• Jy word genooi om as spreker by die plaaslike hoërskool voor al die onderwysers en leerlinge op te tree en jou onderwerp is: “Alkohol, wat doen dit regtig aan my liggaam?”. Fokus veral op die effekte, “aangenaam” sowel as “onaangenaam”, hoeveel glasies is veilig? Hoe weet ek wanneer ek besig is om ‘n probleem te ontwikkel? Wat kan ek dan doen? Hou jou teikengroep (leerlinge) se ouderdom die hele tyd in gedagte!

I have read on the internet what is the affects of alcohol on your body (Pietrangelo, 2018:par. 1). Alcohol starts to effects your body the first sip you take. When people drink on occasions like a glass of wine with dinner isn’t a cause for concern, but the cumulative effects have its toll. A glass a day may cause a little damage to your overall health. There are many effects on your brain and body. Your brain will shrink, because of long-term exposure to alcohol can shrink the frontal lobes of your brain. You can have blackouts- it will interfere with your memories and you will forget what you did the night when you were drinking. Alcohol can change your typical behavior and can’t make smart decisions. When you’re a alcoholism and you sudden withdrawal, it may cause hallucinations. Slurred speech is the first symptoms of alcohol consumption. Chronic drinkers are more likely to get throat, mouth, esophagus and breast cancer. Drinking alcohol frequently, lead to lung infection which means that you’re immune system will stumble to fight off viruses. Chronic alcohol drinkers lead to cardiovascular disease, liver damage and pancreatitis. Drinking alcohol can lead to frequent diarrhea that damage your intestine and you can get stomach distress like bloating, gas and painful ulcers. Chronic drinkers effects your infertility and erectile dysfunction. When a pregnant woman drinks a lot, the baby can get Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and problems with mental developments. Alcohol effects your coordination like the ability to balance or walk.

• Jy word genooi om as spreker by ‘n plaaslike Vroue-Organisasie op te tree. Dit is ‘n groep van hoofsaaklik middeljarige tot ouer vroue. Jou onderwerp: “Is dit gevaarlik om kalmeer- en slaapmiddels te gebruik?”

Common side effects of prescription sleeping pills such as Lunesta, Sonata, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion may include:

• Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
• Changes in appetite
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty keeping balance
• Dizziness
• Daytime drowsiness
• Dry mouth or throat
• Gas
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Impairment the next day
• Mental slowing or problems with attention or memory
• Stomach pain or tenderness
• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• Unusual dreams
• Weakness

It's important to be aware of possible sleeping pill side effects so you can stop the drug and call your doctor immediately to avoid a more serious health problem.

Can I Be Allergic to Sleeping Pills?

Yes -- people can have an allergic reaction to any medicine, which could be related to either the active ingredient of the medicine itself or to any of its inactive ingredients (such as dyes, binders or coatings). People who have an allergic reaction to a specific sleeping pill should avoid it. It's important to talk to your doctor at the first sign of these serious side effects, including:

• Blurred vision or any other problems with your sight
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Feeling that the throat is closing
• Hives
• Hoarseness
• Itching
• Nausea
• Pounding heartbeat
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Vomiting
• Is It Dangerous to Combine Sleeping Pills and Alcohol?
• Yes. Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can have additive sedating effects from both drugs, and the combination can cause someone to stop breathing, which could cause death. Sleeping pill labels warn against using alcohol while taking the drug.
• Also, you should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking some sleeping pills. Grapefruit increases the amount of the drug absorbed into your bloodstream and how long it stays in the body. That can cause over-sedation.

SOURCES:

• American Academy of Family Physicians: "Insomnia: How to Get A Good Night's Sleep."
• FDA: "Side Effects of Sleep Drugs."
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine: "Preventing Parasomnias."
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: "Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep."
• Medline Plus: "Aging Changes in Sleep."
• News release, FDA.