Alcohol can both raise and lower an individual's blood-sugar level. Immediately after a drink is consumed, a person's blood-sugar level may go down due to alcohol's interaction with the liver. If alcohol is abused over a long period, the individual may be more prone to episodes of high blood sugar. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you're concerned with alcohol's effect on your blood-sugar levels. Other People Are Reading Emotional Effect of High Blood Sugar How to Immediately Lower Blood Sugar Alcohol's Short-Term Effect According to the American Diabetes Association, alcohol consumption lowers blood sugar. When alcohol is ingested, the liver focuses on cleansing it from the system. During this detoxification process, the liver is unable to introduce glucose into the bloodstream at its normal levels. The glucose that comes from the liver regulates the blood-sugar levels. Without it, an episode of low blood sugar might ensue.

• According to the American Diabetes Association, alcohol consumption lowers blood sugar. When alcohol is ingested, the liver focuses on cleansing it from the system. During this detoxification process, the liver is unable to introduce glucose into the bloodstream at its normal levels. The glucose that comes from the liver regulates the blood-sugar levels. Without it, an episode of low blood sugar might ensue.


• While alcohol consumption decreases blood sugar in the short term, it can contribute to hyperglycemia over long periods of abuse. Medicinenet.com states that alcohol decreases the effectiveness of insulin over time, which can result in high blood-sugar levels. Some 45 to 70 percent of individuals who had alcoholic liver disease also were diagnosed with glucose intolerance or diabetes.


• Chemocare.com points out that certain types of liquids that are frequently mixed with alcohol contain very high levels of sugar, which can cause hyperglycemia. If you are monitoring your sugar levels, you might want to avoid drinks mixed with soda or other sugary beverages.


• The American Diabetes Association says that individuals who hope to maintain a healthy blood-sugar level should never drink on an empty stomach. Men should consume no more than two drinks a day; one drink a day for women. The ADA also suggests using low sugar mixers, like club soda or seltzer


• If you are monitoring your blood sugar or need more information about the effects of alcohol on blood-sugar levels, ask your doctor. She can advise you about alcohol's effect on your sugar levels and help you come up with safe drinking goals. If you abuse alcohol, your doctor can suggest ways to overcome the addiction.

Blood alcohol content measures the amount of alcohol in your system by dividing the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. In most states, you are legally drunk of your blood alcohol content exceeds 0.08. Other People Are Reading How to Lower Blood Alcohol Content How Does Alcohol Affect the Nervous System? Gender Men have more water and less fat in their body composition, which means the alcohol will be more diluted. This means the blood alcohol content of women will rise faster than the blood alcohol content of men.

• Men have more water and less fat in their body composition, which means the alcohol will be more diluted. This means the blood alcohol content of women will rise faster than the blood alcohol content of men.


• The heavier you are the less your blood alcohol will rise with each drink. In general, someone twice as heavy as you will have half the blood alcohol content that you do if you have had the same amount of alcohol.


• If you drink on a full stomach, your blood alcohol content will rise slower because some of the alcohol will be absorbed by the food. This will prevent the alcohol from going directly into the small intestine and the bloodstream.


• Fat does not absorb alcohol, however muscle tissue does. Since more of the alcohol will stay in the blood stream of a person with a larger amount of fat, that person's blood alcohol content will rise faster.


• Metabolic tolerance is the rate at which your body can metabolize alcohol out of your blood stream. People who drink regularly will be able to metabolize alcohol faster than non-drinkers and will have a lower blood alcohol content as a result.

When someone drinks alcohol, it is absorbed through the stomach and transfers to the blood. As a result, blood samples taken for testing determine how much alcohol someone has ingested. Many blood samples are rendered into serum, removing the red blood cells in the process. This increases the water content in the sample and changes the ratio of alcohol to blood. Based on statistical studies, forensics experts have developed conversion factors for comparing serum alcohol concentration to blood alcohol concentration. Other People Are Reading How to Calculate Blood Alcohol Level How to Calculate Blood Alcohol Content Things You'll Need Calculator Show More Instructions 1 Verify the blood test result was conducted on serum and not whole blood. Serum has higher water content than whole blood and yields a different result.

• Verify the blood test result was conducted on serum and not whole blood. Serum has higher water content than whole blood and yields a different result.


• Divide the Serum Alcohol Concentration or SAC by 1.14 to convert to Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC, such as BAC = (SAC/1.14). This conversion factor, based on statistical analysis of water concentration in serum, is widely used in forensics and law enforcement in the United States.


• Develop a range of BAC values for greater accuracy. According to forensics toxicologist Dr. Nachman Brautbar, "From experimental studies a plasma-blood ratio of 1.22-to-1 corresponds to the mean plus 2 standard deviation and this higher conversion factor should be used in forensic work." Under Dr. Brautbar's analysis, BAC = (SAC/1.22) and gives a more conservative estimate. In Canada, The Centre of Forensic Sciences uses BAC = (SAC/1.16). Calculating all three conversions gives an accurate range of blood alcohol concentration based on serum testing.

Within 30 to 90 minutes of that first drink, alcohol can have a significant impact on your blood. Drinking too much too quickly can overwhelm the bloodstream. The stronger the drink, the quicker the blood absorbs the alcohol. Warm alcohol absorbs more quickly than cold alcoholic beverages. When you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, it can pack a powerful punch. Blood alcohol levels rise quickly when there is no food to absorb the spirits. Other People Are Reading How Does Alcohol Affect Diabetes? How Much Alcohol is Too Much? Alcohol in the Blood Lymph, white and red blood cells, infection-fighting agents, water, plasma and cellular debris in the blood reduce the strength of alcohol in the bloodstream. Blood alcohol concentration measures the amount or level of alcohol in the blood. How much alcohol you consume and how fast you drink it determines how much alcohol lingers in the bloodstream. Other factors, such as muscle versus body fat and the amount of food in the stomach, also affect the concentration of alcohol in the blood. Muscle holds water that dilutes alcohol, while fat stores alcohol. A healthy, muscular person with food in the stomach eliminates alcohol in about one hour if the individual drinks no more than one 1 oz. shot of 100-proof whiskey, a 12 oz. beer, or 3 to 4 oz. of wine, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.

• Lymph, white and red blood cells, infection-fighting agents, water, plasma and cellular debris in the blood reduce the strength of alcohol in the bloodstream. Blood alcohol concentration measures the amount or level of alcohol in the blood. How much alcohol you consume and how fast you drink it determines how much alcohol lingers in the bloodstream. Other factors, such as muscle versus body fat and the amount of food in the stomach, also affect the concentration of alcohol in the blood. Muscle holds water that dilutes alcohol, while fat stores alcohol. A healthy, muscular person with food in the stomach eliminates alcohol in about one hour if the individual drinks no more than one 1 oz. shot of 100-proof whiskey, a 12 oz. beer, or 3 to 4 oz. of wine, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library.


• Alcohol starves red blood cells of oxygen, thickens the blood and kills the cells. These starved red blood cells clump together and restrict the flow of blood through small blood vessels and capillaries. This blood sludge chokes the tissues and cells in the bloodstream, according to Oregon Counseling. Capillaries in the skin break down and burst, resulting in red eyes the morning and damage to blood vessels on the face. Over time, alcohol intake reduces the production of red blood cells essential to maintaining oxygen supplies to the skin, muscles, liver and pancreas. It reduces blood f...

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Blood alcohol levels are the most accurate way to find out how much alcohol is in the body. Its best known use is to determine the intoxication level of a driver, but it has other purposes. Blood alcohol levels register quickly, and various factors alter the results. If there's a car accident with injuries, usually the police demand a blood alcohol level test on all drivers. Other People Are Reading Levels of Alcohol Intoxication How to Convert Serum Alcohol to Blood Alcohol Function There are several reasons for blood alcohol tests. It can pinpoint a drunken driver and absolve someone suspected of drunken driving. Sometimes, medical conditions such as hypoglycemia or diabetes cause symptoms that imitate alcoholic confusion and unclear thinking. When a person is comatose, it helps eliminate the potential of an alcohol-induced coma. Police and program directors use it to find out whether people who are on programs for drug and alcohol abuse cheat. Occasionally, a child has a blood level alcohol test. This occurs when a child has alcohol poisoning from accidental ingestion or sipping too many adult drinks.

• There are several reasons for blood alcohol tests. It can pinpoint a drunken driver and absolve someone suspected of drunken driving. Sometimes, medical conditions such as hypoglycemia or diabetes cause symptoms that imitate alcoholic confusion and unclear thinking. When a person is comatose, it helps eliminate the potential of an alcohol-induced coma. Police and program directors use it to find out whether people who are on programs for drug and alcohol abuse cheat. Occasionally, a child has a blood level alcohol test. This occurs when a child has alcohol poisoning from accidental ingestion or sipping too many adult drinks.


• The blood alcohol level is from a test that measures the amount of alcohol in the blood. Because alcohol absorbs rapidly into the bloodstream, it only takes minutes to register a drink. Alcohol tends to peak in blood alcohol tests about an hour after the drink, but food in the system slows the absorption. The results show whether there's ethanol, which is alcohol, in the blood. If there's none, the test is normal.


• Each state has different rules for the definition of legal intoxication. Many use the reading of .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration) as the point where official intoxication begins for legal purposes. This is the recommended level from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


• The amount of alcohol in the blood varies by a person's size and other factors, even if you drink the same amount as a friend. For instance, a 120-lb. woman might have two drinks in an hour and register a .08, official intoxication in most states. Her girlfriend might drink the same amount but wei...

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• Glucose, which is the scientific name for blood sugar is your body's fuel or energy that is required to feed your brain, body tissues and your nervous system. Your body makes blood sugar or glucose from the carbohydrates, proteins and fats that you eat. It is imperative for your body to perform at an optimum level to maintain your blood sugar levels.


• Although most people like to drink alcohol, it is a poison to your body. Alcohol impedes the sources of blood sugar and the hormones (insulin and glucagon) needed to maintain an adequate blood sugar level. It really does not matter how much or how often you drink, alcohol can affect your body each and every time it is consumed. When you drink, the secretion of insulin increases, causing low blood sugar. It can also damage the body's hormonal response that normally corrects the low blood sugar. Heavy drinkers can drain their body's glycogen storage within a matter of hours. In time, excessive drinking will diminish the effectiveness of insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels.


• Is High blood sugar bad? Is low blood sugar bad? Theoretically, they are both bad. Whether it be from alcohol or some other source, when production of insulin is slowed or stopped, your blood sugar levels decrease causing a low blood sugar condition called hypoglycemia. If higher concentrations of insulin are produced, it would cause a high blood sugar condition called hyperglycemia. A primary source of fuel for your body is sugar, your brain needs sugar and depends on the rest of your body to provide sugar for it. If your blood sugar rises too high or falls too low, this could have a detrimental affect on your body.

Dangerous alcohol consumption leads to a potentially life-threatening condition commonly called alcohol or ethanol poisoning. Victims need to receive immediate medical attention to allow a doctor to diagnose the severity of the illness. Other People Are Reading How to Help an Alcohol Poisoning Sufferer The Effects of Alcohol Poisoning Things You'll Need Physician Show More Instructions Diagnose Cases of Alcohol Poisoning 1 Know the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. While it is always preferable to have a medical professional diagnose the condition, individuals can help by recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning and taking action to get help for the victim. Common symptoms include confusion, vomiting, breathing abnormalities, weak pulse, hypothermia, bluish or yellowish skin and unresponsive unconsciousness.

• Know the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. While it is always preferable to have a medical professional diagnose the condition, individuals can help by recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning and taking action to get help for the victim. Common symptoms include confusion, vomiting, breathing abnormalities, weak pulse, hypothermia, bluish or yellowish skin and unresponsive unconsciousness.


• Bring the victim to an emergency room immediately, where medical professionals can diagnose and treat the illness.


• Understand that a doctor's first course of action will be to assess the physical, visible signs of alcohol poisoning. Blood pressure, responsiveness, breathing and pulse will all be checked. It will help the doctor if a sober person who has an idea how much alcohol was consumed by the victim is present, in the event that the victim is unconscious, still drunk or otherwise incapacitated.


• Realize that doctors will commonly order blood tests to be performed on a suspected victim of alcohol poisoning. These are done to assess blood-alcohol levels, as well as the presence or absence of the vital blood sugars that are another telltale sign of excessive alcohol intoxication.


• Know that urine samples may also be collected in order to confirm the doctor's diagnosis. In obvious or severe cases, this step may be skipped in order to administer treatment.

Blood-alcohol content measures the percentage of alcohol in your blood. There are several reasons you might be concerned about what your blood-alcohol content will be in the morning. Perhaps the police or an employer are going to test you; perhaps you are just curious. Whatever your reason, calculating your blood-alcohol content involves only solving a simple formula. Other People Are Reading What is the Difference Between a Breathalyzer & Blood-Alcohol Content Test? Alcohol Blood Test & How Long It Stays in the Body Instructions 1 Find how much alcohol you have consumed (or will have consumed) in fluid ounces. A glass, bottle or can of beer equals .6 ounces, as does a glass of wine. A shot of liquor equals .5 ounces of alcohol. This is "A."

• Find how much alcohol you have consumed (or will have consumed) in fluid ounces. A glass, bottle or can of beer equals .6 ounces, as does a glass of wine. A shot of liquor equals .5 ounces of alcohol. This is "A."


• Find your body weight in pounds. This is "W."


• Use the alcohol distribution ratio for your sex. It is .73 for men and .66 for women. This is "R."


• Work out how many hours will elapse. This is "H."


• Solve the formula "%BAC = (A x 5.14/W x r) - .015 x H." In other words, multiply the amount of alcohol you have consumed by 5.14. Divide by your body weight. Multiply by the alcohol distribution ratio. Subtract from this .015 times the time that will elapse. The final result is your blood alcohol content at the time specified tomorrow.

One in every three adults has high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure can cause a host of complications, including damage to your arteries, heart failure, ruptured blood vessels in your brain, aneurysms and memory trouble. Various changes in your lifestyle can help you reduce high blood pressure over time. Some methods allow you to lower your blood pressure more quickly than others. These include adding certain foods to your diet, exercising and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine. Other People Are Reading Exercises to Lower High Blood Pressure Mild Blood Pressure Medicine Instructions 1 Create an aerobic routine. Aerobic activity makes your heart stronger and can lower your systolic blood pressure (the number at the top of a blood pressure reading) by as much as 10 millimeters, according to the Mayo Clinic. Aerobic activity includes any exercise that increases your heart and breathing rate, such as dancing, running and biking.

• Create an aerobic routine. Aerobic activity makes your heart stronger and can lower your systolic blood pressure (the number at the top of a blood pressure reading) by as much as 10 millimeters, according to the Mayo Clinic. Aerobic activity includes any exercise that increases your heart and breathing rate, such as dancing, running and biking.


• Change your diet. A healthy diet can lower your blood pressure over time. According to nutritionist Joy Bauer, eight foods can quickly lower your blood pressure. These include skim milk, spinach, unsalted sunflower seeds, beans, baked white potatoes, bananas, soybeans and dark chocolate.


• Try to relax. Simply relaxing or practicing slow, deep breathing techniques can reduce your blood pressure quickly. Join a yoga or Tai chi class to learn proper breathing techniques.


• Consider medications. For some people, the aforementioned activities will not be sufficient to lower your blood pressure to safe levels. Medication may be the only option to lower your blood pressure quickly. These include thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.


• Reduce alcohol consumption. According to the Mayo Clinic, too much alcohol can raise blood pressure and reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.

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• Alcohol drinkers often experience high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends drinking moderate amounts, if you drink, 1 to 2 drinks per day. Drinkers without a heart and regulatory system strong enough to control the effects of drinking, suffer a rise in blood pressure when the body adapts to too much after and an overactive central nervous system. High blood pressure, 140/90 millimeters of mercury or above, occurs hen the blood flow is too strong for the dilation of the arteries and arterioles in the heart and muscles or when the vascular system constricts too much for the blood flow. Natural vascular control allows the blood to pass through the arteries easily. A salt balance maintains normal boy water levels. Normal nerve functioning keeps the vascular system open the right amount for the blood flow.


• Drinking alcohol causes the amount of water stored in the body to increase. With higher salt retention, the body retains more water. The excess water burdens the heart and arteries, constraining the fluid space for blood in the arteries for blood passage. With too little room for normal blood flow, blood pressure increases to move enough blood through the body.


• Alcohol absorption can alert the nervous system. Doctor Bassam Moushmoush in a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 1991 says the one reported cause for the incidence of high blood pressure when a person drinks alcohol is an overactive nervous system. The adrenal gland produces more epinephrine, raising the blood pressure above 140/90 millimeters of mercury. The regulatory hormone tells the heart to increase its work in the body. The nerves in the muscular areas constrict the arteries and arterioles too much, leaving too small a passage for blood.


• The nervous system can become excitable after drinking that changes the nervous system's control for the vascular system. Blood pressure can rise because the overactive nervous system constricts the muscular arteries and arterioles. The effect lasts until the withdrawal ends.

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