The effect of alcohol on the functioning of the brain. Famous psychiatrist: how alcohol actually affects the brain

Alcohol abuse provokes pathological changes in the brain: smoothing of the convolutions, a decrease in its size, resulting in the development of such dangerous diseases as alcoholic epilepsy and encephalopathy. A scientifically proven fact is the negative effect of alcohol on the human brain, and complications often arise even as a result of taking small doses of alcohol.

How alcohol affects the brain

Alcohol contains substances that poison the entire body and disrupt its functions. Including the brain suffers, in which various cells begin to die. Ethyl alcohol enters here through the vessels from the stomach, instantly attacking the cerebral cortex and upsetting its functions. As a result, a state of alcoholic intoxication develops, accompanied by damage and death of cells in different parts of the brain:

In the occipital part with the vestibular zone.
In the moral center.
in the hippocampus.

Damage to nerve cells in the vestibular apparatus causes a deterioration in coordination, as a result of which a characteristic gait is formed in a drunk person. The death of cells in the moral center leads to emancipation, the loss of such feelings as shame and fear. Under the influence of alcohol, the cells of the hippocampus responsible for memory also die. As a result, a person in the morning cannot restore yesterday's events: what he did, where he managed to visit.

Normally, blood in the brain circulates through very thin vessels and capillaries, due to which a sufficient amount of oxygen is supplied to each department of the organ. However, alcohol creates significant obstacles to normal blood circulation: the ethyl alcohol contained in it constricts blood vessels and sticks together red blood cells, which contributes to the formation of blood clots. Microscopic capillaries become clogged, and cells begin to experience oxygen starvation and die. At the same time, a person feels euphoria and does not even suspect the development of pathological processes.

Effects of drinking alcohol on the brain

If the liver is capable of regeneration after alcohol withdrawal, then the gray matter cells are not restored. How much alcohol affects the human brain always depends on the doses of alcohol: the larger they are, the faster the degradation of the personality occurs. The patient himself does not notice the negative effects of alcohol, since the state of intoxication is accompanied by mild euphoria. However, pathoanatomical studies of dead alcoholics confirm that the systematic abuse of alcohol causes irreversible changes:

Reducing the body in size.
The formation of voids.
Straightening of convolutions.
The appearance of microscopic hemorrhages.

Note:

Even a single intake of an alcoholic drink causes damage and death of brain cells. The negative effect on the brain is enhanced in liver diseases, since it is in this organ that the breakdown of ethyl alcohol occurs.

With the help of many years of research, scientists were able to prove that when drinking 100 g of vodka, 8,000 brain cells instantly die. At the same time, the structure of the organ is damaged, which decreases in size, becomes covered with scars, ulcers. Under a magnifying glass, the brain of an alcoholic looks like the lunar surface with its many craters.

Cognitive impairment

The destructive effect of alcohol on the human brain begins with the first glass, expressed in a decrease in the field of perception and other cognitive impairments. A person loses the ability to objectively evaluate and suffers from hallucinations that do not go away even after sobering up. Ethyl alcohol causes the most severe damage to the cerebral cortex., which is responsible for higher nervous activity. In this case, characteristic symptoms are observed:

cloudy thoughts;
decrease in intelligence quotient;
cheeky behavior, lack of a sense of shame;
impaired coordination of movements;
memory impairment and confusion.

Ethyl alcohol also affects the pituitary and hypothalamus, which reduces the production of vital hormones. The body gradually gets used to and adapts to the constant intake of alcohol, slowing down mental activity, "turning off" memory, attention, moral attitudes and creativity.

What brain diseases are caused by alcohol?

Due to the harmful effects of alcohol on the human brain, severe physical and mental illnesses are formed that cause disability. The pathological processes are based on two main factors: the neurotoxic effect of alcohol and vitamin B1 deficiency, without which the normal functioning of the brain is impossible. For these reasons, especially severe and dangerous diseases develop:

Alcoholic encephalopathy.
Alcoholic epilepsy.
Korsakov's disease.

Signs of encephalopathy appear at the last stage of alcoholism: the patient becomes emotionally unstable, indifferent to everything, constantly experiencing weakness. The symptoms of alcohol-induced epilepsy only occur with a hangover, and if they become regular, the person develops dementia. Since the attacks are spontaneous and may be accompanied by fainting, alcoholics are prohibited from climbing to heights, swimming in rivers and driving vehicles.

With Korsakov's disease, there are signs of encephalopathy, dementia and polyneuritis. A person completely ceases to navigate in time, loses the ability to perform any arithmetic operations. Muscle atrophy gradually sets in, leading to severe disability. The patient can no longer take care of himself on his own and requires third-party care.

Note:

With the constant use of alcohol, the structure of neurons is destroyed and the connections between them disappear. As a result, the alcoholic not only loses intelligence, but at some point he completely degrades as a person.

Mental illnesses that occur against the background of alcohol abuse are detected in all alcoholics, although the pathologies themselves are diverse. Starting with insomnia and irritability, mental disorders progress, serious illnesses develop:

Delirium tremens.
Alcohol paranoia.
hallucinations.
Brad of jealousy.

Delirium tremens, also known as alcoholic delirium, develops after a long drinking bout and is characterized by a pronounced clouding of consciousness - a person becomes dangerous for himself and for society. Paranoia and hallucinations also occur after a sudden refusal of alcohol: the patient hears certain voices that often threaten him, causing great fear. The delirium of jealousy always proceeds in a chronic form, and only in old age do its manifestations weaken. The patient is jealous of his partner, provokes scandals, uses threats and physical force.

cerebral edema

The most severe complication after drinking alcohol is cerebral edema, which occurs as a reaction of the body to severe intoxication. Due to the high permeability of the vascular walls through which blood circulates, excess fluid accumulates in the brain tissues. This condition occurs with characteristic symptoms:

headache;
nausea and vomiting;
dyspnea;
loss of sensation in some parts of the body;
violations of coordination;
convulsions;
fainting;
memory impairment;
difficulty speaking;
high pressure;
paralysis.

The disease develops even as a result of moderate alcohol consumption. In this case, the provoking factors are the general condition of the body, the stage of alcoholism, and individual characteristics. Depending on the location of the edema, it can affect the vital centers of the brain, which directly threatens a person's life. The only prevention of complications is the complete rejection of alcoholic beverages.

Attention!

The information in the article is for informational purposes only and is not an instruction for use. Consult with your physician.

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Alcoholic drinks contain alcohol ethanol, which is the most "universal" poison, its effect is detrimental to the whole organism. And if the damage to the organs remains invisible for the time being, then the effect of alcohol on the brain becomes apparent after the first drink.

But these are only external signs - a change in behavior when a person becomes strange, funny or aggressive. Much more dramatic is how alcohol affects the human brain, and usually this leads to dire consequences.

The effect of alcohol on the human brain

What happens to the brain when drinking alcohol? Everyone knows that with the help of alcohol you can easily remove a grease stain. But the brain is 70% fat (lipids), and only 30% protein. The alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages is absorbed into the blood in unchanged form, enters the brain tissue and, having done its dirty work, decomposes into toxic substances.

Lipids are part of both the nerve cells themselves and their membranes - myelin substance. As a result of the influence of alcohol, the viability of cells (neurons) is disrupted, and they become unprotected. Connections between neurons are also broken, the transmission of nerve impulses is difficult. This is very clearly seen in the example of memory loss in a drunk person.

Alcohol has a dual effect on brain cells: destroys lipids and has a toxic effect.

Fatty substances are also part of the cell membranes of any tissues, in particular blood vessels and blood cells. As a result of damage and partial paralysis of the vascular wall, blood circulation is disturbed.

Erythrocytes with a broken membrane reduce the ability to carry oxygen to tissues. Both lead to an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain and the development of oxygen starvation of cells - hypoxia.

The youngest and most vulnerable part of the brain, the cerebral cortex, or the so-called gray matter, suffers the most. It is represented by cells that control the processes of movement, sensitivity, emotions, actions. It is precisely because alcohol destroys these brain cells that people who drink in the first place experience changes in behavior, character and motivation of actions.

The intensity of the negative impact on the brain

The influence of alcohol on the human brain has its own characteristics, which are influenced by the following factors:

Age, gender;
Physical parameters of the body;
The strength of the drink;
The amount of alcohol consumed;
Calorie intake;
frequency of use;
Attitude towards food intake;
Health status.

The most vulnerable to the influence of alcohol is the brain of children and the elderly. The brain of women suffers to a greater extent due to the peculiarities of the structure of the nervous tissue - it is more sensitive. Height and weight matter: the smaller the mass and height of a person, the more he is exposed to alcohol.

As for the strength of the drunk, it is directly related to its quantity. The value is the total amount based on ethyl alcohol. For example, 100 g of 40% brandy will have the same effect on the brain as 500 ml of 8% beer. Of great importance is the speed of drinking.

The rapid absorption of a large amount of alcohol is more detrimental to the brain than the same amount drunk intermittently over a longer period of time.

Alcohol does not have time to be excreted, and its concentration is higher. For the same reason, frequent drinking is much more harmful than episodic drinking, the body does not have time to recover from the drink, as a new dose arrives. How alcohol affects the human brain, you can learn from the video:

Alcohol is more dangerous on an empty stomach. Before taking it, you need to eat, or immediately after use. Health plays a huge role. For example, in diseases of the liver, kidneys, alcohol is worse excreted from the body. For people with diseases of the vessels, the nervous system, the consequences of skull injuries, as well as concussion of the brain, alcohol is extremely dangerous.

Physiological consequences of alcohol consumption

Scientists have found that just 100 grams of vodka, entering the body, leads to the death of 8,000 tissue cells of various organs and systems:

nervous;
cardiovascular;
hematopoietic;
endocrine;
digestive.

Nervous system

The most vulnerable to the influence of alcohol is the nervous system, and the brain is the main target of the effects of alcohol. Alcohol kills brain cells. Of the 8,000 cells dying from ethanol, most of them are brain cells. It is well known that nervous tissue has the lowest ability to recover, so regular alcohol consumption causes irreparable harm. How alcohol affects the human nervous system, read more.

The consequences of the influence of alcohol on the human brain and nervous system lead to the development of such chronic diseases as alcoholic encephalopathy - damage to the central nervous system, alcoholic polyneuropathy - damage to the peripheral nerves, in severe cases, paralysis can develop.

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The cardiovascular system

The defeat of the vascular wall leads to stagnation of blood, the early development of atherosclerosis against this background. Damaged erythrocytes stick to the affected walls of blood vessels, forming blood clots. As a result of exposure to ethanol, all this leads to circulatory disorders and the creation of conditions for the development of stroke, heart attack, gangrene of the extremities. Myocardial dystrophy develops in the heart muscle, muscle fibers are replaced by connective tissue.

Hematopoietic organs

Alcohol has a toxic effect on the bone marrow and lymphatic system, where the formation of blood elements - erythrocytes, leukocytes. As a result of the influence of alcohol, their number decreases, functional abilities decrease. This leads to anemia, a decrease in the protective properties of the body.

Endocrine system

Sexual glands are most sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Their hormonal function decreases - both in men and women. Against this background, tumors of the genital area develop, the ability to conceive decreases. The thyroid gland suffers from the harmful effects of alcohol, a decrease in its function leads to the development of hypothyroidism with a sharp decrease in metabolism. The function of insular cells of the pancreas is inhibited, which leads to the development of diabetes mellitus.

Digestive organs

The main blow is taken by the liver, being the "beating boy" among all the digestive organs. Under the influence of ethanol, its cells are destroyed, first replaced by adipose tissue, and fatty degeneration of the liver develops.

If alcohol intake continues, fatty degeneration of the liver turns into cirrhosis - the replacement of the parenchyma with scar tissue.

These changes are irreversible. In addition, against the background of cirrhosis, cancer often develops. In addition to these systems, the genitourinary organs are also affected, their function decreases, an inflammatory process, tumors, and impotence develop. Changes also occur in the musculoskeletal system: cartilage nutrition is disturbed, arthrosis develops, tone decreases and muscle atrophy occurs.

Psychological consequences of alcohol abuse

It is no coincidence that there are such expressions: “a drinking person urinates with his brains”, or “drank all his brains away”, and they are close to the truth. Destroyed by alcohol, brain cells begin to decompose, toxins are formed.

To get rid of toxins, the body sends an increased amount of fluid to the brain, it flushes them out, and as a result, all the remnants of the cells are excreted in the urine. This can explain the headache with a hangover, frequent urination, "dry" in the mouth, increased thirst.

But what happens to the cerebral cortex, which regularly loses its cells? It gradually atrophies, decreases in volume. Accordingly, its functions are also lost. At first, this is manifested by psychological disorders, which are gradually replaced by deeper, mental disorders.

Psychological disorders from exposure to alcoholic beverages

There is such an expression: “he is in the subcortex”, so they say about a person who is disinhibited. It is customary to call the subcortex clusters of nerve cells located under the cortex of the hemispheres; they contain centers of natural instincts, emotions, and sensitivity.

The cerebral cortex has a regulatory effect on these centers, inhibits their activity.

When the cells of the cortex die, the subcortex is disinhibited, the behavior of a person changes, his attitude to the world around him and his assessment of himself in it.

These are psychological disorders under the influence of alcohol.

They manifest themselves depending on alcohol, the overwhelming desire to drink in order to have fun, to relax, regardless of the environment. Such people become self-confident, assure everyone that they will “tie up” at any moment. In fact, they are becoming more and more addicted.

Further, when they cause problems in the family and at work, there is a feeling of guilt. But instead of correcting the situation, they again resort to alcohol in order to drown out this feeling. Subsequently, it gradually disappears and, on the contrary, the drinking person begins to accuse his loved ones of drinking.

Very quickly there comes a decrease in memory, up to "failures". Drunken "high" and euphoria are replaced by depression, which again prompts them to drink. There is irritability, intemperance, rudeness and often aggressiveness.

A person becomes asocial, ceases to reckon with others, is able to easily offend, steal, just to drink again. This is how psychological dependence and alcohol degradation of the personality is formed.

The effect of alcohol on the human psyche

From the effects of alcohol, mental disorders in drinkers are diverse. It can be a deep depression, often with suicidal attempts, or, conversely, aggressiveness up to the commission of crimes. Most often, the psyche suffers when an alcoholic tries to quit, reduces the dose, or simply cannot find what to drink.

Withdrawal syndrome develops - alcoholic delirium, the so-called "white tremens". Its characteristic manifestations are visual and auditory hallucinations, most often they are zoological in nature.

It is during the "delirium tremens" that drinkers most often die.

The patient sees various animals, insects, there is a feeling of fear, delirium. The effect of alcohol on the autonomic nervous system is expressed by the following disorders: pressure drop, cold sweat, palpitations, indomitable trembling. In severe cases of a hangover, seizures can develop.

Features of influence on adolescents

Teenage alcoholism is an extremely serious problem. A fragile, immature psyche is very susceptible to the effects of alcohol and the formation of dependence. Active metabolism and high hormonal levels in adolescents only create favorable conditions for alcohol intoxication.

The cells of the cerebral cortex that have not yet “grown up” are destroyed very quickly, and the degradation of the personality sets in just as quickly, mental abilities sharply decrease.

Alcohol dependence in adolescents develops very quickly, and all the consequences associated with it are much more severe than in adults.

If qualified assistance is not provided in the first 2 years of alcohol consumption, then in the future the hope for a cure is very doubtful.

Recovery of brain cells after quitting alcohol

Do brain cells recover after quitting alcohol? Nerve cells have the ability to recover, but this process is very slow, and one cannot count on a complete renewal of the cortex. And all narcological practice suggests that a year later, a person who has stopped drinking changes significantly. Improves memory, mental abilities, behavior in the family and society.

In order for the recovery process to be more successful, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the following rules:

Even the most seemingly hopeless drinkers always make sense to stop before a tragedy happens. Specialists will provide psychological and medical assistance, which, coupled with the desire of the patient, will definitely give an effect.

How to reduce the negative effects of alcohol before a feast

Life is life, and there are often situations in it when you have to “sip” at least a little. In order for alcohol not to have such a detrimental effect, it is necessary to prepare in advance. 4-5 hours before the upcoming drink, you need to drink a small amount of alcohol and eat a heavy meal.

This is the so-called alcohol vaccination, it promotes the production of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which destroys alcohol. The body will be prepared for a new dose, and it will not be so dangerous.

"Vaccination" can be done by replacing alcohol with 1 tablespoon of Eleutherococcus (medicinal plant), and if the pressure is high, you need to drink hawthorn tincture.

To reduce the absorption of alcohol before the banquet, you need to eat a hearty sandwich with butter, drink a raw egg, strong coffee or tea with lemon.

If the preparation could not be carried out, then the following rules must be observed:

Drink in small doses, stretching in time;
Do not mix different drinks, give preference to one;
It is good to have a snack, not forgetting about greens, citrus fruits;

Immediately before the feast and immediately after it, it is good to drink nutriklinz, zorex or glutargin, they help to quickly remove alcohol and weaken its toxic effect. Drinking alcohol should be avoided. Temporary "relaxation" can cost the health and even the life of the drinker and his loved ones.

Drinking alcohol, even in small doses, negatively affects the general well-being and condition of the internal organs of a person. Alcohol is the strongest drug that is addictive and forms a strong dependence of the individual on the physical and mental level. Alcoholism is a misfortune for many people, sad statistics indicate a steady increase in alcohol addiction.

To realize all the terrible consequences of addiction, it is worth comparing the brain, heart and liver of an alcoholic and a healthy person, photos of these organs are terrifying and make you think deeply. Is it possible to put your own life, health and momentary pleasure received from alcohol on the scales? Let's find out what alcoholism leads to.

Alcohol affects all internal organs of a person

The secret to developing a deadly passion lies in the ability of ethanol to actively promote the production of dopamine in humans. One of the tasks of this hormone is to ensure the timely transmission of information between neurons (brain cells).

Dopamine is considered the main "happiness hormone". This compound is responsible for creating a feeling of joy, euphoria and pleasure in the individual.

Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, the human body begins to produce dopamine in large quantities, which causes a strong association in the individual: alcohol is pleasure. At the same time, the body itself eventually stops the natural production of this hormone, which leads to the development of psychological dependence.

How alcoholism develops

With regular alcohol consumption, ethanol gradually becomes an integral part of metabolic processes. The body now constantly needs another dose of alcoholic doping to maintain normal functioning. Physical dependence is formed. A person completely falls into alcoholic captivity and rapidly degrades.

Alcohol and the brain

Especially negative is the effect of ethyl alcohol on the central nervous system, in particular, on the brain. Alcohol becomes the direct cause of the development of various pathologies, and many of the mental disorders are irreversible. Ethyl alcohol provokes massive death of neurons (cells of the brain regions), which leads to the destruction of all the most important functions of the body.

How does influence happen?

Ethanol, which is contained in every alcoholic drink, is rapidly absorbed into the blood and soon reaches the brain regions. Neuronal death begins. It should be borne in mind that alcohol also affects the composition of the blood (ethanol “glues” platelets, which significantly slows down blood flow). As a result, the brain departments cease to receive the necessary oxygen, which leads to hypoxia.

How alcohol affects the brain

The symptoms of oxygen starvation are felt by any person who has taken "on the chest." When intoxicated there is a feeling of lightness, "flight", permissiveness - these are signs of hypoxia.

This state is dangerous because a person who is in a euphoric state simply does not realize the consequences that follow. And they are truly catastrophic:

bleeding of the brain regions (ischemic stroke);
impaired coordination due to damage to the vestibular apparatus (occipital part);
destruction of cells whose task is to control behavioral reactions, which leads to the inadequacy of a drunk person;
memory impairment and difficulties in perceiving new information, and the damage to these parts of the brain is irreversible, they will not be able to recover in the future.

If we compare the brain of an alcoholic and a healthy person, the photos of which are presented below, we can note clear differences. Pay attention to how the vessels are clearly drawn in a non-drinking person, while no extraneous inclusions are noted:

On the left is the brain of a healthy non-drinker, while sleeping is the brain of an alcoholic

But the brain of an alcoholic already has clear pathologies. Brightly visible whitish blotches are sclerotic formations of the meninges. It is for this reason that there is a violation of the psyche and the development of many deviations.

Mental disorders

The most common pathology that occurs in stable drinkers is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The development of the disease occurs due to persistent non-receipt of thiamine (vitamin B1) by the brain. This disease manifests itself in the following two types:

Encephalopathy Wernicke. It is caused by a period of short-term exacerbations.
Psychosis Korsakov. Based on a long, more or less calm state. At the same time, a significant depletion of the alcohol-dependent organism occurs.

Korsakov's syndrome is a common manifestation in chronic alcoholism

According to statistics, about 85% of patients with alcoholism are susceptible to Wernicke-Korsakov syndrome.

Against the background of a progressive disease, the patient has significant problems with the perception of his own personality. A person cannot navigate in space, paralysis of the optic nerves and clouding of consciousness occur. As the disease progresses, seizures become more frequent. As a result, the patient becomes a complete invalid, ceasing to be aware of everything that happens around him.

Behavioral problems

The harmful effects of alcohol on the brain also have a negative effect on the state of the nervous system. Moreover, subsequent reactions can be the most unexpected. An alcoholic can quickly go to extremes - from a complacent and kind-hearted person, suddenly turn into an aggressive psychopath.

These people are very dangerous to others by the unpredictability of their behavior. Being in a fit of rage and aggression, the patient is able to cause severe injuries both to himself and to strangers. Moreover, an alcoholic person does not even realize what he is doing. Their self-control is completely absent, as is the understanding of the whole situation.

alcohol and heart

The detrimental effect of ethyl alcohol on the cardiovascular system. After an alcoholic libation, ethanol instantly enters the bloodstream and stays in the blood vessels for 7-8 hours. All this time, its detrimental effect on the functionality of the cardiac system occurs.

Alcohol has a very negative effect on the cardiovascular system

According to medical observations, it is ethanol that in 20% of cases leads to the development of arterial hypertension (a persistent increase in blood pressure).

Cardiologists, considering how ethyl alcohol destroys the work of the cardiovascular system, distinguish two stages in the development of the problem:

Persistent vasodilation. This stage is characterized by characteristic and visible symptoms: the skin on the face in the area of the cheeks and nose acquires a bluish-red tint. This happens due to darkening and thickening of the blood composition.
development of vascular stenosis. At the second stage, there is a persistent increase in blood pressure and the development of hypertension itself. This pathology leads to cardiac crises.

Myocardial damage

The myocardium is a heart muscle that provides regular contraction of the organ. Thanks to this, the work of the heart takes place. Due to the long-term intake of ethanol into the body, the body accumulates a large amount of body fat, which leads to depletion and flabbiness of tissues. The result is problems in the work of the myocardium, which increases the degree of development of many cardiac pathologies:

ischemia;
hypertension;
atherosclerosis;
heart failure.

According to statistics, in people suffering from alcohol dependence, in 30-35% of cases, sudden cardiac arrest occurs, which leads to death of a person.

The heart simply cannot withstand the high loads that it has to regularly face due to the constant presence of ethanol in the body. Moreover, it doesn’t matter how many degrees the consumed alcohol contains - the heart organ experiences overload in any case.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a common consequence of alcohol abuse.

Alcoholic Heart Syndrome

Doctors call this pathology “alcoholic cardiomyopathy”. The disease develops due to the constant consumption of alcohol-containing products and chronic damage to the heart muscle. A deadly disease can develop even with the consumption of low-grade drinks.. The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:

1 stage. Respiratory depression and various heart rhythm problems are noted.
2 stage. Symptoms can be determined by listening to the heart, cardiomyopathy manifests itself as "deaf" noises.
3 stage. The syndrome is already clearly visible, there is swelling, a pronounced feeling of lack of air. All changes occurring at this stage of the heart become irreversible.

To clearly understand what is happening with the heart organ, compare the heart of an alcoholic and a healthy person, the photo clearly shows what changes occur with alcoholism. The heart of a sick person is much enlarged and is no longer able to withstand the natural load.

On the left is the heart of a non-drinker, on the right is the heart of an alcoholic

Alcohol and the liver

Stages of liver degeneration in a drinking person

But the human liver is not eternal. Unable to withstand a constant load, it gradually wears out. Already irreversible processes of death of hepatocides (liver cells) begin to occur in the liver. They are replaced by fibro-adipose tissue.

It has been established that even low-grade alcohol taken by a person on a regular basis leads to irreversible changes in the liver, causing the organ to stop working. By the way, women are more prone to such problems due to the characteristics of their body.

To understand what an alcohol-damaged organ is, take a look at the photo of what an alcoholic's liver looks like. One can note the extensive growth of abnormal tissue and pathological changes in the structure of the organ itself..

The liver of a person suffering from alcoholism

Regular addiction to alcohol provokes the development of various liver pathologies. Almost all of them are extremely difficult to treat and ultimately lead to the death of the patient.

Fatty hepatosis

The danger of this pathology lies in its long-term asymptomaticity. For a long time, a person does not even suspect the presence of a deadly disease. Hepatosis is formed due to the gradual replacement of healthy hepatocides with adipose tissue.

How does the liver degrade in fatty liver

You can suspect a fatal problem by the following signs. They appear already in the later stages of the disease:

increased flatulence;
constant nausea and vomiting;
blanching and dullness of the skin;
the appearance of persistent dysbacteriosis, frequent diarrhea;
discomfort and pulling pain in the region of the right hypochondrium.

In the process of its development, hepatosis can develop into liver failure. And such patrolology leads to the appearance of cirrhosis and death of a person.

Alcoholic hepatitis

This syndrome can manifest itself in chronic and acute course. Doctors note the similarity of the manifestation of pathology with hepatitis of viral origin. The disease develops very slowly, within 8-10 years. Moreover, the patient does not even pay attention to minor symptoms of ailments, attributing them to other problems. The following signs should be alarming:

decrease in working capacity;
bouts of pain in the stomach area;
constant lethargy and loss of strength;
constant, persistent weight loss;
persistent nausea, occasional vomiting;
yellowing of the eye sclera and mucous tissue;
aching pain in the right hypochondrium;
an increase in the size of the liver (this can be felt on palpation);
heartburn, a feeling of sour taste, which increases after drinking alcohol or fatty foods.

With the development of the disease and its transition to the acute stage, the patient's entire skin turns yellow. Moreover, this syndrome is accompanied by unbearable skin itching.

Alcoholic hepatitis leads to liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver

The most unfavorable outcome of alcohol effects on the liver. This pathology is fatal and incurable. At first, the symptoms of the disease resemble the development of alcoholic hepatitis. Only over time, with the development of the disease, cirrhosis makes itself felt with characteristic features:

bleeding gums;
itching and redness of the skin;
soreness of the joints and muscles;
ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal region);
constant heaviness in the region of the right hypochondrium;
the appearance of bruises due to increased fragility of blood vessels;
development of spider veins, they are deployed mainly in the upper body.

According to statistics, patients with cirrhosis often die due to extensive internal bleeding from the veins of the esophagus.

Cirrhosis often progresses to persistent and irreversible liver failure. Against the background of such a pathology, other fatal situations develop: hepatic coma or encephalopathy. Very often, cirrhosis (as well as alcoholic hepatitis) provokes the appearance of oncological processes..

How to escape from such a sad outcome? The only sure way out is a complete rejection of alcohol. Remember that the process of treating alcoholism is very long and difficult. But this is the only way from premature death.

Alcohol has a great impact on the intellectual development of a person, which cannot be called positive. Almost all organs of the human body are affected by alcohol. the most susceptible and quickly succumbs to the destructive effects of alcohol. With excessive use of alcohol, a gradual one occurs, health is severely undermined, and the brain of an alcoholic undergoes irreversible changes.

Drying

Alcoholic drinks act directly on the brain cells, leading to the appearance in its cavity of an increased amount of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that increases cravings for alcohol and increases the pleasure of drinking it. Doctors who examined the organ using MRI or at autopsy assure that the appearance of the brain in a non-drinking person is significantly different:

due to the death of neurons, its color becomes dark;
loss of moisture leads to a decrease in the size of the body;
the brain "dries out" due to the death of a large number of cells and vasoconstriction.

The integrity and shape of this important organ also changes due to an incorrect lifestyle. The diet of a drinking person lacks the necessary substances, an alcoholic does not consider it necessary to take walks in the fresh air, do physical exercises. As a result, there are malfunctions in the work of the whole organism, chronic diseases are exacerbated.

Diseases

Mortality due to addiction to alcohol has a fairly high rate. The life expectancy of a drinking person is reduced by about 15 years. This is due to the detrimental effect on the whole. The consequences of alcoholism can be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, neurological complications.

Often, a drinking person has diseases such as alcohol, her. During the frequent use of alcoholic beverages, liver failure occurs, which entails a violation of liver function, which affects the functioning of the whole organism. Among problems with blood vessels and the heart, alcoholic cardiopathy is often found, which can lead to instant death.

Toxic lesions of the skin and hematopoietic system are not excluded. Neurological manifestations are also diverse, among which alcoholic polyneuritis is the most common. Neurological disorders can be combined with systemic somatic and mental disorders. Alcohol is considered quite dangerous, in which a fatal outcome is possible within a week after the onset of the disease.

A severe manifestation of the disease is, the most common type of which is delirium tremens. It is marked by clouding of consciousness, frightening auditory and visual, delirium, illusions, psychomotor agitation, tension, fear. Somewhat less frequently, there are alcoholic hallucinoses, where auditory hallucinations, anxiety and hallucinatory delusions predominate, as well as alcoholic delusions of jealousy or paranoid - persecution mania.

Intelligence

A person who excessively consumes alcohol also undergoes personality changes. Its accumulation in tissues contributes to a decrease in intellectual capabilities. In this case, brain cells die, neurons become smaller and neurodegeneration occurs. Although scientists have found that they can be restored with the help of stem cells, over time, the ability to restore is gradually lost, since the stem cells themselves die under the influence of alcohol. As a result, cognitive function is depressed.

Memory and consciousness

On the brain of children and adolescents

Childhood and adolescence is the time when there is an active development of thinking, the formation of personality, human values are determined, knowledge is acquired. Minors are especially sensitive to any influences: the nervous system, brain and, in general, quickly respond to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. To get used to alcohol and become addicted to it, the child will need only a few months. This can lead to various diseases, developmental delay, psychopathy. In children, it often happens, leading to serious consequences.

You can often hear the statement that in small doses alcohol is useful, it promotes vasodilation and improves blood circulation. For a long time, studies have been conducted on the effect of alcohol on the human brain, comparing the vessels, heart and brain of an alcoholic with the organs of a non-drinking person. Studies have found that ethanol has a detrimental and often irreversible effect on the brain.

It has been established that ethyl alcohol affects the human nervous system and brain in 3 stages:

at the first stage, there is a feeling of euphoria or aggression;
at the second stage, millions of neurons die and the organism is poisoned;
on the third comes the degradation of the central nervous system and the brain. It is very difficult to restore the full functioning of the brain after the onset of this stage. Often a person permanently loses some abilities.

Euphoric stage

Any alcoholic drink - beer, wine, vodka, cognac, brandy, rum - contains ethyl alcohol. Once in the stomach, it is partially cleaved under the action of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, the remaining ethanol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and carried by the bloodstream throughout the body. The liver takes the first hit. It produces a large number of enzymes called acetaldehyderogenase, which neutralize some of the toxins to acetic acid, but the remaining alcohol continues to travel through the circulatory system. Ethyl alcohol is primarily absorbed in the reproductive and nervous system.

Under the influence of ethanol, the vessels of the brain expand. The rush of blood has a stimulating effect on all brain centers, the medial forebrain bundle or pleasure center is especially sensitive. As a result, the production of endorphins, the hormones of happiness, is stimulated, so the drinker has a feeling of euphoria. Depending on the individual physiological and mental characteristics, stimulation of this group of neurons causes aggression in some people.

Expansion of blood vessels and filling them with blood at the first stage causes a short-term decrease in pressure, so doctors do not prohibit alcohol in small doses for hypertensive patients. But vasodilation lasts an average of 30 minutes, and the complete breakdown of ethyl alcohol to safe components in the human body occurs at an average rate of 30 grams per hour, so the second stage soon sets in - toxic, when the harmful effects of alcohol on the human brain are noted.

Stage of poisoning

Enzymes continue to slowly break down ethanol, so alcohol continues to poison the body (the breakdown products also have a toxic effect). After the expansion of blood vessels, it begins to act on the blood. Ethyl alcohol dissolves the membranes of red blood cells, as a result of which they stick together, forming clots, a process called "sludge". When blood is sludged, the formed clots clog the capillaries, including those in the brain. Unable to withstand the blood pressure, such capillaries burst, many microscopic hemorrhages form in the brain.

In addition, "spoiled" blood can no longer fully perform its functions and fill tissues with oxygen and nutrients in sufficient volume. This is especially detrimental to the brain, since oxygen starvation leads to massive death of nerve cells. Literally, alcohol destroys the brain.

Dead cells are excreted from the body with urine in about one day. Brain recovery is very slow, which explains the inhibition and poor reaction of a person, a decrease in his intelligence for 2 weeks after taking a large dose of alcohol.

The harmful effect of alcohol on the brain is accompanied by a malfunction of the entire central nervous system. The subcortical centers and frontal lobes perceive impulses chaotically, which causes changes in behavior - drunk people cease to control their actions: euphoria is replaced by apathy (the emotional background is reduced) or aggression, consciousness is confused, thoughts lose clarity, reflexes slow down, the language is spun.
Already at this stage, the harm of alcohol is very pronounced, but ethyl alcohol does not stop its action. It is absorbed into all parts of the brain - the hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebellum, midbrain and medulla oblongata, disrupting their functions.

Fact! At high doses of alcohol, blood slugging becomes irreversible, which causes strokes and heart attacks.

Stage of degradation

Damage to brain cells, the death of millions of neurons, massive hemorrhages cannot pass without a trace for a person. With prolonged use of alcohol in large quantities, brain cells die faster than they are restored. As a result, they become less and less, the brain of an alcoholic seems to dry out. Autopsies confirm that the brain of a chronic alcoholic is smaller in size and weight compared to the brain of a healthy person. Histological studies have revealed that serious destructive changes occur in the brain of a drinking person, which entail an accelerated transmission of nerve impulses. In life, it looks like overexcitation, nervousness, aggressiveness. The described mechanism of action of alcohol includes 3 stages of impact on the human body in general and the brain in particular.

But sometimes events develop in a different way: a single intake of a large amount of alcohol does not give the body time to cope with the toxins that are released during the first stage of ethanol breakdown, the poison damages the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for respiratory function. This is very dangerous, as the destruction of this section can cause respiratory spasms, coma and death. However, too much alcohol often provokes vomiting. In this case, vomiting is a protective reaction of the body, which allows you to quickly remove excess ethanol from the body.

Effects of drinking alcohol on the brain

Here is what happens to the brain when drinking alcohol:

Drinking alcohol in any amount leads to the death of brain cells - neurons, and the number of dead cells is directly proportional to the alcohol consumed.
The slugging (gluing of red blood cells) of the blood causes thrombosis of the capillaries, which causes numerous small hemorrhages in the brain or stroke.
Over time, the appearance of the organ changes: the brain decreases in size, its convolutions are smoothed out.

Intense alcohol poisoning of the brain leads to the following consequences:

impaired coordination of movements;
an adequate assessment of reality is reduced;
memory and intellect are impaired;
thought processes slow down;
vision and hearing are dulled;
there are difficulties in orienting on the ground;
a person is not able to cope with outbursts of anger;
heartbeat quickens, dizziness appears;
loss of sensitivity to pain.

In severe poisoning, alcohol acts as a hallucinogen: a person begins to see unrealistic images and non-existent objects.

After 3-4 years of constant drinking, the effect of alcohol on the brain causes:

difficulties even with simple mental work;
the thought process becomes extremely limited;
reduced critical thinking;
a person becomes extremely unstable emotionally: bouts of irritation are replaced by apathy, alcoholic depression may develop;
as a result of the fact that alcohol kills brain cells, diseases such as dementia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease develop.

The process of brain recovery is possible, although it is extremely slow.

Prevention and recovery of the brain after alcohol

After giving up alcohol, returning to a normal life is very difficult, but possible. First of all, it is necessary that ethanol no longer enters the body, and over time it will be cleared of harmful substances. For the fastest cleansing of the body, it is recommended to detoxify it with the help of medications. Next, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle, drink a course of vitamins, if possible, take a course of sanatorium treatment. This will help the body poisoned by alcohol to regain strength and health.

After giving up alcohol, all organs recover in different ways, but the nervous system and brain are the slowest to return to life. To fully restore their functions, it will take several years after the complete cessation of drinking alcohol. Scientists, studying the effect of alcohol on the brain, come to the conclusion that it will not be possible to completely return the former opportunities to 100%, and even after 10 years, by characteristic behavior and reduced intelligence, it will be possible to recognize someone who once abused alcohol. But this applies only to chronic alcoholics. If a person takes moderate doses of alcohol, then the brain will be disturbed only slightly and recovery is not required.

Safe doses of alcohol depend on the individual capabilities of the body. Average permitted alcoholic beverages per day for a man aged 30 to 40 weighing 75 kg:

beer - 0.5 liters,
fortified wine - 200 grams,
vodka - 50 grams.

For women aged 25 to 35 years weighing 70 kg per day without harm to health, you can drink:

beer - 0.3 liters,
fortified wine - 150 grams,
vodka - 30 grams.

At the same time, at least 3 days a week should be completely “sober”.

The destructive process of the action of alcohol on the brain and central nervous system can lead to irreversible consequences and complete degradation of the personality. You can return to a full and healthy life after a complete rejection of alcohol, while the brain recovers completely within a few years.