Alcohol Consumption and Sports Performance
Scientific accounts term alcohol as a drug. It can also act as a nutrient since it provides energy amounting to about 7 kcal per gram. One drink of alcohol is considered to be an amount found in 340ml of beer, 114ml of wine, or 35ml of 40 per cent spirits. Alcohol affects most cells of the body with the immediate and most visible being the cells in the brain.
Effects of Alcohol Drinks
While analyzing effects of alcohol individual differences have to be taken into account. This include the height, weight, the amount of alcohol taken, duration over which it is taken, and gender. The effects vary among individuals and even in the same individual at different times. Moreover, an acute tolerance may develop whereby increasing amounts are necessary to produce the same effect.
How Alcohol Affects Women
Effects of alcohol are most visible in women since the higher percentage of body fat in them makes it difficult to absorb alcohol. If food is taken along with, the effects of alcohol are slower to manifest. It reaches the intestines first and then gets absorbed into the blood stream. On reaching the liver a detoxification is done; but the liver can detoxify the blood containing alcohol at a rate of one standard drink per hour only. Through the blood stream it reaches other organs as well like the brain. There is some positive impact of alcohol that we should consider. For example, alcohol increases the electrical activity in the brain, which provides a feeling of vitality and agility. It also helps to get rid of inhibitions and minimizes anxiety, acting up on the pleasure receivers in the brain.
Alcohol Drinking and Sports Performance
Both the psychological and physiological aspects of performance are affected by alcohol. It provides psychological boost by instilling self- confidence, relieving sensitivity to pain, or by eliminating inhibitions. A most prevalent use of alcohol is as a stress controlling agent. Also it helps reduce hand tremor. Precision sports such as shooting and archery give preference to these considerations. Nevertheless, the negative effects of alcohol on performance exceed the positive effects. It adversely affects the following:
- Balance of the body
- Quick Response
- Motor skills
- Comprehension
- Speech
- Physical fitness
- Agility
- Temperature regulation during prolonged exercise causing dehydration.
Effects on the Body: Symptoms
There will be a reduction in the athletic skills following the consumption of alcohol. It can result in nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. Headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, dehydration, and body aches may follow.
There are several adverse effects of alcohol which include brain cell damage and alteration, weakening of heart muscle, impotency, cirrhosis and liver failure, blood-clotting abnormalities, pancreatitis, vitamin deficiencies and chronic skin alterations. From the point of view of health and performance chronic abuse of alcohol must hence be avoided.
Alcohol and Sports Injuries
If you drink after playing a game or done exercise, then it will have an adverse effect on soft tissue injuries. Alcohol leads to more bleeding and swelling after a sports injury by dilating and relaxing your blood vessels. It also delays the recovery from sports injury. If you are a frequent drinker, then alcohol makes it difficult for your physician to assess the pain and severity of injury.
The best way to get treated for sports injuries and avoid drinking alcohol is
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation). This technique helps reduce swelling and speed recovery from sports injury.
Alcohol Advertising in Sports Television
Children, teens and youth are the major fans of sports and they depend on television to watch their favorite sports. But, as the alcohol advertising is prominent in this media, may sports columnists and sports persons have raised concerns over the exposure of youth to alcohol advertising.
Recently a study was conducted in Ireland to find out the impact of alcohol advertising on youth. It found some interesting facts.
- Many of the youth surveyed expressed that they are favorites of alcohol advertisements in sports channels.
- Most of the youth felt that the basic target audience of these alcohol advertisements is youth, and the ads tried to associate alcohol with youth by showing dancing, music, wild activities, etc.
- The participants interpreted that the alcohol advertisements suggest drinking alcohol as a way to achieve social and sexual success. The ads depict that alcohol has therapeutic properties and drinking alcohol enhances your mood. This is against the code governing alcohol advertising.