Alcohol is not stimulant. Justify the statement.

Explanation

Alcohol generates a large amount of energy in the form of heat on oxidation. This heat is quickly lost through skin causing flushing of the face and other body parts. The heat so released-is of no use to body rather the body consumes its own energy for getting rid of this heat. Therefore, it is wrongly interpreted to be stimulant. Rather it is a depressant of nervous system and acts as sedative and reduces the efficiency of body organs by reducing blood supply.
1. Deficiency of nutrients such as minerals, proteins and vitamins are found in alcoholics. Low blood potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and phosphorus can occur in alcoholics. Vitamins like thiamine (`B_(1)`), nicotinic acid (`B_(3)`), pyridoxine (`B_(6)`), folic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) I and vitamin A may be deficient in alcoholics. Thiamine (`B_(1)`) deficiency causes Wernicke.s and Korsakoff.s syndroms. Wernicke. syndrome (= Wernicke. disease or encephalopathy) is characterized by mental disturbance, paralysis of eye movements and ataxia (a loss of the power of muscular co-ordination) of gait (manner of or carriage in walking). Korsakoff.s syndrome (= Korsakoff.s psychosis) is characterised by confusion and severe impairment of memory, especially for recent events.
2. Chronic alcoholics neglect their health and soon the body loses its resistance against infections.
3. Alcohol is depressant to the brain. Alcohol can cause alcoholic dementia (organic loss of mental function with low intellectual level) and cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding into the substance of the cerebrum, usually by the rupture of an artery). In alcoholism, cerebrum is effected (person loses judgement, self control and will power) followed by cerebellum (coordination of muscles is lost).
4. The effects depend on dose, (i) Small doses dilate the blood vessels of skin (specially of the face) and stomach. Blood pressure is not affected, (ii) Moderate doses cause tachycardia (increase heart beat), and mild rise in blood pressure due to increased muscular activity and sympathetic stimulation, (iii) Large doses cause direct myocardial and vasomotor centre depression and there is fall in blood pressure.