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GCSE level biology revision notes: Non-communicable diseases

Part 7. Effects of alcohol abuse and solvent abuse, health issues linked to harmful non-communicable diseases, organ damage and application of liver organ transplants and ethical issues

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[Key points and learning objectives for this page, after the main body of notes]

Sub-index of notes on non-communicable diseases

(7a) Alcohol - dangers and issues

  • Be able to evaluate evidence of some harmful effects of alcohol abuse:

    • a) in the short term -

      • Blurred vision - at high intoxication levels you don't see things clearly as normal and your sense of balance is affected - difficulty walking, impaired memory, slurred speech, in fact most mental and physical activity is interfered with.

      • Lowering of inhibitions - antisocial behaviour, from amusing to offensive actions you wouldn't normally do!

      • Slowing of reaction times - alcohol is a depressant and slows down brain activity - particularly dangerous for 'drink drivers' or 'pedestrians', you are more likely to be involved in an accident of some form or another.

    • b) in the long term -

      • Liver cirrhosis (liver disease) - many people do not appreciate the poisonous nature of alcohol which can be toxic with a large intake of high % alcoholic drinks. In small quantities, the liver can metabolise the alcohol into harmless by-products.

        • The liver is the site of break down of alcohol and other toxins to purify the blood (and the rest of your body).

        • However, high 'doses' of alcohol can cause the death of liver cells and scarring the liver tissue, eventually restricting the blood flow to the liver.

        • This inhibits the liver from doing its normal cleaning-filtering job of processing waste products from the body like urea.

        • Liver failure allows the build up of waste products like urea which may harm the rest of your body.

      • Brain damage - alcohol abuse is associated with widespread and significant brain lesions - permanent brain damage with potentially fatal consequences.

      • Alcohol is addictive - the more you drink, the more your body wants alcohol, therefore damage to your mental and physical health becomes more likely and more persistent.

        • With drugs like alcohol and heroin, you get addiction and withdrawal symptoms, an unpleasant physical reaction, when you stop taking the drug.

      • Consumption of high levels of alcohol also increases the risk of obesity, strokes, heart attacks and long-term anxiety and depression.

    • More on alcohol abuse and the general chemistry of alcohol (ethanol) (GCSE chemistry)

(7b) Know about the dangers of solvents

  • Organic solvents (NOT water) are extremely useful liquids for preparing solutions in the chemical industry and in many domestic products in the home including aerosols, glues, paints and cosmetic products.

  • They are classified as drugs because they affect the brain and central nervous system e.g. they cause intoxication effects including hallucinations (illusions of the mind)

  • Therefore solvents cause severe and negative effects on behaviour and character.

  • The lipids and proteins in the skin are affected and reducing the ability of skin to protect itself - you can get dermatitis, sores and lesions and other skin disorders.

  • Solvents can cause even more serious damage to the nervous system including the brain, liver, kidney and lungs.

(7c) The use of organ transplants

  • Be able to discuss the ethics of organ transplants when the organ is so damaged that a transplant is required to prolong life, including:

    • Liver transplants for alcoholics -

    • Bearing in mind the acute shortage of organ donors (living or dead), should alcoholics with serious cirrhosis of the liver be given priority over someone who develops liver disease through no fault of their own?

    • A liver transplant patient should be expected to stop drinking before and after the liver transplant operation, otherwise why waste a valuable organ to be damaged by a transplant patient who will not stop drinking?

Non-communicable diseases: 7d. Measures of obesity - indexes and ratios - obesity linked to alcohol abuse and resulting diseases

e.g. non-communicable diseases linked to alcohol from increase in body fat include high blood pressure (hypertension), high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease (CVD), stroke, gallbladder disease, and some potentially fatal

(7d) Measures of obesity  (just one measure of healthiness and well-being)

This section is re-edited from the section on

Keeping healthy: diet, exercise, diabetes, body indexes/ratios, diet deficiencies, calorific values

Introduction

The negative health effects of being overweight and obese, many of which can be fatal include:

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides

Type 2 diabetes

Coronary heart disease

Stroke

Gallbladder disease.

Please note there is no such thing as the 'perfect weight', we come in all shapes and sizes, but there are limits within which we should be to be healthy!

In the medical profession, a doctor can't just simply say that somebody is overweight, without reference to some kind of statistical index, usually by one/both of the ratios described below.

Equally healthy people can have quite different weights, but there are some reasonably good indicators as to when your weight is not what it should be 'ideally'.

In rich developed countries we are often dealing with 'overweight' people eating too much rich fatty food, but in poorer underdeveloped countries we are dealing 'underweight' people, particularly young children suffering from malnutrition.

Malnutrition means lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat.

 

The Body Mass Index

The body mass index is a 'rough' guide to help the medical profession decide whether is underweight, normal, overweight or obese.

The higher your BMI the more fat you are carrying - but not necessarily unhealthily.

Body Mass Index (BMI) = (body mass in kg) / (height in m)2

When measured, you then consult a table of BMI values to se where you fit in!

Table of BMI values (from https://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/bmi-chart.html)

Body mass index

Weight description

less than 18.5

underweight

18.5 to 24.9

normal

25.0 to 29.9

overweight

30.0 to 40.0

moderately obese

over 40.0

very obese

If you eat too much fatty sugary foods and don't take enough exercise, most people will put on weight and too much of it. You are taking in too much energy rich food for your daily needs.

The excess energy releasing food is stored as fat and gives you a raised BMI value.

Having a higher than normal BMI value increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

For more on this see The human circulatory system - heart, lungs, blood, blood vessels, causes/treatment of cardiovascular disease

Note of caution: Having a high BMI is not always unhealthy e.g. sports people train hard to build up extra muscle which is heavier than fat, so they will tend to have higher than 'normal' BMI values and would not be classed as overweight.

The BMI calculation is easy e.g. for a person with a body mass of 70.0 kg and a height of 1.80 m,

The BMI = m / h2 = 70 / 1.802 = 21.6 (3 sf, kg/m2), suggesting the person is 'normal'.

BUT, beware, we do come in all shapes and sizes, even people on healthy diets don't always 'fit in' with he BMI, but most doctors consider it a useful and reasonably accurate diagnostic tool.

Note from 2020 on the covid-19 flue pandemic: Research has shown that obese people are more likely to be seriously ill with the virus than non-obese people - more severe fever, more likely to be hospitalised and more likely to die!

The waist-to-hip ratio should also be taken into consideration (see below).

 

The waist-to-hip ratio

Comparing the circumferences of waist and hips is another measure of whether you are 'overweight' and concentrates around one area where we can accumulate to much fat.

This index is all about fat distribution.

waist-to-hip ratio = circumference of waist (cm) / circumference of hips (cm)

The higher your waist-to-hip ratio the more fatty tissue you are carrying around the middle of your body.

When measured, you then consult a table of BMI values to se where you fit in!

Make sure you measure both diameters with the same length units!

Table of waste-to-hip ratios (from https://www.healthline.com/health/waist-to-hip-ratio)

Health risk

waist-to-hip ratio (women)

waist-to-hip ratio (men

low

less than 0.81

less than 0.96

moderate

0.81 to 0.85

0.96 to 1.00

high (overweight)

over 0.85

over 1.00

The Waist to Hip calculation is easy e.g. for a woman of waist measurement of 32 cm and a hip measurement of 40 cm,

The waist to hip ratio  = 32 / 40 = 32 / 40 = 0.80 (3 sf, no units), suggesting the person is 'fine' (borderline low-moderate).

If you are female and your waist-to-hip ratio is over 0.85 you are classed as overweight.

If you are male and your waist-to-hip ratio is over 1.00 you are classed as overweight.

If you are above the moderate waist-to-hip ratio values you are carrying too much fat around your 'middle' - referred to as abdominal obesity.

Having a higher than normal waist-to-hip ratio increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and suffering from cardiovascular disease.

For more on this see The human circulatory system - heart, lungs, blood, blood vessels, causes/treatment of cardiovascular disease

Again, beware, we do come in all shapes and sizes, but most doctors consider it a useful extra diagnostic tool.

The body mass index (BMI) should also be taken into consideration (see above).

Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for this part on obesity - measures and statistics

In the context of non-communicable diseases discuss measures of obesity e.g. body mass index and waist to hip ratio.

Describe how obesity is linked to several diseases including high blood pressure (hypertension), cholesterol levels in the blood, dangers of high levels of triglycerides, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes in the brain, gallbladder disease and some of these diseases are potentially fatal.

Key points Source of information is based on textbooks & syllabus-specifications for students taking the AQA GCSE, Edexcel GCSE and OCR GCSE level biology examinations (~US grades 9-10).

Key ideas about alcohol and solvents

Notes for biology students on alcohol and solvent abuse, associated health issues, organ damage, liver transplants, and ethics - perfect for exam prep.

Effects of Alcohol and Solvent Abuse

Alcohol Abuse

  • Short-term effects:

    • Slower reaction times, impaired judgment and coordination.

    • Drowsiness and blurred vision.

    • In high doses: unconsciousness or even death due to respiratory failure.

  • Long-term effects:

    • Liver damage: leading to cirrhosis (scarring of liver tissue) and liver cancer.

    • Brain damage: impaired cognitive functions and memory loss.

    • Increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and pancreatitis.

    • Dependency and addiction (alcoholism).

Solvent Abuse

  • Solvents include substances like glue, paint thinners, and aerosols.

  • Inhalation effects:

    • Dizziness, hallucinations, confusion.

    • Sudden death due to heart failure (known as sudden sniffing death syndrome).

    • Long-term damage to liver, kidneys, brain, and respiratory system.

Health Issues Linked to Harmful Substances

  • Lifestyle choices such as alcohol and solvent abuse can increase the risk of:

    • Liver and kidney disease.

    • Cancer, particularly liver and oral cancers.

    • Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke.

    • Mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

    • Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in babies born to mothers who abuse alcohol during pregnancy.

Organ Damage: The Liver

Functions of the liver:

  • Detoxifies harmful substances.

  • Breaks down alcohol and drugs.

  • Produces bile and stores glycogen.

How Alcohol Damages the Liver:

  • Alcohol is broken down in the liver, producing toxic by-products.

  • Excess alcohol causes liver cells to die and be replaced by fibrous tissue (cirrhosis).

  • Progresses to liver failure or liver cancer.

Liver Transplants and Ethical Considerations

Liver Transplant:

  • When needed: For patients with severe liver failure or cancer.

  • Process: Damaged liver is replaced with a healthy donor liver (often from a deceased person).

  • Requires immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection.

Ethical Issues:

  • Donor consent and maintaining a fair organ allocation system.

  • Living donors may risk their health.

  • Access to transplants may be limited by cost or location.

  • Some argue transplant resources should prioritize those who haven’t caused their own damage (e.g., alcoholics).

Importance in Understanding Human Biology

  • Shows how lifestyle choices impact health and organ systems.

  • Illustrates the function and structure of major organs like the liver.

  • Highlights the link between biology, medicine, and ethics.

Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for this part on dangers of alcohol, solvents, CVD and use of transplants

Be able to describe the need for, and use of, the application of transplants

Appreciate the are concerns and issues about heart transplants and liver transplant and need for suitable organ donors.

In terms of non-communicable diseases, be aware of the effects and dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages or wine and using solvents for recreational purposes.

Be able to describe resulting problems e.g. addiction, cirrhosis of the live, brain damage and cardiovascular disease.

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describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage for syllabus-specifications for students taking the IGCSE/GCSE level biology examinations, summary revision notes key points on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage for students studying AQA igcse/gcse biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage, Edexcel gcse biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage,  OCR 21st century GCSE biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage, OCR gateway GCSE biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage, WJEC gcse biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage, CCEA gcse biology notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage, CIE Cambridge igcse biology, notes on describe & explain examples alcohol & solvent abuse e.g. organ damage useful for US grade 9-10 biology student courses, Explaining importance of use of liver transplants & ethical issue in GCSE level biology, What you need to know about use of liver transplants & ethical issue for GCSE level biology, Explaining use of use of liver transplants & ethical issue knowledge in GCSE level biology, Examples of use of liver transplants & ethical issue explained when studying GCSE level biology, What is the significance of use of liver transplants & ethical issue in GCSE level biology, describing explaining theory of use of liver transplants & ethical issue when studying GCSE level biology, exam revision notes for use of liver transplants & ethical issue, online help for understanding use of liver transplants & ethical issue in GCSE biology, what do I need to learn about use of liver transplants & ethical issue? what do I need to know about use of liver transplants & ethical issue for GCSE biology exams, how to prepare for questions on use of liver transplants & ethical issue in GCSE biology examination?

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