Tobacco smoke and its effect on the human body. What is the effect of alcohol on the human body and the consequences of its consumption. Skin and muscle condition

Throughout the existence of strong drinks, the human race has had time to thoroughly study the destructive effect of alcohol on the human body. But neither your own bitter experience of a hangover, nor the terrible mortality statistics and prohibitive measures, nor the stories and photos of drunk celebrities - nothing can turn people away from drinking alcohol. Moreover, in recent years, alcohol addiction has been actively growing and getting younger, children's and women's types of the disease have appeared. And each of the drinkers believes that the negative effects of alcohol will not affect him. Is it so? Maybe doctors sound the alarm in vain, and alcohol in a person's life is not so fatal?

As soon as it is in the mouth with the first sip, alcohol immediately begins to have a toxic effect on the body. Ethyl alcohol changes the composition of saliva, its disinfecting properties deteriorate, the oral cavity is more easily infected. Systematic abuse is detrimental to dental health. As a rule, all alcohol addicts are in poor condition.

The untidiness inherent in drunkards, poor care, weak immunity and poor nutrition also contribute to this.

• Once in the digestive tract, ethanol burns the mucous membranes of the esophagus and stomach. Frequent use strong drinks increases injury, which leads to tissue necrosis and the occurrence of esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), and other diseases.
• With constant irritation of the stomach with ethanol, heartburn and sour belching develop and become permanent. If a person continues to drink, the condition worsens, less hydrochloric acid is produced, or it ceases to be released at all. It also reduces the level of enzymes necessary for normal digestion. All this has a negative impact on the process of hematopoiesis.
• Alcohol adversely affects the sphincters of the esophagus, because of this, the swallowing process is disturbed. Food is thrown into the esophagus, its walls are stretched. Over time, they burst, and bleeding occurs.
• Under the influence of alcohol, the production of gastric juice decreases. In the glands that are responsible for the process, atrophic changes. They produce less insulin, and digestion worsens.
• Alcohol also has a negative effect on the pancreas: due to the fact that it does not contain enzymes to break it down, drinkers often develop chronic pancreatitis. In addition, alcohol causes spasm of the ducts, which leads to stagnation of enzymes and then inflammation of the organ.

The systematic use of alcoholic beverages has adverse effects on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract: 95% of drinkers have changes in its work.

Most often develop:

• Gastritis.
• Alcoholic esophagitis.
• GERD.
• Oncological diseases (from cancer oral cavity to esophageal cancer).
• Chronic pancreatitis.
• Diabetes.
• Ulcer disease.

Hot drinks have been overgrown with countless myths throughout their existence. One of them claims that alcohol in small doses has a positive effect on the heart, contributing to the expansion of blood vessels and lowering pressure. As proof, people give pseudo-scientific arguments and photos. But what does the picture really look like?

Alcohol actually affects the vessels and the rate of blood circulation, and then the heart. But it is unlikely to be useful.

Once in the body, ethyl alcohol is absorbed into the blood in a matter of minutes. The vessels expand, the tone of the walls falls, the blood runs faster, without encountering any resistance. As a result, the heart muscle has to work harder to pump more blood. It passes too quickly through the ventricles, and because of the reduced pressure, it does not reach the limbs, depriving them of nutrients.

Soon the reverse process occurs: the vessels narrow sharply, which negatively affects their condition and blood circulation. If a person drinks alcohol too often, then such “gymnastics” quickly wears out and disables them.

In addition, alcohol contributes to the aggregation of red blood cells, which leads to the formation of blood clots. They clog blood vessels, and the cells, left without food and oxygen, die. In alcoholics, the capillaries are weak and fragile, unable to pass the required amount of blood.

Cell death leads to organ failure. Regular drinking also contributes to the deposition of fat on the walls of blood vessels and in the heart. And if a person has some kind of CCC disease, then each intake of alcohol will aggravate his condition.

Thus, after drinking:

• The number of heartbeats increases.
• Normal blood circulation and metabolic processes are disturbed.
• Produced excess amount adrenaline, renin, angiotensin.

All this affects health, leads to the development of life-threatening conditions:

• Atherosclerosis. The weakness of the vessels does not provide proper blood circulation. The risk of stroke, heart attack, ischemia increases.
• High blood pressure. The more often a person drinks, the faster arterial hypertension develops. High blood pressure provokes crises and strokes.
• Violation heart rate leads to the development of various types of arrhythmias.
• Damage to the heart muscle. Connective tissue is formed on the injured places, which is not able to perform the work of myocardial cells. The walls of the heart become thinner and more vulnerable.
• Heart failure.

Speaking about the dangers of alcohol, many people understand in a rather abstract way how destructive alcohol and its negative effect on the body is, as it really looks. But in the first place, fatal changes affect the main organ responsible for the intellectual essence of man.

Brain cells are faster and stronger than others under massive attack by the toxic substances of alcoholic beverages. The thinking organ is supplied with blood more intensively than the rest, so poisonous compounds not only instantly gain access to it, but also accumulate in it. And since the rate of removal of alcohol toxins is much lower than absorption, and takes many hours, all this time they poison the brain cells, damage the structure and impair its work.

Due to the fact that alcohol has the properties of a solvent, it has a similar effect on neurons. What people take for a feeling of intoxication is actually a malfunction of the brain regions due to cell death. Moreover, it is mainly the centers responsible for the highest human activity that suffer: criticality, logical thinking, memory, morality - everything that makes a person a personality.

Scientists have calculated that every 100 g of vodka or other strong drink kills 8,000 neurons. With frequent drinking, brain injury occurs: numerous scars, sores, voids form. In the end, he frowns. If you look at the photo of the brain of an alcoholic after an autopsy, you can see how much it is smaller than normal.

All this does not pass without a trace, a person degrades as a person:

• Decreased intelligence and adequacy.
• Memory, attention, ingenuity worsens.
• As a result of the withering away of the centers responsible for moral qualities and morality, a person degrades, commits antisocial acts, loses a sense of shame and self-criticism.
• Damage to the back of the brain leads to failure motor functions, which manifests itself in unsteady gait, lack of coordination.
• Changes in the vascular structure of the brain lead to the development mental illness, aggravated as the "experience" of dependence.

The role of the liver for human health and life is very great. It performs the most important function - it protects the body from intoxication with various harmful substances. In addition, the liver is involved in the process of digestion, producing special enzymes for this. The supply of vitamins and the strength of immunity also depend on it. Alcoholic drinks, being essentially a poison, destroy and render it unusable.

To understand how alcohol and its negative effects on the body affect the liver, you need to understand the features of its work.

When drinking, it has the strongest blow. It performs 90% of the body's work on the breakdown of alcohol. First, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethyl alcohol into acetaldehyde, and then, in the course of complex chemical reactions, it decomposes into water and carbon dioxide and is excreted from the body.

However, one must understand that this process is possible provided that the liver is healthy and the amount of alcohol is small. But if a person has consumed too much alcohol, or it enters the body too often, then the liver is not able to secrete a large amount of alcohol dehydrogenase. Constantly working at the limit, it wears out quickly. Toxic substances that she does not have time to break down accumulate in the body and poison it. As a result, the liver begins to malfunction, diseases develop.

Inflammatory processes occurring in the liver lead to stagnation of bile, the formation of stones and then to cell death. In their place, connective tissue is formed, which is not able to recreate the work of liver cells. With each dose of alcohol, there are more and more “patches”, and one day the liver degenerates. It ceases to function, and the person dies due to severe intoxication.

Alcoholism leads to grave consequences develop life-threatening diseases:

• Alcoholic fatty degeneration.
• Hepatitis.
• Ascites.
• Cirrhosis.

The insidiousness of diseases is in the asymptomatic course in the early stages. When signs of ill health appear, the diseases have developed too much, and it is sometimes impossible to treat them.

To understand the consequences of love for a bottle, and to understand how alcohol affects human health, you just need to look at the photo of the liver, clearly see its degradation.

Passion for alcoholic beverages has a negative effect on the human reproductive system.

Toxins are delivered by blood to the gonads, injure them, causing the destruction of blood vessels and the formation of blood clots. As a result, the cells die, and the functionality of the reproductive system decreases. The changes that occur in the testes of men are irreversible. Given that they do not have the ability to self-heal, the destruction caused by alcohol remains forever.

It should also be borne in mind that under the influence of ethyl alcohol, male and female hormones are replaced. In the stronger sex, the concentration of estrogen increases, in women - testosterone. Accordingly, a person changes externally and internally, acquiring the features of the opposite sex. According to the statistics of sexologists, in 85% of cases the cause of impotence is alcoholism, and in women who drink, menopause occurs 10-15 years ahead of schedule.

Since ancient times, when alcohol appeared, people have had enough time to make sure how pernicious influence it renders. However, neither the warnings of doctors, nor the scientific study of the question of how alcohol affects the human body, nor the practical experience of communicating with the green serpent - nothing can convince people to stop drinking. While the desire for intoxication outweighs common sense and leads to self-destruction.

Alcohol abuse is actual problem modern society, which generates crime, accidents, injuries and poisoning in all segments of the population. Alcohol addiction is especially difficult to perceive when it concerns the most promising part of society - students. The mortality of the working-age population due to the use of alcoholic beverages occupies a high position. Scientists evaluate alcoholism as a collective suicide of the nation. Addiction to alcohol, like cancer, destroys the personality of an individual and society as a whole from the inside.

How does alcohol affect the human body? Let's look at the effect of alcoholic beverages on all organs and find out how alcohol affects the brain, liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels, nervous system as well as men's and women's health.

The effect of alcohol on the brain

From negative impact alcoholic beverages affect all organs. But most of all goes to neurons - brain cells. How alcohol affects the brain is known to people by the feeling of euphoria, high spirits and relaxation.

However, at the physiological level, at this time, the cells of the cerebral cortex are destroyed even after small doses of ethanol.

1. Normal blood supply to the brain occurs through thin capillaries.
2. When alcohol enters the blood, blood vessels constrict and red blood cells stick together, forming blood clots. They clog the lumen of the capillaries of the brain. In this case, nerve cells experience oxygen starvation and die. At the same time, a person feels euphoria, not even suspecting the destructive changes in the cerebral cortex.
3. Capillaries from congestion swell and burst.
4. After drinking 100 g of vodka, a glass of wine or a mug of beer, 8 thousand nerve cells die forever. Unlike liver cells, which can regenerate after alcohol withdrawal, nerve cells in the brain do not regenerate.
5. Dead neurons are excreted in the urine the next day.

Thus, under the influence of alcohol on the vessels, an obstacle is created for the normal blood circulation of the brain. This is the reason for the development alcoholic encephalopathy, epilepsy.

On the autopsy of the skull of persons who abuse alcohol, destructive pathological changes in their brain are naturally traced:

• reduction in its size;
• smoothing of convolutions;
• the formation of voids at the site of the dead areas;
• foci of point hemorrhages;
• the presence of serous fluid in the cavities of the brain.

With prolonged abuse, alcohol affects the structure of the brain. Ulcers and scars form on its surface. Under a magnifying glass, the brain of an alcoholic looks like the lunar surface, riddled with craters and funnels.

The effect of alcohol on the nervous system

The human brain is a kind of control panel for the whole organism. In its cortex there are centers of memory, reading, movement of body parts, smell, vision. Violation of blood circulation and death of cells of any center is accompanied by a shutdown or weakening of brain functions. This is accompanied by a decrease in the cognitive (cognitive) abilities of a person.

The influence of alcohol on the human psyche is expressed in a decrease in intelligence and personality degradation:

• memory impairment;
• decrease in intelligence quotient;
• hallucinations;
• loss of self-criticism;
• immoral behavior;
• incoherent speech.

Under the influence of alcohol on the nervous system, a person's behavioral reactions change. He loses his modesty, restraint. He does things he wouldn't do in his right mind. Stop being critical of your emotions. He has unmotivated bouts of rage and anger. A person's personality degrades in direct proportion to the amount and duration of alcohol consumption.

Gradually, a person loses interest in life. His creative and labor potential is declining. All this negatively affects career growth and social status.

Alcoholic polyneuritis of the lower extremities develops after prolonged use of ethyl alcohol. Its cause is inflammation of the nerve endings. It is associated with acute shortage in the body of vitamins of group B. The disease is manifested by a feeling of sharp weakness in the lower extremities, numbness, soreness in the calves. Ethanol affects both muscles and nerve endings - it causes atrophy of the entire muscular system, which ends in neuritis and paralysis.

The effect of alcohol on the cardiovascular system

The effect of alcohol on the heart is such that for 5-7 hours it works under load. During the intake of strong drinks, the heartbeat quickens, blood pressure rises. Fully the function of the heart is restored only after 2-3 days, when the body is completely cleansed.

After the entry of alcohol into the blood, a change in red blood cells occurs - they are deformed due to rupture of the membranes, stick together, forming blood clots. As a result, the blood flow in the coronary vessels is disturbed. The heart, trying to push the blood, increases in size.

The consequences of the influence of alcohol on the heart when abused are the following diseases.

1. myocardial dystrophy. In place of the cells that died as a result of hypoxia, connective tissue develops, which disrupts the contractility of the heart muscle.
2. Cardiomyopathy is a typical consequence that develops over 10 years of alcohol abuse. It affects men more often.
3. Heart arythmy.
4. Ischemic heart disease - angina pectoris. After drinking alcohol, the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine increases in the blood, which increases the oxygen consumption of the heart muscle. Therefore, any dose can cause coronary insufficiency.
5. The risk of developing myocardial infarction in drinking people is higher than in healthy individuals, regardless of the state of the coronary vessels of the heart. Alcohol increases blood pressure, which leads to heart attacks and premature death.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is characterized by hypertrophy (dilation) of the ventricles of the heart.

The symptoms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy are as follows:

• dyspnea;
• cough, more often at night, which people associate with a cold;
• fast fatiguability;
• pain in the region of the heart.

Progression of cardiomyopathy leads to heart failure. Edema of the legs, liver enlargement, and cardiac arrhythmia are added to shortness of breath. With pain in the heart in people, subendocardial myocardial ischemia is often detected. Drinking alcohol also causes hypoxia - oxygen starvation of the heart muscle. Since alcohol leaves the body within a few days, myocardial ischemia persists all this time.

Important! If the next day after alcohol hurts the heart, you need to do a cardiogram and consult a cardiologist.

Alcoholic drinks affect the heart rate. After heavy drinking, various types of arrhythmias often develop:

• paroxysmal atrial tachycardia;
• frequent atrial or ventricular extrasystole;
• atrial flutter;
• ventricular fibrillation, which requires anti-shock treatment (often fatal).

The presence of this kind of arrhythmias after taking large doses of alcohol is called a "holiday" heart. Cardiac arrhythmias, especially ventricular arrhythmias, are often fatal. Arrhythmias can be regarded as signs of cardiomyopathy.

The effect of alcohol on the human cardiovascular system is a fact that has been scientifically established and substantiated. The risk of these diseases is directly proportional to the use of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol and its breakdown product, acetaldehyde, have a direct cardiotoxic effect. In addition, it causes a deficiency of vitamins and proteins, increases blood lipids. During acute alcohol intoxication the contractility of the myocardium is sharply reduced, which leads to a lack of blood in the heart muscle. Trying to compensate for the lack of oxygen, the heart increases contractions. In addition, during intoxication, the concentration of potassium in the blood decreases, which causes rhythm disturbances, the most dangerous of which is ventricular fibrillation.

The effect of alcohol on blood vessels

Does alcohol lower or raise blood pressure? - Even 1-2 glasses of wine increase blood pressure, especially in people with hypertension. After taking alcohol in the blood plasma, the concentration of catecholamines - adrenaline and norepinephrine, increases, which increase pressure. There is a concept, "dose-dependent effect", which shows how alcohol affects blood pressure depending on its amount - systolic and diastolic pressure increases by 1 mmHg with an increase in ethanol by 8-10 grams per day. In people who abuse alcohol, the risk of hypertension is increased by 3 times compared with teetotalers.

How does alcohol affect blood vessels? Let's figure out what happens to our blood vessels when we drink alcohol. The initial effect of alcohol on vascular wall expanding. But this is followed by a spasm. This leads to ischemia of the vessels of the brain and heart, leading to heart attack and stroke. Alcohol also has a toxic effect on the veins in such a way that blood flow through them is disturbed. This leads to varicose veins of the esophagus and lower extremities. People who abuse libations often experience bleeding from the veins of the esophagus, which ends in death. Does alcohol dilate or constrict blood vessels? - these are only stages of its successive impact, both of which are destructive.

The main damaging effect of alcohol on blood vessels is related to how alcohol affects the blood. Under the influence of ethanol, erythrocytes clumping occurs. The resulting blood clots are carried throughout the body, clogging the narrow vessels. Moving through the capillaries, the blood flow becomes much more difficult. This leads to impaired blood supply in all organs, but the greatest danger is to the brain and heart. The body activates a compensatory reaction - it raises blood pressure in order to push the blood through. This leads to a heart attack, hypertensive crisis, stroke.

Effect on the liver

It's no secret how alcohol adversely affects the liver. The stage of release of ethyl alcohol is much longer than absorption. Up to 10% of ethanol is excreted in pure form with saliva, sweat, urine, feces and breathing. That is why, after drinking alcohol, a person has a specific smell of urine and “fumes” from the mouth. The remaining 90% of ethanol has to be broken down by the liver. Complex biochemical processes take place in it, one of which is the conversion of ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde. But the liver can only break down about 1 glass of alcohol in 10 hours. Unsplit ethanol damages liver cells.

Alcohol affects development the following diseases liver.

1. Fatty liver. At this stage, fat in the form of balls accumulates in hepatocytes (liver cells). Over time, it sticks together, forming blisters and cysts in the portal vein, which disrupt the movement of blood from it.
2. At the next stage, alcoholic hepatitis develops - inflammation of its cells. At the same time, the liver increases in size. There is fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. At this stage, after stopping the use of ethanol, the liver cells are still able to regenerate (recover). Continued use leads to the transition to the next stage.
3. Cirrhosis of the liver is a typical disease associated with alcohol abuse. At this stage, the liver cells are replaced by connective tissue. The liver is covered with scars, when palpated, it is dense with an uneven surface. This stage is irreversible dead cells cannot recover. But stopping alcohol stops liver scarring. Remaining healthy cells perform a limited function.

If the consumption of alcoholic beverages does not stop at the stage of cirrhosis, the process passes into the stage of cancer. A healthy liver can be maintained with moderate consumption.

The equivalent is a glass of beer or a glass of wine a day. And even with such dosages, you can not drink alcohol daily. It is necessary to allow alcohol to completely leave the body, and this requires 2-3 days.

The effect of alcohol on the kidneys

The function of the kidneys is not only the formation and excretion of urine. They take part in balancing the acid-base balance and water-electrolyte balance, produce hormones.

How does alcohol affect the kidneys? - when using ethanol, they go into intensive mode of operation. The renal pelvis is forced to pump large volume liquids, trying to remove substances harmful to the body. Constant overloads weaken the functional ability of the kidneys - over time, they can no longer work constantly in an enhanced mode. The effect of alcohol on the kidneys can be seen after festive feast on a swollen face high blood pressure blood. The body accumulates fluid that the kidneys are not able to remove.

In addition, toxins accumulate in the kidneys, and then stones form. Over time, nephritis develops. At the same time, after taking alcohol, it happens that the kidneys hurt, the temperature rises, protein appears in the urine. The progression of the disease is accompanied by the accumulation of toxins in the blood, which are no longer able to neutralize the liver and excrete the kidneys.

Lack of treatment leads to development kidney failure. In this case, the kidneys cannot form and excrete urine. Poisoning of the body with toxins begins - general intoxication with a fatal outcome.

How alcohol affects the pancreas

The function of the pancreas is to secrete enzymes into small intestine to digest food. How does alcohol affect the pancreas? - under its influence, its ducts are clogged, as a result of which enzymes do not enter the intestine, but inside it. Moreover, these substances destroy the cells of the gland. In addition, they affect metabolic processes with insulin. Therefore, alcohol abuse can lead to diabetes.

Being decomposed, enzymes and decay products cause inflammation of the gland - pancreatitis. It is manifested by the fact that after alcohol the pancreas hurts, vomiting appears and the temperature rises. Pain in the lumbar region are girdle in nature. Alcohol abuse affects the development of chronic inflammation, which is a risk factor for prostate cancer.

The effect of alcohol on the female and male body

Alcohol affects a woman's body to a greater extent than a man's. In women, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol, is contained in a lower concentration than in men, so they get drunk faster. The same factor affects the formation alcohol addiction faster in women than in men.

Even after taking small doses, women's organs undergo great changes. Under the influence of alcohol on the body of a woman, first of all, it suffers reproductive function. Ethanol disrupts the monthly cycle, negatively affects the germ cells and conception. Drinking alcohol speeds up the onset of menopause. In addition, alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the breast and other organs. With age, the negative effect of alcohol on the female body increases, because its excretion from the body slows down.

Alcohol negatively affects important brain structures - the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The consequence of this is his bad influence on the male body- the production of sex hormones decreases, due to which the potency decreases. As a result, family relationships are destroyed.

Alcohol affects negatively all organs. It has the fastest and most dangerous effect on the brain and heart. Ethanol increases blood pressure, thickens blood, disrupts blood circulation in the cerebral and coronary vessels. Thus, it provokes a heart attack, stroke, hypertensive crisis. With prolonged use, irreversible diseases of the heart and brain develop - alcoholic cardiomyopathy, encephalopathy. The most important organs designed to remove toxins from the body - the liver and kidneys - suffer. The pancreas is damaged, digestion is disturbed. But stopping alcohol early in the disease can repair cells and stop organ damage.

There are more than enough reasons for drinking alcoholic beverages today - from funny to tragic. Sometimes people drink for no reason and do not think about how alcohol affects a person, what consequences can be from the abuse of alcohol. Let's talk about what processes in the body occur due to alcohol and which organs it has a particularly detrimental effect on.

Artificial euphoria and tranquility

Most experts agree that alcohol is bad for health. There is, however, an opinion that in small quantities and in certain cases, alcoholic beverages not only do no harm, but are even useful. To understand, let's take a look at how alcohol affects the body.

Since ethyl alcohol is a drug, its first obvious effect is to intoxicate a person. This state is the result of two processes. On the one hand, alcohol increases the activity of inhibitory mediators of the nervous system, which makes the cells less excitable and the person calms down. On the other hand, ethyl alcohol stimulates the production of pleasure hormones that cause euphoria. But for pleasure, as usual, you have to pay, and sometimes just a disproportionate price.

The effect of alcohol on a person

Alcohol is addictive. Indeed, after the body has felt the power of an artificial stimulant, it is already too lazy to produce hormones of pleasure and “calming” substances in the same quantities. Therefore, a person becomes restless, irritable and dissatisfied, and relax and enjoy naturally it's getting harder for him. So he turns to another dose of vodka for help.

But that's not all. Alcohol is built into the metabolic chain, and a break in taking this drug leads to disruption of the entire process. It is easier for the body to get energy from ethyl alcohol than from food. But there are no useful substances contained in food in alcohol, and a person suffers greatly from their lack. In addition, alcoholic drinks themselves wash out essential vitamins and trace elements from the body.

Alcohol is a poison that kills

Remember why the skin is treated with alcohol before injection? Right to kill germs. But alcohol with no less success destroys the cells of the body. After drinking alcohol, a particularly high concentration of alcohol is observed in the brain and liver, so it is the cells of these organs that suffer the most, although it is not easy for other body systems. For example, in the blood, under the influence of this poison, red blood cells stick together into clusters and clog small vessels and capillaries. As a result, many microhemorrhages occur, and tens of thousands of brain cells left without nutrition die. In the morning after drinking alcohol, dead cells are excreted in the urine.

How alcohol affects conception

Finally, under the influence of alcohol, the cells of the body can mutate. And if the immune system does not detect and destroy such cells in time, then such a development of events can lead to very dangerous diseases. But germ cell mutations can be especially serious, because they can adversely affect the children of those who drink alcohol. In light of this, how alcohol affects conception is easy to imagine. Therefore, in order to protect offspring from unwanted developmental and health problems, men should not drink alcohol for at least 2.5-3 months before conception - this is how long spermatozoa mature. But for women before childbirth, it is better not to drink alcohol at all, because the eggs are formed in them even before birth. And alcohol can damage them long before conception.

There are no harmless doses.

As you can see, almost all the consequences of alcohol intake are deplorable for the body, and only the amount of harm caused to the body depends on the amount of alcohol consumed. Therefore, the opinion that alcohol in small quantities is harmless or even useful, at least, is debatable. Unless alcohol can act as a sedative or analgesic in extremely stressful or extreme situations when there are no other drugs of similar action at hand. But the argument that, for example, some older people who often drink a drink or two feel better than non-drinkers does not speak in favor of alcohol, but rather that the inherently good health of these people still allows them to drink alcohol in old age.

Alcohol, ethyl alcohol (ethanol), wine alcohol, C2 H5 OH- a colorless volatile liquid with a characteristic odor and a burning taste, mixes well with water.

Alcohol is a waste product of yeast and can be produced chemically. It is highly flammable, burns, is used as a technical fluid in shock absorbers, brakes, etc., and is a good solvent for many organic substances. It is used as a raw material in the chemical industry and also as a fuel.

Alcohol is used in medicine for the preparation of tinctures and extracts. It destroys the cell membrane and through the destroyed membrane the necessary medicinal substances are delivered faster into the cell. In the Western pharmaceutical industry, when creating pharmaceutical products, they tend to do without ethyl alcohol. Alcoholic medicines are not recommended for children.

At topical application alcohol causes denaturation of proteins in the cytoplasm of microorganism cells. This property is used to treat the hands of health workers, sterilize instruments, etc.

Alcohol is a cellular toxin when ingested, the body tries to neutralize it. This is what the liver does. In liver cells, hepatocytes, ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde by the action of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which, by the action of another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, is oxidized to acetic acid.

Acetic aldehyde is several times more toxic than ethyl alcohol. It causes a hangover, which, in fact, is a serious poisoning. In people who abuse alcohol, the body has to defend itself against excessive amounts of alcohol. They increase the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, which processes alcohol and accumulates acetaldehyde.

The second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, cannot be activated. As a result, pronounced poisoning with acetaldehyde occurs.

With the systematic use of alcoholic beverages, alcohol dehydrogenase cannot cope with the decomposition of alcohol. Weaker additional enzymes come into action in the body and the concentration of acetaldehyde in the body still increases. In the future, even small doses of alcohol dramatically increase the concentration of acetaldehyde, self-control is lost and cravings for the next dose of alcohol appear instead of the quickly disintegrated one.

As early as the beginning of the twentieth century in 1915. At the XI Pirogov meeting of Russian doctors, alcohol was recognized as a narcotic poison. Doctor of Medicine A.L. Mendelssohn in the "Textbook of sobriety", published in 1913. Petersburg wrote: “Alcohol cannot be considered a food product in the usual sense of the word. This is a poison for the nervous system, classified as a narcotic substance: it, however, not only paralyzes the brain, but also has a detrimental effect on internal organs. Science is not able to indicate a harmless dose of beer, wine or vodka. Further “No one really needs them… Only complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages – reliable protection from possible alcoholism and all its consequences.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia (vol. 2, p. 116): "Alcohol is a narcotic poison."

Foreign experts attribute alcohol to drugs such as depressants.

Modern narcologists consider alcohol to be a cytoplasmic poison that has a destructive effect on all human systems and organs, and an officially permitted drug.

The health consequences of drinking alcohol can be divided into 4 groups:

Influence on the central nervous system;

– influence on reproductive organs and gene pool;

Influence on the development of cardiovascular diseases;

Other physiological consequences drinking alcohol.

The effect of alcohol on the central nervous system

Drinking alcohol causes intoxication. Alcohol intoxication is acute alcohol poisoning. It is caused by hypoxia ( oxygen starvation) cells of the cerebral cortex.

Alcohol causes the formation of blood clots in the small vessels of the brain. Due to hypoxia of the cells of the cortex, some of them die and a cemetery of neurons is formed in the brain. The more a person drank alcohol, the more dead neurons.

Alcohol inhibits the activity of nerve cells, develops

lethargy, slowing down of speech, impaired mental activity, decreased concentration. The possibility of injury, accidents and death increases. Large doses of alcohol lead to the development of a coma, and death can occur from respiratory failure due to its suppression or from aspiration of vomit.

Scientists have found that 85% of “moderate drinkers” and 95% of alcoholics have a decrease in brain volume. After four years drinking alcohol, the brain becomes “wrinkled” due to the death of billions of neurons. The systematic use of alcohol leads to a decrease in brain mass. In women, this degradation, associated with the loss of brain matter, occurs faster than in men.

The mental abilities of such people are reduced, the freshness and originality of thoughts are lost. Creativity disappears. The processing of current information is difficult, the replenishment of life and professional skills is disrupted. Decreased efficiency, reduced desire to work. Those who are addicted to alcohol are incapable of systematic work. Character deteriorates, morality falls.

Alcohol suppresses the function of the cerebral cortex, subcortical formations begin to control human behavior. Human behavior becomes aggressive, his base biological instincts are manifested.

It has been established that mental abilities and memory deteriorate under the influence of even the smallest doses of alcohol. Violated coordination of movements, vigilance, intelligence. Only 25 grams of vodka worsen memorization by 60 - 70%.

Full recovery of brain functions, including its capabilities of systemic analytical thinking, after drinking alcohol occurs after 18-20 days. Thus, scientific data are confirmed that if people drink alcohol twice a month, then their brain is not able to work at the level of capabilities given to them by nature. That is why it is unacceptable to drink alcohol by political, statesmen, leaders who make responsible decisions and shape public opinion. Otherwise, it will lead to inadequate guidance and decisions and may set a bad example for the entire society.

Typical forms of alcohol damage to the central nervous system:

alcohol withdrawal syndrome;

Hangover seizures (alcoholic epilepsy);

Variants of delirium tremens that occur in a state of alcohol withdrawal and are accompanied by delirium (delusions), occur at stages II-III of alcoholism, during the period of cessation of drinking, delirium appears, visual, auditory and / or tactile hallucinations, there may be chills and fever. The hallucinations are usually threatening, often presented as small dangerous creatures(insects, devils). Sometimes ends in death. The main danger in delirium is the risk of self-harm.

Wernicke's encephalopathy - brain damage as a result of a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), usually occurring in chronic alcoholism, visual impairment, gait and coordination disorders, disorientation - confusion;

Korsakov's psychosis - a combination of polyneuritis with severe memory impairment, which relate to the memorization of current events and the reproduction of the recent past;

Alcoholic dementia - impaired mental (cognitive) functions, loss of normal perception, thinking, counting, speech, attention;

Manifestations of cognitive dysfunction: decrease in memory, mental performance, violation of rational knowledge of the world and interaction with it, perception of information, violation of its processing and analysis, memorization and storage.

Atypical forms of alcohol damage to the central nervous system:

Atypical variants of delirium tremens - occur after repeated psychoses, often with fantastic content - alcoholic oneiroid;

Alcoholic paranoid - delusional perception of the environment, anxiety, fear and psychomotor restlessness;

Acute and chronic alcoholic hallucinosis;

Alcoholic delirium of jealousy.

The effect of alcohol on reproductive organs and the gene pool

When drinking alcohol, it lingers in the gonads, and in women it is 35%, and in men it is 55% more than in the blood.

Studies have found that even a single intake of alcohol 250 - 300 ml reduces the blood concentration of the male sex hormone - testosterone by 4 times and, accordingly, reduces sexual function in men. Already an hour after drinking alcohol, it is found in the seed of a man and in the ovaries of a woman. When the male and female germ cells, poisoned with alcohol, merge, defective embryos are obtained.

Children conceived in the state alcohol intoxication- the main contingent of auxiliary schools. More than 90% of children with mental and physical disabilities born to parents who started drinking at school age.

Children whose fathers had consumed alcoholic beverages for at least 4-5 years before the birth of the child showed signs of mental disability.

A break in the use of alcohol by male alcoholics at the age of 2-3 years against the background of restorative and anti-alcohol treatment creates favorable conditions (but does not guarantee) for the normal mental development of children conceived during this period.

Drinking alcohol by a woman before and during pregnancy leads to toxicosis of pregnancy, miscarriages, premature births, intrauterine malformations of the child, fetal weight deficiency at the time of birth, slowing down the pace of psychophysical development. Mentally retarded people born from drunken parents inevitably give the same offspring.

WHO experts believe that in Russia alone, due to drunkenness and alcoholism, more than 30% of the population currently has mental defects. At the same time, 13% of children out of their total number lag behind the average level in intellectual development, and 25% cannot master the program of a general education school.

The effect of alcohol on the development of cardiovascular disease

Alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Alcohol is in second place in the risk of the causes of the prevalence of arterial hypertension.

An elderly person with cardiovascular problems may die suddenly from taking a relatively small amount of alcohol. There are three external factors that provoke sudden cardiac death: alcohol intake, exercise stress, psycho-emotional stress. If these factors coincide in time, the probability sudden death increases.

Alcohol contributes to the formation of blood clots in the arteries, the development of cerebral strokes, myocardial infarction.

Chronic alcohol intoxication shortens the life expectancy of men with heart disease. vascular system for an average of 17 years.

Thus, there is a direct relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and alcohol consumption.

In recent decades, publications have appeared on the protective effect of low doses of alcohol in cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, in particular in coronary heart disease.

According to research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the United States, the director of this institute commented: “Although moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, science is not convinced that alcohol is the cause of this development. risk. Risk reduction may be due to as yet unidentified factors associated with alcohol use in combination with factors that reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, such as lifestyle, diet, or physical activity, or with substances in the composition of alcoholic beverages.

Current research is inconsistent, and is limited to the age groups of men over 45 and menopausal women.

It would be most reasonable and correct from the position of prevention of cardiovascular lesions not to drink alcohol, since the harm from alcohol far outweighs the benefits.

Other Physiological Consequences of Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol is the cause of acute and chronic gastritis, acute and chronic pancreatitis, fatty liver, acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, anemia.

Alcohol contributes to the development of gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute pneumonia, aggravates the course of hepatitis B and C, and suppresses the immune system.

Drinkers are more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung diseases.

According to WHO experts, alcohol can cause more than 60 diseases and disorders in humans.

Effects of alcohol on children and adolescents

Children are very sensitive to alcohol. A case of death of a child who was under 1 year old is described due to three times the application of a vodka compress to him during the day on chest when coughing. There was a case of the death of a five-year-old child who drank 10 g of alcohol as a result of an oversight. The younger the body, the more detrimental to him the effect of alcohol.

Children and adolescents very quickly become addictive and have a positive attitude towards alcohol. Children at the same time imitate adults, parents. They may surreptitiously consume alcoholic beverages and may develop alcohol poisoning. At the same time, they may experience loss of consciousness, impaired pulmonary and cardiovascular activity.

If a family often arranges alcoholic feasts, then the children of this family later associate holidays and weekends with drinking alcohol.

AT adolescence attraction to alcohol is formed 8 times faster than in adults. Their behavior is disturbed, aggressiveness is manifested, a hangover syndrome is formed. And all this 1-3 years after the onset of systematic drunkenness. The sons of persons suffering from alcoholism are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics, compared with the sons of those who did not have alcoholism.

Features of the influence of alcohol depending on the type of drinks

Alcoholic drinks are mixtures of water and alcohol with the addition of other substances that give drinks a certain taste and smell.
Everyone begins to drink alcohol with characteristic drinks - beer, wine, vodka.

Beer

"Energetic drinks" - contain shock doses of caffeine and up to 4 - 9% alcohol.

Small doses of alcohol

Recently, there has been a lot of research and reasoning about the benefits of small doses of alcohol. They write that "light to moderate" alcohol consumption may have a protective effect in coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, cholesterol gallstones, atherosclerosis, “prolongs life”, “stimulates mental activity”. At present, everyone understands the comprehensive harm of alcohol for both the individual and society as a whole. However, leaders of the alcohol business, having great financial resources, promote the benefits of small doses of alcohol and pay for "studies" that point to the benefits of alcohol.

Alcohol abuse can cause serious harm to health, including a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. In addition, it should be remembered and understood that alcohol is not a remedy for recovery. It cannot be taken with certain medicines as it may cause side effects. Alcohol in moderate doses with coronary artery disease is allowed, but only if there are no contraindications.

Remember that one-time large dose alcohol can cause death or stroke. Drinking alcohol is not recommended if the patient has elevated blood triglycerides or is on an anti-obesity diet.

What drink do you prefer?

Scientists have not been able to determine whether there is a difference in positive influence certain alcoholic beverages. Data about best use red wine appeared on the basis of studies of mortality rates in different countries. So, in France - the capital of winemakers - the number of deaths from coronary artery disease is half that in the United States. The benefits of red wine are due to the presence in its composition of a large number of substances with antioxidant properties. They allow to restrain the development of atherosclerosis.

In 2007 A study by Australian scientists led by L. Harris "Alcohol consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the light of possible errors in the classification of subjects" was completed. The paper concludes that in men there is no statistically significant "protective" effect of alcohol, while in women it was observed, but only for red wine. In this case, the protective effect of red wine in the women's group was caused not by alcohol, but by the antioxidants contained in red wine.

As a preventive measure, red wine can be replaced grape juice, wine vinegar, fresh fruits and vegetables. They contain more antioxidants and without the admixture of the poison ethanol.

The following arguments indicate the dangers of "small doses" of alcohol.

1. The use of alcohol by adults with the "therapeutic" purpose of alcohol, even in small doses, is an undesirable provocative example for children. Children do not need alcohol, in any quantities.

2. Regular use of small doses breaks, changes consciousness, the logic of thinking is broken, and thinking should be clear.

3. The "permissible" dose of alcohol varies depending on the study country by 2-3 times. It is difficult to calculate a safe dose for a particular person, it changes in different periods of life, even for one person. People fall asleep gradually and imperceptibly. Drinking alcohol in small doses is the path to drinking alcohol in large doses.

4. If there is benefit from small doses of alcohol, then why is it not possible to teach people to use teaspoons of it? Because main goal drinking alcohol is not to get health benefits, but to become intoxicated, change consciousness, get alcoholic "pleasure".

5. Alcohol consumption tends to increase doses, which means that the threshold for safe drinking with highly likely will be transferred.

6. Promotion of regular consumption of small doses of alcohol is provocative from the point of view of national security: if this idea is introduced into the minds of the residents of our CIS countries, then the question of “to drink or not to drink” alcohol will be resolved in favor of sobriety.

What regular alcohol consumption leads to is clearly seen in the examples of countries with its traditional use: France, where they drink only dry and high-quality wines, Germany, where they love beer very much, are increasingly filled with people from more sober civilizations: Turks, Arabs, Chinese, people from countries of the Middle East and North Africa.

Thus, recommendations to consume alcohol in small doses, in particular in the form of beer, wine or "energy drinks" are provocative, have commercial interest and political meaning, and are aimed at destroying the health of individuals, families and the state.

"Cultural" drinking

In our time, there is an introduction to the "culture of drinking" with early age in families. Children are connected to home feasts with the use of alcohol. Children are given diluted wine so that they think it is a "seasoning" for dishes. And it is used "culturally". After all, this is what the French and Italians do.

AT modern Russia and other CIS countries, there are too few families where wine is just a seasoning for dishes. Adults in these cases cannot be a positive example for children. Many generations living in the CIS countries did not drink wine and completely managed without instilling a “culture of drinking” in their minor children. In childhood, alcohol is quite dangerous for health. In addition, the earlier a child begins to take alcohol, the more likely he is to become an alcoholic.

Even the great Avicenna allowed the appointment of small doses of red wine for indigestion, but he warned that wine should not be given to children.

In Western countries, medicines for children are not made on an alcohol basis.

In medicinal tinctures, alcohol is strictly dosed, and they are prescribed in limited doses in drops.

Alcohol capital and business want to violate the natural sobriety of children so that children do not create a stereotype that you can just be sober. After all, the earlier the introduction to alcohol is started, the more income from this.

Drunkenness and alcoholism

Domestic drunkenness- this is not a disease yet, it is a tribute to the traditions existing in our society, these are “drinking” attitudes in individual groups, among colleagues, friends or relatives, this is a way of life.

drug treatment domestic drunkenness does not require, a person of his own free will can stop drinking alcohol at any time or significantly reduce it, without experiencing any unpleasant sensations from abstinence. Domestic drunkenness can continue throughout a person's life, the amount of alcohol consumed can remain unchanged or increase to certain limits. But everyday drinking can turn into alcoholism.

Many drinking people believe that they are not alcoholics. In their view, an alcoholic is a degenerate person, with a blue nose, unwashed, unshaven, uncut, with trembling hands, who has lost human form and dignity, as a rule, having lost his job, often his family, drinking with random drinking companions, lying around anywhere. There are such alcoholics, and they are in the advanced stages of the disease.

But there are other alcoholics who drink and this does not yet affect their health, work, family relationships. While they are all right, there is no hangover, binges, alcoholic personality changes, social degradation, but they already have alcoholism.

Alcoholism This is already a disease that needs treatment. Unlike domestic drunkenness, a patient with alcoholism cannot independently stop drinking alcohol and cannot arbitrarily regulate its amount.


In the body of a patient with alcoholism, such changes occur in which the body rebels, demanding the intake of alcohol. This does not happen with domestic drunkenness.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and if its first symptoms appear, it will steadily develop, new clinical manifestations of it, personality degradation and all the consequences of an alcoholic disease will appear.

Stages of alcoholism

Alcoholic disease has 3 stages.
The first stage of alcoholism is preceded by the stage of "cultural" drinking from one to ten years. People who are predisposed to alcoholism go through this stage quite quickly in a few months. Then comes the stage of uncultured drinking, and this is the first stage of alcoholism.

First stage

Alcoholic disease is treated exclusively by long-term sobriety and nothing else.

Often, alcohol is absolutely contraindicated for healthy people, who, after small doses of alcohol, become violent, aggressive, insane. They don't remember what they did or what happened to them. This condition qualifies as pathological intoxication. Due to unmotivated aggressiveness and altered consciousness, such people commit illegal acts and criminal offenses. Unlike ordinary intoxication caused by large doses of alcohol, pathological intoxication is caused by a small amount of alcohol. And if it happened once, it can always happen again. These people should always stay sober.

Relationship between drunkenness and blood alcohol content(V.I. Prozorovsky, A.F. Rubtsov, I.S. Karandaev, 1967)
Blood alcohol content Functional assessment
Less than 0.3 g/l No effect of alcohol
0.3 – 0.5 g/l Negligible effect
0.5 – 1.5 g/l Slight intoxication
1.5 – 2.5 g/l Moderate intoxication
2.5 - 3 g / l Strong intoxication
3.0 – 5.0 g/l Severe poisoning, possible
death
Over 5 g/l Fatal poisoning

Acute ethanol poisoning

The strength of ethanol depends on the dose, tolerance to alcohol (liver function), the degree of individual production of enzymes that neutralize alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase).

As a result of the action on the cerebral cortex, intoxication occurs with characteristic alcoholic excitation. When ethanol poisoning develops nausea, vomiting and dehydration (alcohol dehydrates the body).

In large doses, an anesthetic effect occurs. The inhibitory effect on the central nervous system is caused by stimulation of GABA receptors (gamma - aminobutyric acid). GABA is the main neurotransmitter involved in the processes of central inhibition.

Sensory sensations are difficult, attention decreases, memory weakens. There are defects in thinking, judgments, orientation and self-control are disturbed, a critical attitude towards oneself and surrounding events is lost. Often overestimated own capabilities. Reflex reactions are slow and inaccurate. Often there is talkativeness, euphoria, pain sensitivity decreases (analgesia).

Spinal reflexes are reduced, coordination of movements is disturbed. When taking large doses of alcohol, excitation is replaced by depression and sleep sets in. In severe poisoning, a stuporous or coma is observed: the skin is pale, moist, breathing is rare, the exhaled air has the smell of ethanol, the pulse is frequent, the body temperature is lowered.

Emergency care for acute poisoning alcohol includes the following activities:

1. Gastric lavage to clean washings.

2. Water load with forced diuresis with diuretics.

3. In case of respiratory failure of central origin - artificial ventilation of the lungs.

4. Alkalizing therapy with 4% sodium bicarbonate solution intravenously.

5. Symptomatic therapy according to indications

In the presence of alcoholic coma the patient is sequentially injected with naloxone at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg in 10 ml of a 40% glucose solution, and then 1 ml of 6% thiamine bromide is also injected there. There comes an awakening effect in case of poisoning with alcohol, drugs and sleeping pills. Activated charcoal for poisoning ethyl alcohol not effective, it does not absorb alcohol.

Planned treatment of alcoholism is carried out by psychiatrists - narcologists in drug treatment rooms and hospitals.

Treatment of alcoholism includes two main stages:
1. Relief of acute alcoholic disorders.
2. Anti-relapse therapy.

Relief of acute alcoholic disorders, prevents and eliminates the withdrawal syndrome and its complications - hangover convulsive seizures and alcoholic delirium.

For this, analogues of ethanol are used - benzodiazepines: diazepam, chlordiazepoxide (elenium), lorazepam. Barbiturates and anticonvulsants are also used. These drugs are prescribed by psychiatrists - narcologists to eliminate withdrawal symptoms, prevent seizures and delirium tremens.

Vitamins are also prescribed: thiamine (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) and nicotinic acid (vitamin PP). To restore the electrolyte balance of potassium and magnesium ions and eliminate dehydration, intravenous drip infusions are performed (glucose, gemodez, panangin).

Anti-relapse (maintenance) therapy is aimed at reducing the severity of alcoholic excesses, preventing binges and mitigating adverse effects alcohol abuse.

It is carried out with the following drugs: disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate. These drugs inhibit acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that converts the poisonous acetaldehyde into acetic acid. At the same time, acetaldehyde syndrome or disulfiramalcohol reaction (DAR) develops:

- increased blood pressure;
- tachycardia;
- heartbeat;
- throbbing pain in the head;
- blurred vision;
- nausea and vomiting;

Shortness of breath and feeling short of breath;
- redness of the skin;
- fear of death, prompting an alcoholic to stop drinking alcohol.

A successful and innovative dosage form of disulfiram are water-soluble (effervescent) tablets called Antabuse. The tablets are tasteless and odorless and can be added to food and drink by the patient's relatives. Each intake of a soluble tablet will ensure the supply of the drug to the patient's body and implies the timely development of a therapeutic effect.

The treatment of alcoholism will be effective when the patient has a good motivation for treatment, that is:
- he must recognize himself as a sick person suffering from alcoholism;
- he must be willing to be treated for alcohol addiction;
- he must have the intention in the future not to drink alcohol at all in any form.

One of the old methods of treating alcoholism is "Hemming". The patient is sutured under the skin or an intravenous drug is injected (Torpedo, Esperal, NIT, SIT, MST, etc.). When alcohol enters the body, these drugs begin to produce toxic substances that cause nausea, vomiting, fear of death and form a negative attitude towards alcohol in a person. At the same time, if a person takes a large dose of alcohol, then heart rhythm disturbances, angina attacks occur, myocardial infarction and cerebral edema may develop.

The preparations used for filing are harmless if the person is in a state of sobriety. But they do not remove the primary craving for alcohol. It turns out that you want to drink, but it's scary - there is a fear of death. This method is painful for many, but for some patients it can be quite effective.

"Coding" This is emotional stress therapy. A “code” is laid in the subconscious mind that prohibits the use of alcohol. This method was developed by the Ukrainian doctor - narcologist A. Dovzhenko, with whom the term "coding from alcoholism" is associated.

Through emotional and stressful influence, a program of the possible occurrence of life-threatening severe health disorders is introduced into the patient's consciousness when even small doses of alcohol are consumed. This method is effective for people susceptible to hypnosis.

In a state of hypnosis, a person is instilled with indifference and aversion to alcohol, the appearance of bad consequences in case of its use. The doctor conducting such treatment necessarily checks the patient for sensitivity to hypnosis. For patients who are not very susceptible to hypnosis, additional techniques are carried out, for example, when pronouncing the hypnosis formula, the phrase “drink at least a little - you will die” is said and at the same time the doctor presses on the eyeballs. The same goes for coding.

Hardware treatment is carried out using special medical equipment that affects the human brain. As a result of this impact, healthy functions the brain, the activity of the centers of attraction to alcohol is neutralized. This removes the primary craving for alcohol, and a person without
"breaking" enters a sober life. The most famous method of electrical brain stimulation TES is a therapy developed by scientists Russian Academy Sciences under the guidance of Professor V.P. Lebedev, is used in 17 countries of the world.

Psychotherapy- This is a soft psychotherapeutic work to maintain the emotional-volitional sphere of the patient. Psychotherapy can be used as an independent method and in combination with other methods. For effective recovery from alcoholism, the patient's family must be involved in the treatment process. The participation of family members in the treatment process increases the effectiveness of treatment, up to lifelong abstinence from alcohol.

In maintaining resistance to alcohol, group psychotherapy, in particular participation in the work of Alcoholics Anonymous groups, is effective.

Reflexology- can be effectively used in the treatment of alcoholism. Doctors - reflexologists with the help of needles, magnets and other reflexotherapeutic techniques harmonize the energy system of the human body, which is unbalanced in various diseases, including alcoholism. And the elimination of excess desire in alcoholism, as in any other addiction (tobacco, drug, food, gaming), allows you to effectively get rid of alcohol addiction and be completely indifferent to alcohol.

Endorphins are "internal hormones of happiness", the production of which is sharply reduced in a patient with alcoholism. It is precisely because of the deficiency of one's own endorphins that numerous manifestations of alcohol dependence arise: pathological craving for alcohol, depression, guilt, and withdrawal syndrome develops.

Reflexologists successfully treat these conditions by "forcing" the patient's body to produce endorphins in the right quantities. These methods are based on the reaction of the body in response to the corrective, therapeutic effect of needles or magnets received from the external and internal environment, carried out with the participation of the nervous system.

Reflexology can be used as an independent method in the treatment of alcoholism, as well as combined with other therapeutic methods, for example, when withdrawing from hard drinking, you can use points that calm the nervous system and thereby reduce the drug load on the body of a patient with alcoholism, significantly increasing their effectiveness.

The treatment of alcoholism by reflexotherapy is effective and ensures a sober life of a person in the future. According to numerous reviews of patients who have undergone a course of treatment for alcoholism by reflexology, the vast majority of patients have good long-term results in the treatment of alcoholism. Patients who have undergone reflexology treatment like their sober life, they always, even after many years, note the powerful healing effect that they felt on themselves after the treatment. The craving for alcohol disappears, indifference to it appears.

“There is alcohol, but it is not needed, not interesting and even disgusting” - this is how alcohol is treated by those who had alcohol dependence after the treatment that I conduct. I carry out the treatment with magnets, which I install on certain points on the hands and feet, and fix them with a band-aid for several hours. Already after 1 - 2 sessions, alcohol becomes unnecessary, indifference to alcohol appears, alcohol passes away. The full course of treatment is 8-10 sessions. The efficiency of the method is up to 90%. These people continue to lead a sober healthy lifestyle without alcohol.

In order to recover and get rid of alcohol addiction, one must be willing to recover from alcoholism, and have the intention not to drink alcohol at all in the future. Positive result will be required.

Conclusions about alcohol and the consequences of its use:

1. Alcohol is a poison in any form, including in small doses. Separate beneficial features alcoholic products cannot exceed their harm and recommend their use for medicinal or food purposes.

2. Alcohol causes mental and physical dependence, leads to disability and premature death.

3. Alcohol causes moral and mental degradation, destroys families, leads to crimes.

4. Alcohol leads to the birth of defective offspring and the degeneration of individuals, social groups and entire nations.

5. Promotion of drinking regularly "small doses" of alcohol is harmful to people, is not correct in its essence, since alcohol is harmful even in small doses.

6. Promotion of early introduction to the "culture" of drinking in the family is harmful and dangerous for the younger generation, as it helps to educate future alcohol consumers, this is necessary for producers and sellers of alcohol to increase the production and sale of alcohol.

Over the past 50 years, many studies have been conducted that study the effect of tobacco smoke on the human body and, above all, on the protective mechanisms of the respiratory system.

The effect of tobacco smoke on the human body

Toxins included in, when inhaled, enter the bronchopulmonary system, where they are neutralized or excreted. To do this, the human body has 4 levels of protection located at different levels of the respiratory tract (see figure).

Depending on the level, the functional significance of each of these mechanisms is different, but there is a close relationship between all protection systems.

The main protective role of the respiratory organs at the level of the third and fourth lines of defense in the smallest bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli is played by alveolar macrophages. The possibility of obtaining alveolar macrophages using bronchoalveolar lavage in humans allowed us to study their number, morphology and functional characteristics in smokers and non-smokers, healthy and sick. In addition, experiments were performed on animals after they had been breathing tobacco smoke for various times. It is now known that there are great differences in terms of both the number of alveolar macrophages and their morphological and functional characteristics. In the lungs of smokers, an increase in the number of alveolar macrophages by 4-5 times compared with non-smokers was noted, which indicates the active participation of these cells in protecting against the toxic effects of tobacco smoke. The alveolar macrophage is a multifunctional cell involved in the cleaning of the deep sections of the lungs, bronchioles and in the immune response, processing and transmitting antigenic information. This cell, according to the richness of enzymatic equipment, can be classified as a secretory cell. Surfactant facilitates the movement of macrophages.

With an increase in alveolar macrophages in the lungs, structural changes occur first, in particular, large multinuclear "supermacrophages" are formed. However, the size and multinucleation do not provide supermacrophages with increased functional data. Alveolar macrophages in smokers have processes that are densely and evenly located on the surface. Macrophages of smokers Brown color, contain pigment inclusions, are characterized by increased glucose utilization and increased oxygen uptake. Water-soluble fractions of tobacco smoke inhibit protein synthesis in rabbit alveolar macrophages. Electron microscopy of mouse macrophages treated with water-soluble tobacco aerosol condensate revealed significant structural changes. Tobacco smoke inhibits the movement of alveolar macrophages, adherence, phagocytosis and pinocytosis. It has been shown that aerosol, along with damage to the capture processes, also affects the digestion of bacteria by alveolar macrophages. In mice, which were first inhaled with a large dose of tobacco smoke, and then inhaled with bacteria, the bactericidal activity of the lungs was worse compared to the control.

The toxic effect of tobacco smoke on macrophages is largely due to acrolein, a powerful oxidizing agent. Along with this, other toxic products contained in tobacco also have a negative effect. Using an electron microscope, characteristic inclusions were found in the phagolysosomes of alveolar macrophages of smokers. Probably, these inclusions are particles of kaolin dust inhaled with an aerosol and phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages, which have a cytotoxic effect on alveolar macrophages, like other silicates. During phagocytosis of kaolin particles, the cells usually release lysosomal and cytoplasmic enzymes, which probably reflects the process of increasing membrane permeability. The above data on the damaging effect of enzymes secreted by macrophages and their stimulation of fibrogenesis can be an explanation of one of the mechanisms for the formation of pneumofibrosis and emphysema in long-term smokers. An 18-fold increase in protease activity was found in smokers' alveolar macrophages compared to non-smokers' alveolar macrophages.

Using a phase-contrast microscope, the membranes of alveolar macrophages of smokers were examined. Unlike the wavy surface of macrophages of non-smokers, which contains numerous microvilli that facilitate the first stages of phagocytosis, the surface of macrophages of smokers is smooth, devoid of microvilli in significant areas, which makes the first stages of phagocytosis difficult.

Impact on the immune system

Little is known about changes in the immune system in smokers. In experiments on mice that breathed cigarette combustion products, a decrease in humoral and cellular immunity was noted under the influence of tobacco smoke components. Based on this, it was suggested that the effect of tobacco aerosol that depresses the immunocompetent system. This assumption was confirmed in the study functional state bronchial lymphocytes people who smoke. It turned out that lymphocytes obtained by lavage of the respiratory tract, smokers for many years, react much worse to stimulation with various mitogens than lymphocytes from non-smokers. According to some authors, in 20% of smokers, and according to the materials of others - in all smokers, the content of immunoglobulin G in the washing water is increased, which indicates the activation of local immunological mechanisms in the lungs, despite the inhibition of the functional properties of lymphocytes to smokers.

Essential protective functions from exposure to toxic substances inhaled during smoking, the epithelial lining of the bronchi and alveoli performs. Long-term smoking causes increased proliferation of the mucosal epithelium of these structures. Using a label with peroxidase, it was proved that smokers have defects in the intercellular junctions of the epithelium of small and smallest bronchi, which creates favorable conditions for the penetration of infectious agents, carcinogenic and toxic substances into the depths of the mucous membrane. In addition, the presence of intercellular mucosal defects changes the conditions for the passage through the mucosa of leukocytes and other cellular elements, which also adversely affects the protection of the bronchi and lungs from infection and various inhaled substances.

A number of studies have shown that in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis with altered and excessive bronchial secretion, characteristic of long-term smokers, bronchial epithelial cells begin to absorb the secret contained in the lumen, which impairs their function, worsens mucociliary clearance and ultimately leads to death. cells and violation of the integrity of the epithelial cover of the bronchial mucosa.

Thus, the scarce data obtained so far on the effect of smoking on the bronchial epithelium with undoubted evidence indicate significant damage to the epithelial cover in smokers, a decrease in the resistance of the respiratory tract to the effects of adverse factors.

The surfactant keeps the alveoli and probably the bronchioles from collapsing and performs other protective functions in the lungs. To study the effect of smoking on surfactant, smokers were divided into two groups, in which one of the components of the surfactant, lecithin, was examined in the bronchial washings. Representatives of the first group were not limited in smoking before receiving washings, and persons of the second group were forbidden to smoke 12 hours before the study. It turned out that smoking cessation for such a time led to the appearance of more lecithin in washing water. These data allowed us to suggest that smoking negatively affects the state of surfactant, either destroying it or inhibiting production. In experiments on rats exposed to cigarettes, a decrease in the content of surfactant in the lungs under the influence of tobacco smoke on the body was confirmed. The same data were obtained in the determination of surfactant in the bronchial lavage fluid of smokers and non-smokers: the content of surfactant in the lavage fluid of smokers was significantly lower than that of non-smokers.

An electron microscopic study of surfactant producers - type II pneumocytes - cholesterol was found in their cytoplasm. It is not yet clear what the detection of cholesterol in the cytoplasm of type II pneumocytes indicates. Perhaps the appearance of cholesterol in the cytoplasm of surfactant producers indicates degenerative changes in these cells due to smoking. In addition, cholesterol in the cytoplasm of type II pneumocytes may be a by-product of increased synthesis of pulmonary surfactant.

The results of the studies mentioned above convincingly indicate a pronounced negative effect of tobacco smoke on surfactant, which in turn contributes to impaired patency of the smallest bronchi, collapse of the alveoli and the occurrence of atelectasis, reduces antimicrobial protection, causes activation of infection, the occurrence of pneumonia, and has other negative consequences for the bronchopulmonary system.

The pronounced proteolytic effect of bronchial contents on inhaled dead and living protein particles is one of the essential protective mechanisms of the bronchi and lungs. At the same time, it is known that the development of emphysema is largely associated with a proteolytic effect on the lung tissue. This is confirmed by the association of emphysema with genetic deficiency of the main antiproteolytic enzyme - a 1 -antitrypsin. It has been proven that a proteolytic enzyme secreted by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, elastase, is involved in the formation of emphysema. The results of the effect of tobacco smoke condensate on the release of elastase from human neutrophils in vitro were studied. It has been established that elastase is also released from neutrophils when they are mixed with condensate directly into the lungs of rats.

Studies have confirmed that exposure to tobacco smoke on neutrophils can lead to serious damage connective tissue lungs. In addition, it has been shown that tobacco combustion products simultaneously inhibit the activity of the most important pulmonary antiproteases.

Both sides of the action of tobacco smoke (release of elastase from neutrophils with a decrease in the activity of pulmonary antiproteases) have a negative synergistic effect and contribute to the development of pulmonary emphysema. To this we must add the above-mentioned data on the active secretion of proteolytic enzymes by alveolar macrophages under the influence of tobacco aerosol.

Thus, the effect of smoking on an increase in the proteolytic activity of the bronchi, leading to irreversible resorption of the connective tissue framework of the lungs and the formation of emphysema, is beyond doubt.

Tobacco smoking leads to disruption of the functioning of all the studied mechanisms and ways of excretion of inhaled foreign substances. The main route of excretion through the bronchial tree to the outside with subsequent coughing in smokers is impaired. Excretion from the alveoli, from the bronchioles is difficult, and therefore the surfactant system is disrupted, which leads to their subsidence. The bronchioles are clogged with inflammatory exudate, and the function of "cleaners" - alveolar macrophages - is reduced. In addition, in smokers with emphysema caused by tobacco smoke, during exhalation, the so-called air trap (the so-called "autoPEEP") occurs - the collapse of bronchioles and small bronchi during exhalation, leading to premature cessation of expiration, an increase in residual air and additional stretching of the lungs.

Difficulty in the patency of small, medium and large bronchi in smokers occurs due to their blockage and bronchospasm. There are many reasons for blockage in smokers. One of them is the hypersecretion of mucus by the mucous glands in response to irritation from tobacco smoke. In addition, this is an inflammatory edema of the mucous membrane, which is especially pronounced in smokers, since tobacco combustion products inhibit antimicrobial protection. Along with increased production of bronchial contents in smokers, the function of systems designed to remove bronchial secretions, microbes and inhaled particles is sharply reduced. This primarily applies to the mucociliary clearance system. The function of cilia in smokers is sharply reduced, and the secretion of bronchial glands high viscosity. All this disrupts the functions of the mucociliary escalator, which should, like on a conveyor belt, carry out inhaled particles. Deteriorated cleaning of the respiratory tract of smokers and with the help of phagocytes (alveolar macrophages and neutrophils), whose functions are reduced in smokers.

Bronchospasm in smokers occurs due to irritation of irritant receptors. Irritation receptors vagus nerves contributes to a chronic inflammatory process in the bronchial mucosa in smokers, followed by atrophy of the mucosa and exposure of receptors.

In addition to impaired bronchial patency, particles contained in tobacco aerosol impede the outflow of lymph from the bronchial tree due to the deposition of particles from tobacco smoke in lymph nodes located near the lungs. They interfere with lymphatic drainage, which plays a major role in cleansing the respiratory tract from various, including carcinogenic, substances inhaled with tobacco smoke.

Disturbed excretion of substances inhaled with tobacco smoke and through the pulmonary capillaries. It has been shown that tobacco aerosol particles can quickly pass into the pulmonary capillary bed, become fixed on platelets and lead to intravascular coagulation and obstruction of blood circulation through the pulmonary vessels.

All of the above violations of the mechanisms that ensure the full and timely elimination of inhaled substances in non-smokers lead to long delay tobacco smoke particles in the respiratory tract. An experiment on rats showed that after a significant number of particles are found in the lungs and after 6 months. According to morphological data obtained from smokers who succeeded, the recovery time for a lung condition close to normal is from 4 to 13 years.

A long delay in the lungs and a deep spread of tobacco aerosol are facilitated by the peculiarities of breathing during smoking: the smoker takes a deep breath and holds his breath while inhaling - “dragging” with tobacco smoke. With such breathing, the particles contained in the tobacco aerosol penetrate to the very alveoli and linger in the most vulnerable part of the respiratory tract - in the bronchioles and the smallest bronchi.

It is necessary to dwell on the morphological changes in the bronchi and lungs that develop in smokers. Among the specific morphological changes in smokers are noted:

• high incidence of goblet cell metaplasia,
• smooth muscle hypertrophy,
• wall infiltration with mononuclear cells,
• development of respiratory bronchiolitis,
• narrowing of the lumen of the bronchioles.

These changes are correlated with the degree of development of centrilobular emphysema in the lungs of smokers. In addition, smokers showed a significant thickening of the smooth muscle membrane and intima of the pulmonary vessels, the predominance of pulmonary arteries of the muscular type with a diameter of less than 200 microns. These changes correlated with the severity of obstructive disorders of bronchioles with a diameter of 2 mm or less and the occurrence of centrilobular emphysema in smokers.

Thus, a high degree toxic effect tobacco smoke on the human body. toxic action on the respiratory organs are facilitated by the peculiarities of its inhalation during smoking: deep breathing with a delay of inhaled smoke on inspiration. In smokers, all the protective mechanisms of the bronchopulmonary system are violated at all levels of the respiratory tract, which leads to obstruction of the bronchi, the occurrence of:

• chronic bronchitis,
• emphysema,
• lung cancer,
• lung failure.

Scientists have studied allergies to tobacco smoke. At the same time, the presence of specific immune shifts in tobacco growers was established, which confirms the possibility of sensitization of the body by tobacco dust. Along with organic compounds contained in tobacco, microbial, mycotic and pesticidal dust components have sensitizing properties. When a person is exposed to tobacco smoke, an allergy occurs, characterized by delayed and immediate types of hypersensitivity. The above data are confirmed by the detection in the blood of smokers of precipitating antibodies to tobacco antigens much more often and in much higher titers than in non-smokers. Probably, the sensitization of smokers with tobacco antigens is accompanied by the production of reagin-type antibodies related to class E immunoglobulins, since a higher level of serum immunoglobulin E was found in the group of smokers than in non-smokers.