Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol’

Studies have always shown that alcohol consumption in a limited and controlled manner improves the functioning of the mind and the brain. This is because when alcohol is consumed, the flow of blood to the brain increases making it more alert and alive.

Moderate Alcohol on Older Women

Studies have been conducted in Toronto to find out the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on older women , those who are aged between 70 to 79 years of age. It has been seen that these women had better mental functioning. In fact, the researchers say their cognitive functioning was the same as that would have been, had they been one or two years younger.

Moderate Alcohol Improves Memory

When the older women consumed moderate alcohol, their memory improved. This has been found out by the University of Texas. Dr. Graham, the researcher who headed the entire team, says, “Moderate drinkers reported less depression, had higher self-reported health, preformed better on instrumental everyday tasks, had stronger memory self-efficacy and improved memory performance.”


Various tests like retelling a story, hidden objects, connecting random letters and members, etc. were given to both the groups-those who drank and those who didn’t. The former scored better than the latter in nearly all the cases. Dr. McDougall said that he noticed the confidence level of those who drank to be also much higher than those who didn’t drink.


The key here is to remember the word ‘moderate’. Though this would vary from person to person, the study emphasizes the limit as up to two drinks of wine, beer or any other spirits in a day.

Many individuals abuse alcohol consumption based on the many myths surrounding DWI and the various tests carried out by DWI law enforcers to control the crime. These DWI myths range from the extremely weird to credible suggestions that simply are not scientifically correct. Some of these myths include:

1. Breath: Most individuals believe that the smell of alcohol on your breath is what gives the BAC reading. However, research has proven this is not so. Alcohol has no odor. The odor is generated from the other ingredients used to make the drink. As a result, an individual who consumes non-alcoholic beer will have the same mouth odor as one who consumes alcoholic beer. Research has also shown that odor level estimates for some high potent alcoholic beverages were off by up to .13, which is almost twice the legal limit.


2. Accurate Breathalyzers: Do not give up if you are pulled over for a suspected DWI. Research has shown that breathalyzer testing is not a 100% full proof method of declaring you were driving under the influence. Any experienced DWI lawyer can easily expose the accepted .01% inherent error of the system and this has now been accepted in courses nationwide.


3. Jury Trial: The format of DWI cases is not cast in stone. Accusers have the right to refuse judgment by a judge and request a jury trial. With its margin error of 30 – 40%, a jury is important especially when the circumstances of your charge are questionable. This request cannot be denied, as it is your right under the sixth amendment.


4. Guaranteed correct BAC Results: It is a known fact among law enforcers and DWI lawyers that the testing method for breathalyzers is not full proof. Arresting officers can easily manipulate the information generated by the machine to prosecute suspected DWI offenders. Tests have shown that the first few breaths blown into the machine has a less alcohol content than the last couple of breaths do. This is because the first breaths that exudes from the top of the lungs that has lower alcohol content. The last couple of breath will come from the bottom of the lungs, close to the alveolar sacs that are rich in alcohol content. With this knowledge, the arresting officer keeps yelling at the driver to blow hard into the test machine until an elevated result is reached. Studies show that some breath test under these conditions revealed an actual alcohol content of .14% when compared to the actual blood test results of .09%. Always inform your DWI lawyer of the arresting officer’s conduct.


5. Breathalyzers tell Blood Alcohol Content (BAC): Many individuals believe that a breathalyzer machine actually measures blood alcohol concentration level. This is understandable as the acronym BAC suggests. However, the breathalyzer machine only gives an estimate of the amount of alcohol concentration by detecting any chemical compounds that contains trace elements from a methyl group of elements. Correct alcohol content must be verified by a blood test that has also been proven to have a 5% margin of error.


6. Mandated Roadside Testing: Roadside testing is not mandatory. Suspected offenders can refuse the roadside sobriety test but must immediately make themselves available for a chemical blood test at their expense at the nearest certified medical facility.


7. Roadside Integration: Suspected offenders often believe they must answer all the questions posed to them by their arresting officer. Drivers have the right to remain silent about any questions pertaining to your impairment.


8. Sucking on Copper Coins- some individuals believe that sucking on copper coins following the consumption of alcohol can actually lower their BAC reading. They think the chemical content will affect the machines ability to calculate your BAC level. This has proven to be utterly untrue.


9. Being Alcohol Free: Being alcohol free does not prevent you from being arrested on a DWI. Test show that traces of marijuana and other high potent drugs remain in the body up to twenty days after being consumed.


10. Pleading Guilty: Many persons believe that just pleading guilty will eliminate the rigors of the court case and sets you along your merry way, however this is not so. After a guilty plea, your information is entered into the state’s system. If you are charged again for the same crime, you will be treated as a repeat offender and attracts a different set of rules.

More than 16 million people in the US suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Even worse, this figure is increasing with every passing day. If experts are to be believed, diabetes is basically a group of diseases with pivotal factor behind all this being insulin. In this scenario, your body will not be able to make any insulin and therefore there is no proper usage of it.

Insulin

With regard to insulin, it is a hormone secreted by your pancreas. Insulin plays a significant part in deciding how your body processes the food that you consume. In other words, the main function of insulin is to maintain the proper sugar level in your blood. Similar to petrol which acts as your car fuel, glucose acts as your body fuel. Cells take the assistance of glucose in order to produce energy. Diabetes can cause serious issues such as loss of limbs, blindness and impotence. Recent study has come to the conclusion that cases of diabetes is increasing very quickly in the US.

Alcohol Consumption and Diabetes Risk

By drinking alcohol in a moderated form, you can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to recent research, light to moderate alcoholic drinkers have a 25 % to 30% lower diabetic risk in comparison to abstainers. When you consume alcohol directly, you will find that there is going to be significant improvement in the insulin action in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.


According to The American Diabetes Association, people taking light to moderate amounts of alcohol do not need to worry about any heart disease. On the other hand, if you happen to be non-diabetic postmenopausal women, you can minimize insulin concentrations by drinking alcohol in moderation. By doing this, you can also improve insulin sensitivity.

Alcohol Abuse in Women and Diabetes

By drinking alcohol in moderation, women that are over the age of 40 can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association believe that men should not take more than two drinks a day while one drink a day is more than enough for women health. In medical terms, alcohol tends to reducer blood sugar and therefore can lead to hypoglycemia. Make sure that you stay away from drinking when your blood glucose level is low. Before consuming alcohol, it is always better that you interact with your health care provider.

Drinking Alcohol and Human Body

As alcohol is a toxin, you need to be extra careful because human body does not react positively to it. The liver does not enjoy the presence of alcohol and therefore it makes every attempt to clear it from the blood. Your liver will not put out glucose again until and unless alcohol is removed from the body.