Chronic diseases that develop as a result of prolonged alcohol intake. Impact on the pancreas. Alcoholic diseases of the nervous system

Alcohol and diseases gastro- intestinal tract

It's no secret that the vast majority of the population (according to WHO data - 90%) drink alcohol, and 40-45% (mostly men) drink alcohol regularly, which is complicated by the development of a number of diseases, including diseases digestive system. When alcohol enters the body, the esophagus and stomach are the first to suffer. And the stronger the alcoholic beverages, the more severe the damage. When the esophagus is damaged, esophagitis most often occurs - inflammation of the esophagus, which is characterized by a burning sensation in the esophagus, pain during the passage of liquid and solid food, sour and bitter belching. With the development of cancer of the esophagus, alcohol is given a leading role. The main symptoms of esophageal cancer are: pain, regurgitation, hoarseness, hiccups, weight loss. With regular intake of alcoholic beverages, the glands located in the wall of the stomach and producing gastric juice, under the influence of alcoholic irritation, first secrete a lot of mucus, and then atrophy - develops atrophic gastritis. Digestion in the stomach becomes defective, food stagnates or, undigested, enters the intestines. When you receive alcoholic beverages there is a "burn" of the walls of the stomach and it takes a long time to restore dead tissue. In addition, when drinking alcohol, the stomach ulcer most often develops, which is characterized by pain in epigastric region, appearing immediately after eating, vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss. Available clinical observations that alcohol slows down the healing process of the ulcer, contributes to the occurrence of complications of the disease, such as bleeding, perforation, ulcer penetration. Damage also occurs in the pancreas. At the beginning of alcohol abuse, the course of alcoholic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is asymptomatic. In more late stages most characteristic symptoms are burning pains in upper divisions girdle of the abdomen, aggravated after eating, alcohol, physical activity, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. These patients often develop diabetes due to the death of special cells located in the pancreas and producing insulin. Pancreatitis and diabetes due to alcohol - phenomena, as a rule, are irreversible, because of which people are doomed to constant pain and suffering. Moreover, pancreatitis exacerbates at the slightest violation of the diet (eating fatty, fried, salty). Pancreatic cancer is more common among men. The prognosis is poor - most patients die within 6 months of the discovery of the disease. In the liver, 90–98% of ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde, which is very dangerous and toxic substance. The acetaldehyde is then oxidized to acetic acid, which then splits to water and carbon dioxide. In other organs and systems, it is also possible to "digest" alcohol, but in much smaller quantities than in the liver. Passing through the hepatic barrier, decay products ethyl alcohol negatively affect liver cells, which die under the influence of their destructive action. In their place, connective tissue is formed, or simply a scar that does not perform a hepatic function. The liver gradually decreases in size, that is, it shrinks, the liver vessels are compressed, the blood in them stagnates, the pressure rises 3-4 times. And if there is a rupture of blood vessels, it begins profuse bleeding, victims of which often die. According to WHO, about 80% of patients die within a year after the first bleeding. The changes described above are called cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver is one of the most severe and hopeless human diseases in terms of treatment. The main complaints of such patients are: Blunt pain in the right side of the abdomen, jaundice skin and whites of the eyes, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, fatigue, weakness, decreased efficiency and appetite, an increase in the size of the abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Five-year survival at alcoholic cirrhosis liver is 50%, for those who continue to drink -30%, and for people who have stopped taking alcohol - 70%. Alcohol negatively affects the function and structure of intestinal cells. This is most often manifested by diarrhea (increased liquid stool), bloating, rumbling, abdominal pain and symptoms of malabsorption: hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, etc. In conclusion, it should be noted that the use of alcoholic beverages is accompanied not only by damage to the digestive system, but mental disorders, personality change, Initially, when using relatively small amounts of alcohol, intoxication is accompanied by a decrease in mental stress, an increase in mood, creating a feeling of freedom, relaxedness and cheerfulness. However, these sensations, for which people drink alcohol, are temporary and, as the dose of alcohol increases, they are replaced by a state of excitement with a loss of self-control and a critical assessment of the situation, and often by malice, aggressiveness, and the development of diseases leading to death.

1. The main syndromes of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

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   The main syndromes of stomach diseases are determined by its secretory activity. These syndromes include pain syndrome and dyspepsia, which can be roughly divided into gastric and intestinal dyspepsia syndromes.

2. Nutrition for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

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   And now I’ll ask you a question: have you ever thought about why in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Special attention paid precisely to the rules and principles of nutrition, diet? At first glance, it might seem

3. Classification of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

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   The nervous apparatus of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is connected with the entire nervous system of the body, i.e. the processes of digestion of food proceed under the guidance of the higher parts of the central nervous system (CNS).

4. E. V. Shchadilov, in his book, puts at the forefront an individual approach to a person, based on cause-and-effect relationships in the development of pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and, in particular, pain

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   The author of the book you are holding in your hands is Yevgeny Vladimirovich Shchadilov, a naturally gifted healer and a powerful bioenergetician. However, in his practice he uses not only unconventional ways treatment and correction of the biofield

5. Rakter nutrition, frequency and frequency of food intake to the daily rhythms of work and rest, to the physiological patterns of the activity of the gastrointestinal tract

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   Diet, that is, the adaptation of the nature of nutrition, the frequency and frequency of meals to the daily rhythms of work and rest, to the physiological patterns of the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Alcohol is the strongest poison for the body, affecting all internal organs. With abuse, pathologies of the liver, kidneys, heart, nerves develop, the skin suffers. Therefore, before drinking alcohol, it is worth learning about the diseases to which they lead.

Diseases from alcohol

Alcohol is highly toxic, and in its effect on the body, it is similar to drugs. With regular ethanol poisoning, malfunctions occur internal organs and systems. The state of health is significantly undermined, there are chronic diseases that can no longer be cured.

First of all, the liver, which is responsible for neutralizing poisons, suffers. With prolonged alcohol abuse, at some point it weakens so much that it develops alcoholic hepatitis and then cirrhosis. With this disease, only the refusal of alcohol can prolong life, but recovery is impossible.

Also, kidneys, heart, stomach and pancreas, blood, nerves, brain suffer from alcohol intoxication. Toxins penetrate deep into the structures of organs, disrupting their functions. The appearance of a person also changes: the skin dries out and becomes covered with wrinkles, the face acquires a crimson-red color.

If alcohol abuse is not stopped in time, in addition to physical pathologies, persistent mental disorders will develop. Ultimately, there will be a complete degradation of the personality from alcohol.

Stomach

Very often, against the background of alcohol abuse, gastritis and subsequent digestive disorders develop. 20% of ethyl alcohol entering the body is absorbed in the stomach, so its mucous membrane becomes inflamed and covered with ulcers. At the same time, the synthesis of important enzymes is reduced.

Even a small dose of alcohol, if consumed regularly, can cause very severe pain, because the glands in the gastric wall begin to intensively produce mucus. In the future, these glands often die, which causes problems with digestion. Part of the food stagnates in the stomach, and then enters the intestines undigested.

Strong alcohol is dangerous because it causes burns of the mucous membranes, as a result of which the tissues begin to die. This is one of the manifestations. In order to restore dead epithelium, it takes a lot of time and complete failure from alcohol.

At first, there is vomiting, which can last a very long time, but over time it disappears.

However, severe pain accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms:

• a feeling of fullness at the top of the abdomen;
• alternating constipation and diarrhea;
• the smell of rot from the mouth;
• incessant belching.

If you leave gastritis without treatment, other serious diseases will develop against it: cholecystitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis. Burning in the stomach will become a constant symptom.
Effects of alcohol on the stomach:

kidneys

When alcohol is abused, kidney function is inhibited, which leads to serious complications, among which:

• Urolithiasis disease.
• Renal dystrophy.
• Glomerulonephritis.
• Pyelonephritis.
• Acute kidney failure.

Very quickly, alcohol inhibits the ability of the kidneys to filter and remove fluid, resulting in edema. A puffy face becomes one of the main external signs alcoholic. In this regard, beer is the most dangerous - it has a pronounced diuretic effect, and, drunk in large quantities, overloads the kidneys and causes severe dehydration.

All the fluid accumulated in the body is spent on washing out ethanol, as a result of which it causes a sharp deficit of moisture. The blood becomes thick, so filtering becomes more difficult.

As a result of prolonged alcohol intoxication, the kidneys become inflamed, normal exchange minerals. With urine, vital phosphates, calcium, and magnesium are washed out of the body. severe consequence disease caused by alcohol becomes the formation of stones.

Due to impaired metabolism, kidney cells are damaged, which leads to degeneration of the filtering organ.

This pathology has 3 varieties:

• Grainy.
• Hyaline drip.
• Fatty.

With granular dystrophy, the kidneys increase in size, their tissues lose their elasticity, and the lumen of the tubules resembles a star in shape. The main symptom of the hyaline-drop form of pathology is pronounced violation filtering ability. With fatty degeneration, fatty tubules form in the tissue, which impede the function of the kidneys.

What other diseases can cause alcohol intoxication? Drinks containing alcohol can also provoke acute renal failure. It appears in part or complete cessation diuresis. All metabolic processes in the kidneys are disrupted, so tubular necrosis and coma may eventually develop.

In chronic alcoholism, the development of necronephrosis, which develops into pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis, is inevitable. The kidneys increase and become white due to fatty degeneration of the epithelium. Then it develops quite rapidly. chronic insufficiency paired organ.
In the video, the effect of alcohol on the kidneys:

The cardiovascular system

Due to its microscopic size, the ethanol molecule can overcome any barrier in the body, penetrate any shell. Therefore, the harm to health as a result of alcohol abuse can be enormous.

To break down 100 g of vodka from the body, the body needs 6 hours of hard work. Throughout this time, highly toxic acetaldehyde circulates with the blood, passing through the heart. It experiences a strong load and begins to make up to 110 beats per minute.

Because the small vessels clogged blood clots, blood circulation becomes difficult, and the myocardium begins to experience a lack of oxygen. As a result, the heart muscle long-term use alcohol loses its tone, fats and toxins accumulate in it.

May develop dangerous diseases as a result of the effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system, which threaten cardiac arrest:

• atherosclerosis;
• cardiomyopathy;
• arrhythmia.

Freely circulating with the blood, acetaldehyde penetrates deep into the heart structures, causing serious violations. The functionality of the myocardium decreases, the composition of muscle fibers changes. As a result, the membranes become loose, making it difficult for the heart cells to produce proteins.

Alcohol provokes premature excitation of the ventricles and blockade, which is only aggravated by hypertension and vascular atherosclerosis. According to statistics, the pressure of an alcoholic is 10-15% higher than normal, so his heart is experiencing serious overload.

In the course of diagnosis in people addicted to alcohol, the disease "alcoholic heart" is fixed. So physicians call specific changes in the organ as a result of prolonged intoxication: it increases in size due to the growth of connective tissue and changes its shape.

If alcohol poisoning does not stop, the decompensation mechanism starts. The myocardium begins to contract less frequently and with less intensity, resulting in heart failure with concomitant edema of all internal organs. Recovery at this stage of the disease is impossible.

Liver

Alcohol causes the most severe damage to the liver, which is responsible for neutralizing poisons. It is in this organ that ethanol is broken down to highly toxic acetaldehyde, and then to carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted from the body.

Most common illness liver on the background of alcohol abuse becomes hepatitis. For the development of the disease, it is enough for men to consume 50 g of alcohol per day, for women - 30 g, and for adolescents - only 15 g, which corresponds to 0.5 liters. beer.

Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of liver cells, a process associated with alcohol intake, damaged by acetaldehyde. In just 5 years, the disease becomes chronic. It can proceed in a persistent form, when the development of the disease can be stopped by giving up alcohol, and in a progressive form, in which residual effects are saved.

With persistent hepatitis, cellular dystrophy and fibrosis are observed. If the disease progresses, the person begins to suffer from persistent diarrhea and vomit.

In the middle stage, more dangerous symptoms appear:

• fever;
• yellowing of the skin, eyes, nails;
• bleeding;
• pain on the right under the ribs;
• liver failure.

The greatest danger is liver failure, because it can lead to the death of the patient. In addition, as hepatitis progresses, it can turn into cirrhosis of the liver, in which the organ loses its ability to neutralize toxins. In addition, it hinders the production of proteins necessary to stop bleeding.

The liver with cirrhosis increases or decreases, and the growing scar tissue, which replaces dead cells, pinches the capillaries. As a result, the veins expand, bleeding from them, which can lead to death.

Cirrhosis is progressive and incurable disease. On the last stage development of oncological tumors is possible.

The effect of alcohol on the liver

pancreas

The pancreas is not directly involved in the breakdown of ethyl alcohol. However, under the influence of alcohol, spasms often occur in its ducts, which prevent the synthesis and release of digestive enzymes into the blood. As a result, these enzymes literally begin to digest the pancreas itself.

The gland increases in size, stones and protein plugs form in it, which leads to the development inflammatory process. It often provokes the development of diabetes.

The pancreas as a result of intoxication reduces the synthesis of insulin. It is an important hormone that regulates sugar metabolism. The body's glucose tolerance decreases, which is why diabetes mellitus develops.

In addition, under the influence of alcohol toxins in the pancreas, functional cells die. Exhaustion of the gland develops, in which secretory cells are replaced by supporting ones. This is how pancreatitis begins to form.
The effect of alcohol on the pancreas:

Blood

Alcohol has a destructive effect on the blood, causing the destruction of red blood cells.
This can cause the following diseases:

• Thrombosis.
• Microstroke.
• Microaneurysm.
• Anemia.

The effect of microscopic alcohol molecules on red blood cells is expressed in the fact that they begin to stick together and clog small vessels. This leads to the formation of blood clots, which can provoke a microstroke and microaneurysm.

As blood circulation deteriorates, the organs experience oxygen starvation, and their parts begin to die off. Therefore, in chronic alcoholics, the noses become red.

Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, the blood begins to clot very quickly. This increases the risk cerebral hemorrhage and the formation of blood clots. If they completely clog coronary arteries myocardial necrosis will begin.

The opinion that alcohol relieves an angina attack due to its vasodilating properties is erroneous. A minute later, the dilated artery narrows sharply.

Under the influence of ethanol in the membranes of blood cells, the level of cholesterol rises sharply - up to 80%. This provokes the development of anemia.

Skin

Alcohol abuse also leads to a significant deterioration of the skin condition, which forms the specific appearance of an alcoholic. Due to constant dehydration, his skin becomes dry, loses elasticity, acquires an earthy hue, and after drinking alcohol becomes purple. An alcoholic always has an unhealthy blush, which is caused by microscopic hemorrhages in upper layers epithelium.

Raspberry-red complexion after drinking alcohol, as well as itching and burning, can be caused allergic reaction. In chronic alcoholism, vascular rupture occurs, which is especially noticeable on the nose - it becomes purple.

Brain

Even minimum dose ethyl alcohol can cause irreversible changes in the brain. Accordingly, if abused, the risk negative consequences aggravated.

It has been scientifically confirmed that all dead alcoholics have a brain size that is smaller than normal. Ethanol literally causes it to "dry out" and straightens the gyrus.

This is due to the activity cerebral circulation. Alcohol is instantly absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to the brain, disrupting its functions.

In addition, the body needs a large number of oxygen for normal operation, but if a person drinks alcohol, red blood cells stick together and form blood clots. Blood circulation becomes difficult, and brain cells are deprived of nutrition and die.

Paradoxically, at this moment a person feels euphoria, although already 100 g of vodka kills 8,000 brain cells. In addition to a decrease in size, the organ is covered with ulcers and scars - they are formed instead of dead neurons. Microscopic hemorrhages begin to occur in the brain.

In addition, alcohol kills the cells responsible for morality and generally reduces mental capacity. A person's behavior becomes cheeky, his thinking is disturbed, it becomes difficult for him to make decisions.

The effect of alcohol on the back of the brain, so a person can fall out of the blue. Also, alcohol reduces the functionality of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, responsible for the synthesis of important hormones.

One of the most dangerous consequences alcohol abuse - cerebral edema.

It is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• pain in the head and neck;
• nausea with vomiting;
• skin numbness;
• dyspnea;
• dizziness;
• lack of coordination;
• partial amnesia;
• fainting;
• incoherent speech;
• convulsions;
• paralysis;
• drowsiness.

Cerebral edema can occur even as a result of drinking a small amount alcohol. The consequences of this pathology can be psychical deviations, disability and death.

Nervous system

Most pathologies of the central nervous system are associated with the onset of stage 2 alcoholism. There are more than 20 of them, and the most common are the following:

• neurasthenia;

Encephalopathy usually develops in alcoholics between the ages of 35 and 50. The disease appears due to a constant deficiency of vitamins and carbohydrates.

At the initial stage, neurasthenia occurs. A person's working capacity decreases, he begins to quickly get tired, he cannot concentrate on anything. This provokes aggression, later the patient loses all interest in life, memory rapidly deteriorates, and eventually complete degradation of the personality occurs.

Polyneuritis is formed due to inflammation of the nerves of the extremities. In this case, the legs lose sensitivity to pain and temperature.

The lower limbs begin to weaken, numbness appears with tingling, and due to muscle contraction, sharp pain. Edema and increased sweating may be added.

Nervous disorders due to alcohol abuse can lead to death. So, encephalopathy is accompanied by psychosis, and in this state a person ceases to control himself.

- a disease in which there is a physical and mental dependence on alcohol. It is accompanied by increased craving for alcohol, inability to regulate the amount of alcohol consumed, a tendency to binge drinking, the occurrence of a pronounced withdrawal syndrome, a decrease in control over one's own behavior and motivations, progressive mental degradation and toxic damage to internal organs. Alcoholism is an irreversible condition, the patient can only completely stop drinking alcohol. Use smallest doses alcohol even after a long period of abstinence causes a breakdown and further progression of the disease.

General information

Alcoholism is the most common type of substance abuse, mental and physical dependence on the intake of ethanol-containing drinks, accompanied by progressive degradation of the personality and a characteristic lesion of internal organs. Experts believe that the prevalence of alcoholism is directly related to an increase in the standard of living of the population. In recent decades, the number of patients with alcoholism has been growing, according to WHO, there are currently about 140 million alcoholics in the world.

The disease develops gradually. The likelihood of alcoholism depends on many factors, including the characteristics of the psyche, social environment, national and family traditions, as well as genetic predisposition. Children of people suffering from alcoholism become alcoholics more often than children of non-drinking parents, which may be due to certain character traits, genetically determined metabolic characteristics and the formation of a negative life scenario. Non-drinking children of alcoholics often show a tendency to co-dependent behavior and form families with alcoholics. Treatment of alcoholism is carried out by specialists in the field of narcology.

Ethanol metabolism and dependence development

The main component of alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Small amounts of this chemical compound are part of the natural metabolic processes in the human body. Normally, the ethanol content is not more than 0.18 ppm. Exogenous (external) ethanol is rapidly absorbed into digestive tract, enters the bloodstream and affects nerve cells. The maximum intoxication occurs 1.5-3 hours after drinking alcohol. When too much alcohol is taken, it causes vomiting reflex. As alcoholism develops, this reflex weakens.

About 90% of the alcohol taken is oxidized in the cells, broken down in the liver and excreted from the body as end products of metabolism. The remaining 10% is excreted unprocessed through the kidneys and lungs. Ethanol is excreted from the body within about a day. In chronic alcoholism, the intermediate products of ethanol breakdown remain in the body and have Negative influence on the activities of all organs.

The development of mental dependence in alcoholism is due to the effect of ethanol on the nervous system. After taking alcohol, a person feels euphoria. Anxiety is reduced, the level of self-confidence increases, it becomes easier to communicate. Basically, people are trying to use alcohol as a simple, affordable, fast-acting antidepressant and stress reliever. As a “one-time help”, this method sometimes really works - a person temporarily relieves stress, feels satisfied and relaxed.

However, the intake of alcohol is not natural and physiological. Over time, the need for alcohol increases. A person who is not yet an alcoholic begins to drink alcohol regularly, not noticing gradual changes: an increase in the required dose, the appearance of memory lapses, etc. When these changes become significant, it turns out that psychological dependence is already combined with physical, and it is very difficult or almost impossible to refuse to take alcohol on your own.

Alcoholism is a disease closely related to social interactions. At the initial stage, people often drink alcohol due to family, national or corporate traditions. In a drinking environment, it is more difficult for a person to remain a teetotaler, since the concept of “normal behavior” is shifting. In socially prosperous patients, alcoholism may be due to a high level of stress at work, the tradition of "washing" successful transactions, etc. However, regardless of the root cause, the consequences of regular alcohol intake will be the same - alcoholism will occur with progressive mental degradation and deterioration in health.

Consequences of drinking alcohol

Alcohol has a depressant effect on the nervous system. At first, euphoria occurs, accompanied by some excitement, a decrease in criticism of one's own behavior and ongoing events, as well as a deterioration in coordination of movements and a slowdown in reaction. Subsequently, excitement is replaced by drowsiness. When you receive large doses alcohol contact with the outside world is increasingly lost. There is a progressive distraction of attention in combination with a decrease in temperature and pain sensitivity.

expressiveness movement disorders depends on the degree of intoxication. In severe intoxication, there is a gross static and dynamic ataxia- a person cannot save vertical position body, his movements are highly uncoordinated. Loss of control over activities pelvic organs. When you receive excessive doses alcohol can cause weakening of breathing, cardiac disorders, stupor and coma. Possible fatal outcome.

In chronic alcoholism, typical lesions of the nervous system due to prolonged intoxication are noted. During withdrawal from binge, delirium tremens may develop ( delirium tremens). Somewhat less frequently, patients suffering from alcoholism are diagnosed with alcoholic encephalopathy (hallucinosis, delusions), depression and alcoholic epilepsy. Unlike delirium tremens, these conditions are not necessarily associated with an abrupt cessation of drinking. In patients with alcoholism, a gradual mental degradation, a narrowing of the range of interests, cognitive disorders, a decrease in intelligence, etc. are revealed. In the later stages of alcoholism, alcoholic polyneuropathy is often observed.

Typical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract include pain in the stomach, gastritis, erosion of the gastric mucosa, and atrophy of the intestinal mucosa. Acute complications are possible in the form of bleeding caused by gastric ulceration or violent vomiting with mucosal tears in the transitional section between the stomach and esophagus. Due to atrophic changes in the intestinal mucosa in patients with alcoholism, the absorption of vitamins and microelements worsens, metabolism is disturbed, and vitamin deficiency occurs.

Liver cells in alcoholism are replaced connective tissue develops cirrhosis of the liver. Acute pancreatitis, which occurred against the background of alcohol intake, is accompanied by severe endogenous intoxication, may be complicated by acute renal failure, cerebral edema and hypovolemic shock. Mortality in acute pancreatitis ranges from 7 to 70%. To the number characteristic violations from other organs and systems in alcoholism include cardiomyopathy, alcoholic nephropathy, anemia and immune disorders. Alcoholics are at increased risk of developing subarachnoid hemorrhages and some forms of cancer.

Symptoms and stages of alcoholism

There are three stages of alcoholism and a prodrome - a condition when the patient is not yet an alcoholic, but regularly consumes alcohol and is at risk of developing this disease. At the prodrome stage, a person willingly takes alcohol in the company and, as a rule, rarely drinks alone. The use of alcohol occurs in accordance with the circumstances (a celebration, a friendly meeting, a rather significant pleasant or unpleasant event, etc.). The patient can stop taking alcohol at any time without suffering from any unpleasant consequences. He has no desire to continue drinking after the event is over and easily returns to normal sobriety.

The first stage of alcoholism accompanied by increased craving for alcohol. The need for alcohol resembles hunger or thirst and is exacerbated in adverse circumstances: quarrels with loved ones, problems at work, an increase in the overall level of stress, fatigue, etc. If an alcoholic patient does not manage to drink, he is distracted and cravings for alcohol temporarily decreases until the next adverse situation. If alcohol is available, the alcoholic drinks more than the prodrome. He tries to achieve a state of pronounced intoxication by drinking in company or drinking alcohol alone. It is more difficult for him to stop, he strives to continue the "holiday" and continues to drink even after the end of the event.

Characteristic features of this stage of alcoholism are the extinction of the gag reflex, aggressiveness, irritability and memory lapses. The patient takes alcohol irregularly, periods of absolute sobriety may alternate with isolated cases of alcohol consumption or be replaced by binges lasting several days. Criticism of one's own behavior is reduced even during the period of sobriety, a patient with alcoholism tries in every possible way to justify his need for alcohol, finds all sorts of "worthy reasons", shifts the responsibility for his drinking to others, etc.

The second stage of alcoholism manifested by an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed. A person takes more alcohol than before, while the ability to control the intake of ethanol-containing drinks disappears after the first dose. On the background abrupt rejection from alcohol there is an abstinence syndrome: tachycardia, increased blood pressure, sleep disturbances, trembling fingers, vomiting when taking liquids and food. Perhaps the development of delirium tremens, accompanied by fever, chills and hallucinations.

The third stage of alcoholism manifested by a decrease in tolerance to alcohol. To achieve intoxication, it is enough for a patient suffering from alcoholism to take a very small dose of alcohol (about one glass). When taking subsequent doses, the state of the patient with alcoholism practically does not change, despite the increase in the concentration of alcohol in the blood. There is an uncontrollable craving for alcohol. Drinking alcohol becomes constant, the duration of binges increases. When you refuse to take ethanol-containing drinks, you often develop alcoholic delirium. Mental degradation is noted in combination with pronounced changes internal organs.

Treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism

Prognosis for alcoholism

The prognosis depends on the duration and intensity of alcohol intake. At the first stage of alcoholism, the chances of a cure are quite high, but at this stage, patients often do not consider themselves alcoholics, so they do not seek medical help. In the presence of physical dependence, remission for a year or more is observed in only 50-60% of patients. Narcologists note that the likelihood of long-term remission increases significantly with the active desire of the patient to refuse to take alcohol.

The life expectancy of patients suffering from alcoholism is 15 years less than the average for the population. Cause lethal outcome become typical chronic diseases and acute conditions: alcoholic delirium, stroke, cardiovascular insufficiency and cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholics are more likely to have accidents and are more likely to commit suicide. Among this population group, there is a high level of early disability due to the consequences of injuries, organ pathology and severe metabolic disorders.

Alcohol - it has become so firmly established in the everyday life of Russians and all the inhabitants of Russia that, according to many, not a single holiday can do without it. We have many holidays throughout the year. But alcohol is dangerous not so much when you have abused this drink a couple of times during the year, it is terrible chronic alcoholism when alcohol is consumed daily in toxic doses. A bottle of beer, a couple of glasses of vodka or a glass of wine every day are already toxic dose alcohol for most people. If for a long time alcohol consumption is within the toxic dosage, imperceptible, but catastrophic changes occur in all systems and organs. This process is all the more insidious because the external signs of these running processes degradation you can long time not feel.

The problem is not only that life expectancy is declining - the problem is that the quality of life is declining. A person who daily consumes at least a bottle of beer is in a state of chronic alcoholism. All organs work with increased load, so it is observed chronic fatigue, inability to concentrate on work, increased irritability. In chronic alcoholism, the circle of interests and aspirations of a person narrows to the circle of interests of a primitive animal; the nervous system, the broken will and the decline of the spiritual forces of such a person are no longer capable of anything more.

However, not only people who consume excessive alcohol are at risk, but also those around them. Increased irritability, an altered psyche and spiritual impotence lead to the fact that life in a family next to such a person becomes unbearable. Conceiving a child from such a mother or from such a father is dangerous due to high risk the birth of a handicapped child. And raising children in such a family is a daily crime.

Considering all of the above, we can come to the conclusion that by consuming alcohol you voluntarily, consciously and boldly plunge yourself into the voluntary slavery of vice. For the ghostly illusion of alcoholic ecstasy, this addiction will take you to the last thread, push you into a series of troubles and failures, deprive you of the joy of real life, the possibility of spiritual development. It is not so much the bodily death that is terrible, but the regret that "life went wrong ...".