate.

What is the meaning of ethanol in medical terms?

Medical Definition of ethanol. : a colorless volatile flammable liquid C2H5OH that is the intoxicating agent in liquors and is also used as a solvent. — called also ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol.

What is the composition of ethanol?

Ethanol is a clear, colorless alcohol made from a variety of biomass materials called feedstocks (the raw materials used to make a product). Fuel ethanol feedstocks include grains and crops with high starch and sugar content such as corn, sorghum, barley, sugar cane, and sugar beets.

What are the effects of chronic ethanol use?

Chronic ethanol use can cause increased susceptibility to tuberculosis, pneumonia and other infections. Consuming a moderate amount of the substance can relax the muscles, affect coordination and impair judgement. Drinking large amounts of the substance can lead to alcohol addiction, alcohol poisoning and overdose.

Is ethanol renewable or nonrenewable?

Ethanol is a renewable biofuel because it is made from biomass. Ethanol is a clear, colorless alcohol made from a variety of biomass materials called feedstocks (the raw materials used to make a product). Fuel ethanol feedstocks include grains and crops with high starch and sugar content such as corn, sorghum, barley, sugar cane, and sugar beets.