Alcohol and Performance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcohol and Performance - Research Paper Example When we look back on history, it is easy to gather that alcohol had been used socially for many diverse purposes like providing courage in battles, calming feuds, sealing pacts and celebration festivals (Batista et al., 33-42). As of today, alcoholic beverages, used by many to relax, act as a social â€Å"ice-breaker† or, in other words, â€Å"bridge-builder†, is a way to alter one’s mood by decreasing one’s reserve. While its use is prevalent and acceptable in our society, it should not come as a surprise that problems arise in the use of alcohol and the performance of safety-related activities, such as driving an automobile or flying an aircraft. These problems are made worse by an exaggerated confidence and a tendency to forget that flying an aircraft is a highly demanding cognitive and psychomotor task that takes place in an inhospitable, trying environment where pilots are exposed to various stressors (Batista et al., 33-42). In general the effects of alcohol consumptions on the human body are detrimental. The first fact to mention is that pharmacologically ethanol can be relegated to anesthetic drugs. The most sensitive to it are the CNS cells, especially the cells of the cerebral cortex, influencing which it arouses alcoholic excitement associated with the inhibitory process decreasing (Van Reen, 137). Then also excitative processes are decreasing, followed by inhibition of medulla oblongata and spinal cord that leads to the respiratory center suppression. If not used for medical purpose it is harmful for health being consumed even in small amounts. Thus, alcohol is sedative, somewhat hypnotic and extremely addicting drug (Van Reen, 137). It quickly impairs the situation assessment and causes the behavior that can easily contribute to unexpected emergency, or worse, lead to an accident. The process of ethanol circulation needs to be elaborated to explain its adverse effects. Thuswise, alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine, and