What are the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption? The effect of alcohol on the human body Alcoholism causes and consequences

Every adult and child knows that alcohol is harmful not only to physical but also to mental health. Death is not uncommon for drunken alcoholics who did not want to be treated or simply did not have time to contact specialists. Even in cases where we are not talking about alcoholism, alcoholic beverages are directly harmful to human health. Every citizen who cares about his health, as well as the health of his family and loved ones, should know what the consequences of drinking strong drinks are for the human body and his psyche. The City Center for Medical Prevention (Ekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk region) tells in more detail about how alcohol affects the human body.

Scientists say that even small doses of alcohol can cause significant harm to the health of adults and children. In addition, there are now results of clinical studies that confirm the harmful effects of alcohol on the organs and systems of the human body. It is no secret that people are not always inclined to believe the abstract assurances of doctors that alcohol is poison. To make sure that alcohol is not beneficial, you need to understand in detail how alcohol affects the body.

Alcohol and its effect on the brain

The destructive effect on the brain is one of the most terrible consequences of the influence of alcoholic beverages on humans. Much is known about the importance of the brain for the functioning of the human body, but some mysteries of our body have not yet been solved. Despite this, it is absolutely clear that the brain is one of the most important centers that plays a primary role in the correct and adequate functioning of the body. The brain controls breathing, heartbeat, swallowing and many other more or less important life functions.

Alcohol consumed on a regular basis causes irreversible changes in the brain that prevent the body from functioning properly. It is worth noting that the more and more often the patient drinks alcohol, the worse will be the consequences that are provoked by the use of intoxicating alcohol. The irreversible consequences that arise from constantly abusing citizens are currently a topic of research for many scientists. It is worth noting separately that the changes depend entirely on how often and intensely the alcoholic drinks.

Among the factors that influence the brain of a drinker, experts list the following:

the dose of alcohol consumed and the frequency of its consumption;

age at which the patient began drinking alcohol;

the duration of the time period when the patient intensively consumes the selected drink;

age, gender of the patient;

the patient's occupation and current profession;

the presence of alcoholism in the family among close and distant relatives;

the presence of alcoholism in the mother, which provokes congenital alcohol dependence;

the alcoholic's overall current level of health.

It is known that even a small amount of alcohol can lead to the following consequences:

clouding of consciousness;

memory gaps;

inability to control the situation.

This can happen not only to children or women, who are more susceptible to the influence of alcohol due to physiological reasons, but also to men, who have a greater resistance to alcohol. It has been proven that alcohol, consumed even in small doses, can cause disproportionately more harm to women and children than to men, who (according to statistics) drink alcohol more often and in large quantities.

The harm of alcoholic drinks for women has long been proven.

The following physiological factors cause the female body to react more strongly to alcohol:

increased sensitivity of a woman’s brain to alcohol;

faster development of heart pathologies;

rapid onset of cirrhosis or other liver diseases;

severe damage to the nervous system.

The combination of these factors makes ladies an easy target for liquor manufacturers. If we also remember that the reason for drinking alcohol for women is often also a psychological factor, then it becomes clear how dangerous alcohol is for representatives of the fair half of humanity.

Long-term alcohol abuse is dangerous because it inevitably destroys the patient's brain cells. This leads to disturbances and abnormalities in the functioning of the brain. It is known that disturbances in the functioning of the brain arise both as a consequence of the direct use of alcohol, and as a result of the consequences that alcohol provokes. Additional factors that affect brain function include:

the occurrence of serious liver diseases;

decreased body resistance;

a decline in general health as a result of drunkenness.

It is difficult to find an organ or system of the human body on which alcohol would not have a destructive effect, and the fact that the brain is one of the first to suffer from alcohol leaves no doubt.

Thiamine deficiency in patients with alcohol dependence

Thiamine is a substance necessary for the adequate functioning of the body. It is more popularly known as vitamin B1. B vitamins are extremely important for the human body, and their deficiency can often cause a variety of pathological conditions. The brain is one of those organs for which an adequate supply of vitamin B1 is critical.

As a rule, in alcoholics, a deficiency of this vitamin occurs when there is poor nutrition, as well as metabolic disorders in the body caused by alcohol abuse.

Wernicke's syndrome is one of those diseases that often occurs as a result of a deficiency of thiamine B1.

After the onset of Wernicke encephalopathy, patients develop Korsakoff's psychosis in 80-90% of cases. At this stage, serious memory lapses begin to occur, and difficulties arise in remembering new data. Patients suffering from Korsakov's psychosis differ due to the following symptoms:

excessive irritability;

constant stay in a depressed state;

hot temper;

difficulty walking;

impaired coordination of movements.

Patients suffering from Wernicke-Korsakoff disease are usually forgetful, easily irritated, and often cannot leave the room on their own. In addition, alcoholics with Wernicke-Korsakoff often cannot correctly reproduce information that was told to them before the onset of their illness. There are cases when patients forgot what happened to them ten minutes ago. It also often happens that an alcoholic reproduces information in fragments or voices distorted and incorrect data.

Liver diseases

The liver is another one of those organs that suffers primarily from alcoholism. Many people know that the liver, kidneys, heart and brain, as a rule, are the first to feel the harmful effects of alcohol and this is true. Serious liver diseases are exactly what alcoholism leads to. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption leads to liver damage. It is no secret that the liver is the organ that is forced to fight the entry of alcohol into the human body. The point is that it is the liver that is forced to produce substances that are directly involved in the metabolism of alcohol.

The liver, as an organ that is forced to break down alcohol, was not originally designed for this. As a result, it turns out that the liver gradually “wears out”, exhausts its resource, which results in its gradual fatty degeneration. The destroyed areas of this organ are filled not with new hepatocytes, but with fragments of adipose tissue. As a result, the working surface of the liver is significantly reduced. Hepatic encephalopathy is dangerous, but the fact that it can provoke additional disorders of the brain makes this disease even more dangerous.

The essence of the effect of a diseased liver on the brain is that affected hepatocytes begin to secrete harmful substances in large quantities, which can have a detrimental effect on brain cells. When released substances enter the brain through the bloodstream, this is exactly what happens: under the influence of substances from the liver, brain cells die. The consequence is that alcohol not only causes direct harm to the brain, but also has an indirect destructive effect on it due to the diseased liver.

Hepatic encephalopathy has the following symptoms:

sleep disturbances in the patient;

mood swings in an alcoholic;

deterioration of character (appearance of irritability, moodiness, etc.);

manifestation of anxiety and depression;

disorder of the patient's cognitive function;

deterioration of concentration;

inability to coordinate one's own movements.

It is also worth knowing that a damaged liver can cause death for an alcoholic. We are talking about the so-called hepatic coma, which, as a rule, becomes the cause of death for the patient.

For some people, alcoholic drinks are an indispensable attribute of any party or celebration. Quite often, when drinking another glass of strong alcohol or a glass of wine, a person does not even think about the fact that in addition to pleasant sensations, this intoxicating liquid can also cause harm. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause irreversible consequences, for example, at a certain stage of alcohol addiction, pathologies of the nervous system, as well as other body systems, are detected in a person. This is exactly what we will talk about in this article.

Alcohol

Before we look at excessive alcohol consumption and its effects on the body, it is necessary to become more familiar with what alcoholic beverages actually are. From a scientific point of view, alcohol is ethyl alcohol. This is a liquid that has no color and does not have a specific smell or taste. This type of alcohol is produced by fermentation or artificially. The substance is used as a disinfectant, solvent, and fuel. In everyday life, alcoholic drinks are those that contain ethanol in varying concentrations.

The dangers of alcohol

Now you can begin to consider the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. Once in the human body, these drinks act as solvents, destroying the fatty membrane of red blood cells. For this reason, blood cells begin to stick together. Such formations can block blood flow in small capillaries. The described process leads to the fact that the human brain receives an insufficient amount of oxygen and nutrients, and cells begin to die. Failures in the central nervous system contribute to disruption of the functioning of other organs in the body. Excessive alcohol consumption will provoke irreversible chronic pathologies.

What happens if you drink?

The consequences after drinking alcohol are explained by the toxic effects of ethyl alcohol on the body, and the severity of the side effects of such drinks is related to the strength, frequency of drinking and quantity. Drinking a small dose of alcohol at an event will not cause much harm to the body. But the Ministry of Health warns: “Excessive alcohol consumption threatens the formation of addiction, the development of alcoholic encephalopathy, dysfunction of internal organs, degradation, and other negative consequences.”

Moderate drinking

Some experts say that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages in the amount permitted by the World Health Organization will not cause any particular harm to the human body, will not form dependence, and will not lead to a state of severe intoxication. In addition, alcoholic drinks in small quantities can be useful for the prevention of certain diseases, since ethanol makes all defense systems work. However, it should be remembered that this method of preventing the disease is very dangerous for humans, especially for those people who have a genetic predisposition to addiction.

Daily use

The Ministry of Health warns: “Excessive consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited.” If a person drinks every day, he runs the risk of becoming dependent and addictive over time. It’s not for nothing that drinks have the inscription “Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health.” There is a risk of losing control, and the desire to systematically increase the dose also increases. This will be a direct path to alcoholism, as well as to the acquisition of physical and mental health disorders. It is recommended to organize breaks for several days so that all toxins can be eliminated from the body.

Abuse

So, we have found out that the inscription “Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health” on the bottles is a warning about very serious consequences. The human body requires increased doses of alcoholic beverages, which is why you can harm yourself, even if you drink very rarely. Large doses of alcohol negatively affect the functioning of the brain, liver, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Chronic excessive consumption of alcohol harms the body, causing persistent addiction, which can cause irreversible consequences.

Addiction

When alcohol enters the human body, its increased concentration can provoke persistent addiction. This can be explained by the toxic properties of alcohol. Alcoholism is a disease characterized by uncontrolled, constant consumption of alcohol-containing drinks, a pathological desire for communication, and a change in tolerance to such drinks. Thus, it becomes clear that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to human health. Experts identify signs of addiction to alcoholic beverages:

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome. With this disease, after stopping drinking alcohol, patients experience psychological and physical negative changes in the body.
The desire to drink alcoholic beverages appears at any time; it has a strong emotional significance for the addict.
Changes in the patient’s behavior appear: aggression, memory loss, lack of desire to communicate with friends and family.
Lack of a specific system. In this case, drinking alcoholic beverages can last more than a day, which is commonly called binge drinking.
Increasing tolerance to alcoholic beverages, increasing the threshold for rejection of ethyl alcohol.
Constant hangover, desire to drink in order to relieve unpleasant symptoms.
The presence of some external manifestations, for example, thickening of veins, bruising, rapid aging of the skin.

When can a person be considered an alcoholic?

So, we have figured out that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Experts recommend limiting alcoholism. In the case of everyday drunkenness, a person allows himself to drink systematically, but if he stops drinking alcoholic beverages, then this does not carry any serious consequences or aggression, and everything happens at will. This condition is not considered a disease. An alcoholic is a person who suffers from alcoholism. He cannot control his own desire to drink, is prone to binge drinking, and also cannot control the amount of alcohol consumed.

Causes of addiction

Since childhood, many people know that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to human health. One possible consequence is addiction. But what are the reasons for such alcohol addiction? Absolutely anyone can suffer from this disease if he stops controlling himself, because some cultural features provoke the population to drink light intoxicating drinks during times of sadness, joy, and on holidays. Experts identify two groups of people who are especially susceptible to addiction to ethanol. The reasons are as follows:

Hereditary predisposition. Those people who had addicts among their ancestors can also adopt this genetic material, which is responsible for the risk of addiction to alcoholic beverages.
Psychological factor. Emotional experiences, for example, loss of a job, unhappy love, death of loved ones, can cause a strong addiction to alcoholic beverages. In this case, people try to drink alcohol in order to avoid moral trauma and relax. As a result of such actions, a constant craving for ethanol is acquired.

It is these reasons that cause excessive alcohol consumption, as well as dependence on alcoholic beverages.

Development of alcoholism

The dangerous factors in the development of addiction are that persistent addiction can arise completely unnoticed by a person. The patient begins to drink alcohol in groups on some holidays, drink periodically, and thus calm his nerves. At this stage, alcohol may not provoke any negative consequences.

Feelings of fun and relaxation lead to such drinking becoming more frequent over time. As a result, a person begins to become dependent and symptoms of alcoholism begin to appear. Over time, complete decomposition of the personality occurs, and a physical craving for alcoholic beverages sets in. Thus, excessive alcohol consumption leads to addiction.

Stages of alcoholism

We continue to consider the effect of alcoholic beverages on the human body. The consequences of excessive alcohol consumption can be very disastrous for health. Experts identify three. Each of them is characterized by specific factors, which are as follows:

First degree. At this stage of the disease, the patient often develops a desire to drink alcohol. If it is not satisfied, then after some time it will simply disappear. When the patient drinks, there is a sharp loss of control over the dose of alcohol consumed. The patient becomes irritable, aggressive, and experiences episodes of memory loss. Each such drinking session has a specific reason, which is a kind of justification for the patient. Alcoholics stop evaluating drunkenness as a negative phenomenon. Therefore, the inscription “Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health” is not just a phrase, but a kind of warning and call for a healthy lifestyle.
Second stage. This stage is characterized by an increase in tolerance to alcoholic beverages. Physical dependence begins to form, manifesting itself in the form of withdrawal symptoms, headaches, thirst, irritability, tremors of the hands and body, and sleep disturbances. If the binge is abruptly interrupted, very serious complications can arise.
Third stage. At this stage, the craving for drinking alcoholic beverages increases. The psyche is disturbed. Physical, social and personal degradation is growing rapidly. Binge drinking provokes rapid exhaustion of the body; if it is interrupted without the intervention of specialists, alcohol psychosis may appear.

How often can you drink alcohol?

Excessive alcohol consumption - how much? How often can it be used? The World Health Organization sets a certain dose of alcoholic beverages per day. However, if you drink intoxicating drinks every day, then there is a risk of failure of some functions in the human body. To prevent any pathological conditions from arising, it is necessary to take breaks between drinking alcoholic beverages. Experts recommend consuming alcoholic beverages no more than once every 3-4 days, and it is necessary to make do with minimal doses. You should also avoid excessive drinking during the holidays.

Safe dose

The standard dosage for alcoholic beverages, which was established by the World Health Organization, is about 10 g of pure ethanol. This portion is available in approximately 330 ml of beer, 45 ml of strong alcohol, 150 ml of dry wine. Safe doses of alcoholic beverages that can be consumed per day have also been established:

For men: 100 g of vodka, 3 glasses of dry wine, two cans of beer.
For women: 2 glasses of dry wine, one bottle of beer, 80 g of vodka.

Possible consequences

So, we found out what excessive alcohol consumption means and how addiction develops. Now it’s worth understanding in more detail the possible consequences for the human body from drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can cause the following unpleasant consequences for a person:

The toxic effect of alcohol on nerve cells, as well as brain structures. This begins even if a small amount of the substance enters the human body. Experts note improper functioning of the control center and malfunctions in the regulatory mechanism of the cerebral cortex. These processes can cause rapid changes in mood, partial loss of control over actions, irritability, severe aggressiveness, and the occurrence of mental disorders.
The pathological process in neurons negatively affects the functioning of the senses, memory, and intellectual abilities. With excessive alcohol consumption, chronic encephalopathy appears, as well as the risk of cerebral infarction. Long-term exposure to alcoholic beverages provokes Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
Cerebral vessels, in the case of frequent alcohol consumption, become too fragile, aneurysms can form, which subsequently rupture. There is a risk of developing atrophic phenomena of the visual and auditory nerves, blood clots, ischemic stroke of the brain, spinal cord, and blood supply disorders. Over time, chronic alcoholism becomes the cause of irreversible mental illness, as well as complete degradation of the patient.
There are also consequences for the cardiovascular system, which include cardiomyopathy with the development of heart failure, hypertension with a tendency to rupture arteries, veins, ischemia, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and blockade.
The negative impact of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages affects the human reproductive system, which manifests itself in the form of disturbances in the viability and maturation of germ cells, the formation of infertility, as well as the risk of congenital pathologies in the child. For representatives of the stronger sex, the danger lies in decreased erection, which can lead to the development of potency. In addition, with prolonged excessive consumption of alcohol, persistent hormonal disturbances appear in the body.
A common consequence is inflammation of the stomach, ulcerative-necrotic processes, damage to the pancreas, which is accompanied by diabetes mellitus and chronic pancreatitis.
Liver diseases are considered by doctors as the most dangerous consequences of systematic drinking. Cells are not able to cope with chronic intoxication on their own, which is why dependent people often suffer from cirrhosis, fibrosis, and hepatitis.

Conclusion

Alcoholic drinks are broken down in the liver, causing severe damage to the cells of this organ. Therefore, in the case of even occasional consumption of alcoholic beverages, it is necessary to protect organ cells by taking hepatoprotectors. To do this, you can use the drug "Legalon", which is made from milk thistle. The drug strengthens cell membranes and prevents toxic substances from entering liver cells. In addition, the medicine relieves the inflammatory process and stimulates organ regeneration.

Alcoholism is a severe chronic disease that is characterized by dependence on the use of alcoholic beverages at the psychological and physiological level. As it develops, control over the amount of alcohol consumed is lost, and tolerance to alcohol increases (in order for intoxication to occur, you need to drink more alcohol than before). Signs of hangover and toxic damage to internal organs appear. Long-term alcoholism negatively affects the functioning of the brain and central nervous system - psychosis, memory impairment and inhibition of thinking occur.

Under the influence of ethanol and its metabolites, irreversible changes in internal organs occur. The gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system suffer the most. According to statistics, most deaths from alcohol addiction occur due to these diseases. What other tragic health consequences alcoholism has will be discussed in the article.

The tragic consequences of alcoholism are divided into 2 groups:

deterioration of the drinker’s health, his personal degradation;

problems in the family and the inability to adapt to society.

The danger of addiction for the person himself lies, first of all, in numerous damage to internal organs. Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver develops, heart function is disrupted, blood vessels are damaged, and the risk of cancer increases.

A person becomes aggressive, thought processes slow down, psychological and personal problems worsen. In severe cases of alcoholism, psychosis and epilepsy develop. As a result, he loses his ability to work.

Accidents are becoming more frequent: alcoholics cannot control their behavior, so they are often admitted to hospitals with hypothermia or injuries. Another cause of disability or even death is the use of low-quality (surrogate) alcohol.

The social consequences of alcohol abuse are manifested in the deterioration of family relationships - quarrels become more frequent, and marriages break up over time. The economic side of this problem includes a decrease in labor efficiency and a drop in purchasing power due to lack of money. The addict does not come to work, takes time off or sick leave, and as a result, the productivity of the entire enterprise decreases.

Patients often become victims of scammers and end up on the street without a livelihood.

Alcoholism, like drug addiction, provokes an increase in crime, forcing addicts to commit theft, robbery or even murder for the next dose of alcohol. Drunkenness causes the majority of road traffic accidents, which claim the lives of tens of thousands of people every year.

Consequences of alcoholism for the psyche

Long-term exposure to alcohol to the brain and central nervous system gradually changes human behavior. It affects everyone, regardless of social status and life goals.

A person from sociable, open and purposeful turns into aggressive, irritable and nervous. He finds fault with others and provokes scandals. Over time, his circle of contacts narrows, and the person himself rapidly slides to the social “bottom”.

This process occurs gradually. First, the addict has troubles at work: he receives a warning from management, and soon he is fired for poor work or absenteeism. This forces a person to switch to less skilled work, but even there he does not stay long, because he completely loses his motivation to work.

At the last stage of alcoholism, patients lead an asocial lifestyle, they do not care about anything except strong drinks.

Long-term alcoholism leads to irreversible personality degradation. This is due to the effect of ethanol on the nervous system and brain, as well as the formation of a psychological habit of alcohol.

What mental disorders are caused by alcoholism?

With chronic drunkenness, the following personality disorders are noted:

The addict denies his illness and refuses treatment;
There is a destruction of the emotional-volitional sphere: increasing apathy and depression appear, the person focuses on alcohol;
Uncontrollable attacks of aggression occur. The patient is very often irritated and dissatisfied with others. Women may be diagnosed with hysterical seizures;
An alcohol addict loses interest in life, his moral qualities decrease;
Patients often experience suicidal tendencies;
There is a progressive decline in mental abilities, memory loss;
Schizoaffective psychosis – sudden changes in mood, dysphoria (depressed state characterized by melancholy, anger, irritability);
Manifestation of alcoholic delirium (delirium tremens). It is accompanied by auditory, visual, and taste hallucinations, as well as headache, vomiting and a feeling of inexplicable anxiety;
Asthenic neurosis. It is characterized by increased mental excitability due to exhaustion of the nervous system, frequent headaches and sleep disturbances. A person gets tired very quickly, his activity and performance decrease;
At the third stage of alcoholism, dementia forms - acquired dementia. Its symptoms are disturbances in behavior and emotional reactions, inability to assimilate new information, and memory lapses. It becomes difficult for the patient to navigate in space, he may forget the names of his closest relatives, not recognize himself in the mirror, and lose household and hygienic skills.

Consequences of alcohol addiction for the body

Long-term drunkenness contributes to the development of serious diseases that can lead to disability or death. They affect most body systems.

central nervous system

Behavior change begins after a small dose of alcohol consumed. Ethanol, entering the blood, quickly affects the structure of the brain and neurons. A person feels this as a state of intoxication. Under the influence of alcohol, regulatory processes between parts of the cerebral cortex are disrupted, and the activity of control centers decreases.

This leads to changes in behavior - a person partially loses control over his actions, his mood changes dramatically. In the case of advanced drunkenness, aggressiveness, temper, inappropriate behavior and psychopathic disorders appear.

Alcohol affects people's behavior in different ways. For some, it is a stimulator of all nervous processes, causing a state of excitation of the nervous system, while for others it has a depressing effect, contributing to its inhibition.

Ethyl alcohol instantly dissolves in the blood and reaches its maximum concentration in those organs and tissues that are best supplied with it. First of all, it enters the brain. Ethanol dissolves the lipid membrane of red blood cells, disrupting their negative charge, which under normal conditions helps them repel each other. They stick together and block the capillaries, forming a blood clot. Blood does not flow to the tissues, causing oxygen starvation and dehydration. A person feels this as a slight intoxication, a state of euphoria. The functioning of the frontal lobes is disrupted, therefore the ability to think logically is reduced.

Long-term alcoholism leads to irreversible pathological changes in the brain, causing memory loss and a general decrease in intellectual abilities.

The consequences of minor hemorrhages resulting from blood clots are alcoholic encephalopathy, cerebral infarction, and acute epileptiform syndrome.

Chronic alcoholics are often diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Due to prolonged drinking, the blood vessels in the brain become very fragile, and the risk of their rupture increases significantly. This is especially dangerous if the patient has cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and arrhythmia.

In addition, prolonged vascular spasm due to blood clotting disorders and thrombosis threatens ischemic stroke of the brain and atrophy of the optic and auditory nerves. Tissues do not receive nutrition for a long time, and their cells die.

The cardiovascular system

Alcohol has an extremely adverse effect on its regulatory mechanism, as well as on the tone of the arteries and veins. Under the influence of alcohol, blood vessels dilate, and after a while a spasm occurs.

The product of intermediate processing of ethanol, acetylaldehyde, damages cardiomyocytes and causes degenerative changes in the tissues of the heart muscle.

They manifest themselves in an initial increase in its size and subsequent dystrophy. The frequency of muscle contractions decreases, causing the development of heart failure.

Alcoholism causes spasm of the coronary vessels, which interferes with the flow of blood to the heart. Due to the lack of nutrients and oxygen carried with it, the death of cardiomyocytes begins, and the risk of acute myocardial infarction increases.

Long-term alcohol dependence provokes the development of hypertension and can cause serious circulatory disorders.

Reproductive system

Very often, alcoholism becomes the cause of promiscuity, and the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections in this case increases significantly.

Hidden inflammatory processes are often diagnosed against the background of alcohol abuse. They cause disruption of the maturation of germ cells, as well as a decrease in their viability.

The risk of congenital pathologies of the fetus and severe disorders of its health increases. Alcoholism causes erectile dysfunction in men. The negative consequences of drinking alcohol also manifest themselves in the gradual disappearance of sexual desire. Impotence develops and the risk of prostate adenoma formation increases.

In women, systematic abuse of strong drinks leads to hormonal imbalance. The menstrual cycle becomes disrupted, and the risk of the formation of benign tumors of the genital organs (polyps, cysts, fibroids) and malignant ones (breast cancer) increases.

Respiratory system

Since alcohol is eliminated from the body in all ways, including through the lungs, their cells are damaged, as well as the epithelium of the bronchi, trachea and pleura. In severe cases, doctors diagnose obstruction and oncogenic organ tumors.

Often, diseases of the respiratory system develop against the background of existing cardiovascular diseases. This is facilitated by stagnation in the pulmonary circulation and the presence of inflammatory lung diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or pleurisy.

Gastrointestinal tract

Alcoholic drinks cause the formation of ulcerative and inflammatory processes in the digestive organs. At the third stage of alcoholism, necrosis often occurs - the death of pancreatic and liver cells. Pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus develop.

As diseases of the gastrointestinal tract develop, the exhaustion of the body increases, since weakened organs cannot fully absorb all the nutrients from food. Alcohol abuse provokes metabolic disorders and loss of appetite.

A lack of nutrients, vitamins, and microelements negatively affects the general condition of the body, reducing its performance and resistance to infections.

Ethanol damages the tissues of the stomach and pancreas and promotes the formation of malignant tumors in them.

The main impact falls on the liver, as it is forced to process large amounts of alcohol. When the organ can no longer cope with the utilization of alcohol metabolites, they begin to damage it. This leads to the formation of fibrosis, which turns into cirrhosis of the liver. It may be preceded by tissue inflammation - hepatitis. These are typical diseases of alcoholics.

Pathological changes in the liver can contribute to the development of other diseases, such as ascites (concentration of fluid in the abdominal cavity), esophageal varices and alcoholic hepatopathy.

The impact of alcoholism on social life

Abuse of strong drinks leads to a deterioration in a person’s social life. The social consequences of alcoholism are manifested in:

Changing your usual social circle. Old connections are severed, a person finds himself surrounded by people who are also addicted to alcohol;

Conflicts in the family, destruction of relationships;
Loss of work, study, hobby. The patient loses concentration and finds it difficult to focus on anything other than alcohol.

An alcoholic also becomes an outcast in society. He loses social skills, begins to be hostile towards others, and loses friends. Many people try to avoid communicating with a drunk and kick him out of work.

Consequences of beer alcoholism

People often think that regular drinking of beer will not harm their health and will in no way contribute to the development of pathological cravings for alcohol. But this opinion is erroneous, because it contains alcohol, albeit in a lower concentration. Young people drink it to appear like adults, gradually becoming addicted to drinking alcohol.

If you multiply the percentage of alcohol content in an intoxicating drink by the volume of alcohol consumed, it will become obvious that 5-6 bottles of beer are equivalent to 0.5 liters of vodka.

Regular consumption of beer leads to the development of alcohol dependence and causes serious harm to health. First, the body gets used to the daily intake of ethanol, and then dependence on new doses appears. A person becomes nervous and irritable, his mood deteriorates, and his head is occupied with thoughts about an intoxicating drink. With prolonged beer alcoholism, withdrawal syndrome develops. This term is used in addiction medicine to refer to the state of hangover. An alcoholic has a headache, feels thirsty, has a dry mouth and trembling limbs.

In the case of binge drinking, alcoholic psychosis, which is also called delirium tremens, may occur 2-3 days after quitting alcohol. This is a dangerous condition for the patient and those around him, so he requires emergency medical care.

The foamy drink negatively affects hormonal levels and the human reproductive system. The fact is that beer contains phytoestrogens - plant analogues of female sex hormones. In men, they suppress testosterone production and change their appearance - a beer belly appears, breasts grow and shoulders become rounder. Problems with potency and reproductive function begin.

In women, beer provokes an increase in progesterone levels several times higher than normal. This leads to the development of gynecological diseases and difficulties in conceiving and bearing a child. In addition, excess weight and swelling appear.

Beer has a strong diuretic effect and flushes out potassium from the body, which is necessary for the stable functioning of the heart, and puts a strain on the kidneys and liver.

Chronic beer alcoholism is no different from normal alcoholism in terms of the degree of destructive effect on the body.

Alcoholism is a serious problem for humanity. The rate of its growth depends on the welfare of society. The availability of alcohol, its widespread advertising in the media and national traditions lead to the fact that the number of addicts is growing every year.

Every person needs to know about all the consequences of this terrible disease, because preventing it is easier than treating it. Not only the health of the individual, but also of society as a whole depends on this.

Video on topic

The consequences of alcoholism are a complex threat not only to physical health, but also to the personality, psyche, and socialization. The disease may progress over several months or several years. But without qualified medical care, the result is always the same:

complete isolation from society
destruction of all relationships - even family ones
intellectual and personal degradation
damage to vital organs up to the development of life-threatening conditions (heart attacks, strokes, etc.)

It is important to understand that there are no safe alcoholic drinks. The strength of alcohol is not important - constant use will sooner or later lead to the development of addiction.

Physiological consequences of alcoholism

Already on the second day, external changes appear and the development of serious diseases begins.

External manifestations

constantly shaking hands;
wrinkled, loose skin with age spots;
severe swelling;
thinning hair;
bad teeth.

All this is the result of the destructive effects of alcohol toxins and a changed lifestyle.

Alcohol causes severe dehydration, so the body tries to store as much water as possible - as a result, swelling appears. This is especially noticeable on the face.

Impaired metabolism and constant increased load on internal organs that try to remove toxins lead to decreased immunity, susceptibility to any infections and gradual tissue destruction (hair and teeth become brittle and begin to fall out).

Disorders of the digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular and other systems inevitably affect the appearance of the addict, with long-term addiction visually turning him literally into an “old man” at a fairly young age.

Internal disorders

disturbances in the functioning of the heart;
anemia;
kidney damage (up to chronic renal failure);
fatty degeneration and cirrhosis of the liver;
pancreatitis;
gastroduodenitis;
functional disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems;
cerebrovascular accidents;
encephalopathy (irreversible changes in the brain);
strokes;
heart attacks.

In the absence of timely treatment at the third stage, the consequences of alcoholism become even more dangerous - the actual destruction of internal organs begins:

effects of alcohol on gastrointestinal tract can cause severe disturbances in the functions of the pancreas (up to pancreatic necrosis), cancer of the esophagus, stomach and rectum;
the main burden of removing toxins falls on liver, in which entire sections of tissue gradually begin to die, as a result, the remaining part of the organ simply cannot cope with the “volume of work” and can fail at any moment;
increasing concentrations of toxins continue to destroy cardiovascular system, the heart muscle is stretched and is not able to contract effectively; impaired blood circulation leads to progressive oxygen starvation of tissues throughout the body.

According to the World Health Organization, 4-7% of deaths in our country are caused by alcohol addiction. The main causes are heart disease, pancreatic necrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as various injuries and accidents that occur to people while intoxicated.

Mental consequences of alcoholism

The action of ethanol consistently destroys the nervous system and leads to the death of brain cells.

The consequence is:

sleep disorders
memory impairment
decreased intellectual abilities
emotional inadequacy

In the later stages of alcoholism, even the ability to speak and perceive other people's speech is lost.

Already at the beginning of the development of addiction, the criticality of judgments and self-perception decreases, and the alcoholic ceases to adequately assess what is happening. The sense of self-preservation gradually fails, which leads to various injuries and even death.

At the second stage, during the period of acute abstinence or binge drinking, it is necessary to metal-alcohol psychoses.

Delirium tremens (“delirium tremens”)

The first signs are sleep disturbances and nightmares. At dusk (especially in the evening) the first hallucinations begin. An alcoholic may mistake shadows in a room for someone’s silhouettes, or discarded clothes for some kind of monster.

Over time, the hallucinations become more intense. At first, imaginary images fit into the surrounding reality, but gradually drag the addict into an illusory world, so real that the alcoholic can hear non-existent sounds, smell smells, and hear voices.

Such visions are almost always negative in nature, causing a feeling of real anxiety, forcing one to defend oneself from some threat (for example, running away from a scary monster).

In this state, the addict poses a danger not only to himself, but also to others. Fleeing from something that is real only to him, he can jump out of a window or attack a person standing next to him, seeing an imaginary enemy in his place.

Psychosis is accompanied by elevated temperature and disturbances in the body's metabolic processes. Without qualified medical care, an alcoholic may die from cardiovascular failure or cerebral edema.

Alcoholic hallucinosis

The disorder is characterized by delusions and verbal or visual hallucinations. The addict begins to hear “voices” that talk to him or among themselves, discuss him, even scold or threaten him. Gradually, such “interlocutors” drive him to persecution mania.

Hallucinosis occurs:

acute – lasts from several days to 2-3 weeks;
protracted – lasts from a month to six months;
chronic - up to several years.

This type of psychosis is usually characterized by the predominance of one symptom - either delusions or hallucinations. The longer the condition lasts, the more severe the anxiety and depression become, which can lead the addict to suicide.

Delusional psychoses

In most cases, the disorder manifests itself as persecutory delusions. Unlike hallucination, a person does not begin to hear any extraneous “voices” in his head. His mania relates to real people and is provoked by false judgments, as a result of which the patient thinks that someone is watching him. Any word, any action not only of loved ones, but also of strangers will only confirm this confidence.

Over time, this conviction will only grow, provoking fear and prompting unpredictable actions. This condition lasts for weeks and in many ways resembles the manifestations of developing schizophrenia. You will need experience in the field of addiction to make the correct diagnosis and select effective treatment.

Alcoholic encephalopathy

One of the most dangerous consequences of alcoholism is the death of brain cells, which gradually leads to encephalopathy.

Characteristic features are:

decreased intellectual abilities;
primitiveness of thinking;
severe memory impairment;
inhibited motor reactions;
convulsions (as in an epileptic seizure);
partial loss of sensitivity.

Consequences of alcoholism for the individual

The destructive effects of alcohol also affect moral and ethical qualities. Already by the second stage, a loved one can change beyond recognition - a previously educated and correct person becomes a deceitful egocentric, unable to take into account the feelings of other people.

All his actions are aimed only at obtaining alcohol. He displays incredible ingenuity, perseverance and cunning. To get what he wants, the addict begins to steal valuables from the house and sell things. He may decide to commit robbery or even a more serious crime.

The lack of critical perception gradually leads to complete degradation of the individual. Having lost all moral values, the alcoholic tries to involve other people in his world - he gets the younger generation drunk, provokes former drinking buddies who have already been treated in a drug treatment clinic to relapse.

At the same time, the addict resolutely denies the negative impact of alcohol on his life. It's almost impossible to do it on your own. In 99% of cases, relatives manage to send an alcoholic to the hospital only thanks to the help of motivational psychologists who know how to talk correctly with such patients.

Social consequences of alcoholism

With the loss of the value system, the social behavior of the addict also changes:

Problems begin with studies or At work. More and more often, classmates and colleagues see an addict drunk. The student fails the sessions, the employee neglects his duties. The inevitable expulsion or dismissal does not bother him at all. Moreover, he increasingly finds people to blame for his failures and stubbornly refuses to admit that most of his troubles are associated with uncontrolled drinking. The only reason he will agree to work is the opportunity to get money for drinks.

Are escalating problems communicating with other people. Mood swings and a lack of critical perception lead to regular cases of antisocial behavior: an addict can hit a child or an old man, be rude to a stranger, or start a fight in a crowded place.
Gradually, addiction to alcohol displaces all other hobbies and hobbies. The only interesting activities for an addict are those related to drinking. Often a person who was not at all interested in gambling before becoming ill begins to become addicted to alcohol and begins to spend a lot of time playing card games.

Only comprehensive treatment with an individually tailored course helps to cope with the consequences of alcoholism and return a person to a sober life.

At Dr. Isaev’s Clinic, special programs of psychological, behavioral and social correction are used to work with alcoholics, which allow them to restore health to a certain extent even at the last stage of addiction.

Remember that there is always hope - but you need to take the first step.

Ekaterina Yartseva: the first stage of treatment for alcoholism (video)

Alcoholism is one of the most difficult problems of modern society. Alcohol and its effect on the body is the subject of discussion among scientists from various specialties who are trying to establish the reasons for the rapid increase in incidence, ways to remove people from this condition, as well as risk factors for developing a tendency to regularly drink alcohol. The harmful effects of alcohol on the body begin to appear after the first few days of systematic intake of the toxic substance.

At first, alcohol-induced changes in internal organs are not characterized by a sharp disruption of their functionality. But over time, the influence of alcohol on a person increases, leading to acute disorders in the activity of vital systems of the body and breaking the chain of complex mechanisms of its neurohumoral regulation.

Features of the mechanism of action

How does alcohol affect the body? Once in the human stomach, alcohol is absorbed almost instantly into the bloodstream. Few people know, but alcoholic drinks begin to decompose in the oral cavity, so the blood is saturated with alcohol from the first minute of its contact with the body. From this moment the harmful effects of alcohol on human organs begin. About 20% of alcohol is neutralized by the liver enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which deactivates substances containing alcohol toxins.

The bulk of alcohol continues to act in the small intestine. It is from here that alcohol penetrates into all aqueous areas of the body, in order to be partially excreted through sweat, urine, saliva, etc., and partially oxidize and accumulate in most organs for several days. During this period, alcohol works like poison, slowly poisoning all the cells of the body, affecting the development of a person, the state of his psyche and the functionality of internal structures.

Effect of alcohol on the central nervous system

The human brain is one of the most important organs of the body, which is constantly exposed to harmful external factors, in particular alcohol. When drinking alcoholic beverages, few people think about the serious harm it causes to the nervous system. Each glass of alcohol is a kind of blow to the head, which leads to mental disorders, partial memory loss, imaginary anxiety, hallucinations and much more.

Among the most severe brain diseases provoked by the effects of alcohol on the body is alcoholic encephalopathy. This pathological condition is a complex psychosis of a complex nature, which is expressed in numerous mental disorders, accompanied by classic neurological and somatic symptoms of alcoholism. Alcoholic encephalopathy is manifested by the following set of symptoms:

the patient develops the so-called short-term alcoholic paralysis, during which all the muscles of the body are under severe tension;
The disease is characterized by motor agitation, which manifests itself in the form of rhythmic and monotonous actions;
patients suffer from hallucinations, anxiety, depressive moods, and mania;
incoherent speech and memory impairment are often diagnosed;
It is impossible to have a constructive dialogue with such people.

In addition, alcoholic encephalopathy, which rapidly progresses against the background of regular abuse of strong alcoholic drinks, sooner or later ends in deep cerebral coma. It is extremely difficult to bring a sick person out of such a state, so most often he dies. Patients who survive this pathological condition are left with persistent mental, motor function and sensitivity disorders that do not allow them to return to a full life.

It is important to understand that damage to the central nervous system tissues by the active toxin begins from the first glass, regardless of what kind of drinks a person drinks: strong or low-alcohol. According to research, severe forms of encephalopathy develop within 3-5 years of systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages. The effect of alcohol on the body often causes the development of life-threatening conditions, among which cerebral strokes deserve special attention.

Alcohol harms the liver

Alcoholism is the first doctor of the liver. The glandular organ, which performs an antitoxic function in the human body, begins to degenerate under the harmful influence of alcohol, changing its structure. Depending on the duration of alcohol consumption and the severity of liver disorders, doctors distinguish three main stages of alcoholic degeneration of the gland:

alcoholic fatty degeneration of the organ, which in clinical practice is manifested by attacks of heaviness in the area of the liver projection, pain in the right hypochondrium, general weakness and poor health;
toxic alcoholic hepatitis, which is characterized by signs of hepatomegaly, pain in the right side, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as changes in appetite and digestion;
alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, as a rule, occurs in the late stages of the disease, provoked by the harmful effects of alcohol on human organs, and is manifested by the classic symptoms of portal hypertension, increasing ascites, excessive thinness of the patient, frequent nausea and vomiting, a sharp increase in the size of the liver, and severe disruption of digestive function , apathy and general malaise.

Reversible changes are characteristic only of the first stage of alcoholic liver damage, while hepatitis and cirrhosis have an irreversible destructive effect on the gland, resistant to all types of modern therapeutic techniques. And if patients with hepatitis have a chance of partial recovery with long-term remission, then people with cirrhosis are simply doomed, since they have already experienced liver degeneration with a violation of the organ’s architecture. Cirrhosis is characterized by a high mortality rate within the first three years after diagnosis.

The effects of alcohol on other systems and organs

The harmful effects of alcohol on the human body are expressed not only in dysfunction of the brain and liver. Alcoholism has a negative effect on all organs and systems of the human body. In short, regular consumption of alcoholic beverages completely destroys the model of normal functioning of the patient’s body, has a detrimental effect on his full functioning and is one of the main causes of mortality among people of working age.

The harmful effects of alcohol on the human body largely relate to its effects on the cardiovascular system. Systemic alcoholics significantly increase the risk of developing deadly forms of acute myocardial ischemia, stroke, and hypertensive crisis. Doctors have proven that even small concentrations of alcohol provoke the appearance of arrhythmic activity of the heart, an increase in blood pressure and a strong dilation of blood vessels, followed by a reflex spasm. Over time, such effects can negatively affect the myocardium, as they can develop myocardial dystrophy and hypertrophy of the heart chambers.

When answering the question of how alcohol affects the human body, one cannot ignore the problem of respiratory disorders. Alcoholics are more often diagnosed with tuberculosis, bronchial obstruction, inflammatory processes in the lung tissue and emphysema than other people. The gastrointestinal tract also suffers from the negative effects of alcohol. In particular, the gastric mucosa is exposed to the aggressive action of toxins that provoke the development of gastritis, enteritis, peptic ulcers, and the like. The pancreas and kidneys are very sensitive to alcohol poisons. Under their influence, these organs become inflamed and cease to function normally.

Alcohol affects the function of the immune system and contributes to the development of allergic reactions. In patients who drink alcohol, a number of disorders of the endocrine glands, deterioration of the skin, and weakening of muscles are determined. Patients suffering from alcoholism sometimes complain of sexual disorders, note sexual impotence, decreased libido, and infertility.

Impact on the psyche

Probably each of us knows how alcohol affects the human psyche. Heavy drinkers may experience hallucinations, an overwhelming feeling of anxiety, apathy, and prolonged depression. Alcoholics completely lose their own self. These people become asocial, pay little attention to their appearance, they stop worrying about everyday human worries, caring for their family, and the like.

It is important to note that the harmful effects of alcohol are expressed in its systemic effect on the human body and the triggering of the mechanisms of its premature aging. The life expectancy of people who drink alcohol is reduced by about 15 years compared to the average. All this means that if it is possible to drink a glass of alcohol, a person should think about his health and replace alcohol with healthy juice or a glass of milk.