Men’s Health: Alcohol Awareness
TTUHSC shares tips to understand alcohol in the heat
1. Alcohol is a diuretic. Therefore, when drinking under the sun, in hot temperatures, a person runs a higher
risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion than normal. It is best to drink plenty of
water when consuming alcohol in the sun.
2. Alcohol binds to proteins and changes their function. Binding causes an increase in chloride through the GABA-A channel (neuroinhibitory function). Alcohol also leads to oxidative damage, which damages cells as well as their DNA, and can lead to an increased risk for cancer. It is wise to make the decision to drink based on individual health risks.
3. What “hold your alcohol” really means. When men say they can “hold their alcohol,” they are referring to the behavioral and physical changes the body makes when drinking. Behavioral changes can vary from high levels of energy to tired, depressed reactions; either reaction is, at least in part, due to genetic differences. Tolerance of alcohol is the result of both the behavioral and physical changes made when intoxicated, which explains why a person learns to walk and talk better the more often they drink. Individuals who demonstrate these two types of tolerance also increase their risk for health consequences related to the heart, liver, and other vital organs.
Related Stories
A Call for Change: Addressing the Invisible Workload of School-Based SLPs
Tobias Kroll, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, discusses the workloads and expectations of school-based SLPs.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents
Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.
Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated
On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.
Recent Stories
A Call for Change: Addressing the Invisible Workload of School-Based SLPs
Tobias Kroll, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, discusses the workloads and expectations of school-based SLPs.
TTUHSC Receives $1.3 Million HRSA Telehealth Resource Center Grant to Expand Telehealth in Texas and Louisiana
The TexLa Telehealth Resource Center, based at TTUHSC, has been awarded a $1.3 million, four-year grant from HRSA to strengthen and expand digital health services in Texas and Louisiana.
The Relational Health Center Celebrates Two Years of Care for Families
On Friday, August 22, from 3 - 5 p.m., the Relational Health Center is celebrating its second birthday with an open house event at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock.