Interesting Facts About Alcohol and the Human Body

 Posted on June 21, 2018 in DUI

Alcohol is not a new invention--National Geographic states that the Chinese were making a type of alcohol as long as 9,000 years ago. Humans have loved alcoholic beverages for thousands of years, and while the beverages themselves have been refined and the way humans use alcohol has changed, such as the prevalence of DUI’s, the effects that it has on us has not changed. Here are five interesting facts about alcohol and the human body:

1. Moderate Drinking Can Be Good for Your Health

A study that was recently concluded at the University of Sao Palo’s Biomedical Science Institute in Brazil has finally pinpointed the enzyme that allows moderate alcohol use to benefit your heart. Scientists have proposed that alcohol has certain health benefits for years, but now the specific reason why has been discovered. The study showed that when alcohol is consumed in moderate amounts, it can help rid the body of aldehyde, which is a toxic byproduct of alcohol digestion, but also a byproduct of stressed heart cells, such as those from a heart attack.

2. Alcohol Is the Third Leading Preventable Cause of Death in the United States

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related deaths. This makes alcohol use the third leading preventable cause of death, behind tobacco use as the number one leading cause of death and poor diet and physical inactivity as the second leading cause.

3. The Type of Alcohol You Are Drinking Determines What a “Drink” Is

Not all drinks are created equal--different types of alcoholic beverages have different amounts of alcohol in them. According to the CDC, a standard “drink” in the United States has 0.6 ounces of alcohol in it. This amount of alcohol is in:

• 12 ounces of beer;
• 8 ounces of malt liquor;
• 5 ounces of wine; and
• 1.5 ounces of distilled liquor such as vodka, rum, and whiskey.

4. Mixing Alcohol and Caffeine Is Dangerous

The CDC says that alcohol mixed with caffeine is dangerous because the caffeine masks that depressant effects of the alcohol. This means that those who are drinking alcohol and caffeine usually drink more alcohol than they are aware of, which can lead to binge drinking and alcohol poisoning.

5. Alcohol Affects Women Differently Than Men

Because of the differences in body structure and chemistry, women absorb more alcohol when they drink than men do. Their bodies also take longer to break down alcohol and get rid of it, meaning that when women drink the same amount of alcohol as men, they have higher blood-alcohol concentrations and more immediate effects of alcohol.

Choose an Arlington Heights DUI Defense Attorney to Represent You

Though alcohol is okay to consume in small quantities and is often used in social settings, it can be very dangerous, especially if you choose to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking. This can lead to serious DUI charges that can follow you for the rest of your life. If you have been charged with a DUI, you should immediately contact an experienced Rolling Meadows DUI defense lawyer who has a proven track record. Contact Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law to discuss your case. Call 847-253-3400 to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180618141849.htm

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm