The positive effect of alcohol on the human body. The effect of alcohol on the vascular system of the body. Objections to the thesis about the harmlessness and even usefulness of small doses of alcohol

After drinking, alcohol is concentrated in the brain (the concentration of alcohol in the brain is 1.75 times higher than in the blood). Concentrated, alcohol affects the brain in the most remarkable way:

lowers excitability nerve cells, the person calms down;
causes a good mood, euphoria (a little lower, in paragraph number 4, it will be written exactly how alcohol does all this).

So, under the influence of alcohol, a person relax and start having fun! Hehe!!- That's what people drink for. Of course, drinking alcohol has many negative consequences (see below), but still:

small doses of alcohol are the most accessible and easily used remedy that relieves nervous overload, fatigue and stiffness during communication;
published regularly medical research about the positive effect of moderate doses of alcohol on the cardiovascular vascular system, prevention of senile dementia, impotence, etc.

The harmful effects of alcohol on the body

1) Alcohol is a cell-killing poison(therefore, for example, a cut or abrasion can be treated with alcohol, and the microbes will die). Ethanol is concentrated in the liver and brain (if we take the alcohol content in the blood as a unit, then in the liver it will be 1.5, and in the brain 1.75) - therefore, the cells in these organs are killed first of all. The concentration of ethanol sufficient to kill brain cells is created after taking more than 20 ml of alcohol in men and more than 10 ml in women. (Accordingly, if you drink no more than 20 ml, then the relaxing effect of alcohol will be achieved, but the cells of the brain and liver will not begin to die yet - this is how people talk about the possibility of “moderate alcohol consumption”, more on this closer to the end of the article).

2) Alcohol is a mutagen.

Mutant cells own body in an adult body, they are usually destroyed by the immune system (and if for some reason it fails, then cancer occurs, in alcoholics - cancer oral cavity, esophagus, stomach and liver).
Mutations in germ cells do not manifest themselves in any way in the person who developed these cells, but they appear in his children.
- Spermatozoa in the testes in men develop within 75 days, so if you are planning to conceive someone - before that, completely refrain from alcohol for 2.5 months, and everything will be fine.
- Such a measure will not help women: they have eggs from birth, so if a woman is 20 years old, then her eggs are 20 years old, and all the mutagenic effects that have occurred over these 20 years accumulate in the eggs.

3) Alcohol disrupts the development of the fetus. These disorders are not associated with mutations, but with improper cell interaction. developing fetus. The brain suffers the most: the children of alcoholics are usually mentally retarded. In addition, deformities are also possible: underdevelopment of the limbs, damage to the heart, kidneys, etc.

4) Alcohol is a drug. After consumption, it concentrates in the brain and there it acts on 2 groups of neurotransmitters.

Activates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, one of the most important inhibitory mediators of the human nervous system. The excitability of cells decreases, the person calms down.
It enhances the synthesis of our own opiates: endorphins (hormones of pleasure), as well as dopamine, a mediator that excites pleasure centers. The person is euphoric.

The systematic consumption of alcohol changes the metabolism in the body:

Ethanol is becoming a regular source of energy, since it is much easier for the body to get energy from alcohol than from food. But amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins from alcoholic beverages cannot be obtained, therefore, alcoholics develop dystrophy and beriberi.
Artificial stimulation causes the body to produce less of its own opiates and GABA. Without opiates, a person experiences dissatisfaction, which is relieved by taking alcohol. This leads to the development of a syndrome of mental dependence, and then.

Guidelines for moderate drinking

If you drink 20 ml of alcohol, then we will get a slight relaxing effect, while the concentration of ethanol dangerous for brain and liver cells will not yet arise.

20 ml of alcohol is 50 ml of vodka / cognac, or 150 ml of wine, or 330 ml of beer (for women - 2 times less, sorry).

The daily dose should in no case be more, and at least two days a week it is necessary to completely abandon alcohol.

There are circumstances in which even one or two drinks can be dangerous:

when driving or working with mechanisms (since alcohol does what it is used for - it relaxes a person, while already from one serving of alcohol the reaction rate decreases by 10 times);
during pregnancy or breastfeeding (because alcohol enters the child's body and can cause developmental disorders in him);
while taking certain medications that can chemically react with ethanol;
with medical contraindications;
if the person is unable to control their drinking.

Objections to the thesis about the harmlessness and even usefulness of small doses of alcohol

Objection #1
Alcohol is poison. Scientists and doctors who claim that alcohol can be beneficial in small doses are either funded by alcohol producers or wrong. An example of a mistake: scientists and doctors study old people and see that those who can afford half a glass at dinner get sick less. Medical scientists conclude that moderate alcohol consumption is good for health. But the connection here may well be reversed! Men and women in their seventies who regularly drink a glass of wine can drink moderately precisely because they are in good physical shape, do not suffer from serious illnesses and, accordingly, do not take strong drugs that are incompatible with alcohol. And the very fact that this person in principle capable of being moderate.

Alcohol adversely affects human health, even a small amount of alcohol harms the entire body. Ethanol almost immediately begins its destructive action, as it is the strongest poison. It affects absolutely all organs. When ingested, alcohol provokes clogging of capillaries and blood vessels, which develops oxygen starvation. Ethanol causes intoxication, which then leads to a hangover. In addition, the systematic intake of alcoholic beverages significantly reduces life expectancy.

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Mechanism of influence

The mechanism of action of ethanol is as follows: first it is absorbed, then it is excreted. Ethyl alcohol is absorbed into the blood within a few minutes. After that, together with the blood, it enters all organs and tissues and has toxic effect. It is neutralized by the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme contained in the liver, due to which alcohol is oxidized to aldehyde and ketone.

In women, this enzyme is produced much less than in men, so they get drunk and get used to drinking alcohol much faster. Ethanol is output naturally within the next 12 hours. About 10% of ethanol is released into pure form during breathing together with vapors, as well as in the composition of sweat, feces, saliva and urine. The rest is oxidized in the liver and subsequently excreted from the body.

Breeding process ethyl alcohol occurs gradually, depending on the amount in the blood plasma. Harmful effect alcohol on the body is due to the fact that many tissues cannot quickly give it away. For example, ethanol can long time be contained in the spinal cord and brain, which is why the nervous system experiences its negative influence for a long time.

The harmful effects of alcoholic beverages are observed both with frequent drinking and with a single dose. Under the influence of ethanol, nerve cells die, which are no longer restored.

With regular alcohol consumption, the brain begins to decrease in size, blood vessels dilate, micro scars and micro ulcers form on its surface. The membranes of the brain also suffer, as their swelling occurs. Long-term use of ethyl alcohol in large quantities leads to impaired thinking and mental activity brain, and subsequently to the degradation of personality. A person, as a result of damage to the central nervous system, falls into a coma and may even come fatal outcome.

The lethal dose of ethyl alcohol for the human body is 5-6 ppm, which is equal to three bottles of vodka drunk within an hour.

What suffers first

First of all, the esophagus, stomach, pancreas and intestines suffer from the use of ethanol. Under the influence of alcohol, the following processes occur:

The cells of the inner surface of the digestive organs are damaged and destroyed, a burn of the gastric mucosa occurs and it begins to work hard, i.e., to produce enzymes.
Metabolism is disturbed, which leads to protein starvation, improper digestion of food and its decay. After some time, gastritis develops, accompanied by vomiting, belching, abdominal pain, weakness and diarrhea. A stomach ulcer can form, which can turn into cancer.
The veins of the esophagus expand and weaken. Sometimes they break and arise internal bleeding. Blood begins to quickly fill the stomach and develops hemorrhagic shock.
The ducts of the pancreas narrow. It contains enzymes that produce toxic substances. Because of this, the gland swells, becomes inflamed and rots. Such dangerous diseases as pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis develop.

The effect of alcohol on other organs and systems

Alcohol disrupts blood circulation and destroys the intestinal microflora. Erosions are formed, after some time turning into ulcers, and subsequently into cancer. When drinking alcohol, not only the digestive system suffers, but also other organs.

Brain and nervous system

With frequent drinking of wine and vodka products, the brain suffers greatly, in the tissues of which alcohol decay products begin to accumulate. Ethanol has a negative effect on the brain and nerve cells for a long time. Due to oxygen starvation, developing under the influence of alcohol intoxication, irreversible disturbances in the activity of the brain begin to occur.

The death of brain cells causes alcoholic dementia. As a result of alcoholism, the activity of the nervous system is disrupted, and a harmful effect is exerted on its higher levels. People who drink are much more likely to suffer from strokes.

The cardiovascular system

According to statistics, heart disease is a common cause of death, the development of which is often provoked by the use of alcoholic beverages. When ethanol penetrates into the heart muscle with the bloodstream, it contributes to the appearance of destructive processes in it, the formation of scar tissue and other pathological changes.

Large doses of alcoholic beverages disrupt the heartbeat and increase blood pressure. With regular intake of ethyl alcohol, hypertension and coronary heart disease develop, which can cause myocardial infarction.

Other common complications include:

myocardial dystrophy;
cardiomyopathy;
arrhythmia.

Blood cells and the immune system

Alcohol molecules lead to the breakdown of erythrocyte cells. Under the harmful influence of ethanol, they begin to break membrane shells, which leads to the formation of a red clot from bursting and deformed red blood cells. From pathological blood cells, hemoglobin enters the plasma, and the amount of healthy red blood cells is greatly reduced. Dehydration of blood plasma leads to aggregation of platelet cells and the formation of blood clots.

The use of wine and vodka products contributes to the weakening of the immune system. The number of lymphocytes and phagocytic cells, which are necessary for the protective function of the body, is sharply reduced.

B vitamins are required for all organs and systems to function normally. Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, their number is reduced, which leads to impaired brain activity. In people suffering from alcohol dependence, there is a deficiency of thiamine and its deterioration. metabolic processes.

Gaye-Wernicke syndrome often develops, which also causes a lack of vitamin B1. The disease goes through 2 stages. First, as a result of the negative effects of alcohol, the brain is affected (encephalopathy). After some time, psychosis develops. This condition greatly exhausts the patient, as coordination of movements is disturbed, consciousness becomes cloudy, problems with the eyes arise. The person becomes quick-tempered and very irritable, falls into depression.

Respiratory system

Under the influence of alcohol, the respiratory system, especially the lungs, begins to suffer greatly. Often from the mouth of alcoholics comes the so-called fume. This smell appears due to the fact that a small amount of ethanol is excreted with breathing. This poison negatively affects the surface of the bronchi, lungs and respiratory tract, promotes their drying. A person begins to experience a severe lack of air, provoking attacks of suffocation.

Drying of the respiratory organs negatively affects the immune system. Because of its weakening, alcoholics are more likely to catch infections transmitted by airborne droplets. The most terrible disease is an open form of tuberculosis.

Liver

Up to 10% of ethyl alcohol is excreted along with feces, urine, sweat, saliva and breathing. The remaining 90% is broken down by the liver. As a result of complex biomechanical processes, ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde. However, the liver is able to decompose only a glass of alcohol for 10 hours. The remaining ethyl alcohol leads to damage to the liver cells.

Drinking alcohol provokes the following diseases:

Fatty liver. The cells of this organ begin to accumulate fat in the form of balls. After a while, they stick together and form cysts and blisters in the area. portal vein, which prevents the movement of blood from it.
Alcoholic hepatitis. Pathology is characterized by inflammation of the liver cells, and the organ itself increases in size. A person has diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of fatigue. If you stop drinking at this stage, the liver cells can recover. Continued use of alcoholic beverages contributes to further destruction of the liver.
Cirrhosis. With this disease, liver cells are replaced by connective tissue. The organ is completely covered with scars, and to the touch it becomes dense, having an uneven surface. At such a stage dead cells are not restored. If you stop taking alcohol, the scarring of the liver stops, but the organ begins to work with limited capacity.

If you continue to drink alcohol with cirrhosis of the liver, cancer develops.

urinary system

When drinking alcohol, the urinary system is severely affected. The kidneys begin to work in an enhanced mode. The renal pelvis pumps a large volume of fluid to remove from the body harmful substances. Due to constant overload, the functional ability of the kidneys is weakened and they are no longer able to work hard. Negative influence alcohol on the urinary system is reflected in the appearance of a person in the morning after a feast - his face swells, blood pressure rises.

The accumulation of toxins in the kidneys subsequently leads to the formation of stones and the development of nephritis. After the use of wine and vodka products, the kidneys begin to hurt, the body temperature rises, protein is found in the urine. If left untreated, it develops kidney failure. Slags begin to poison the body, there is general intoxication and death ensues.

reproductive system

The harmful effect of alcohol on the reproductive system is that it is disturbed hormonal balance, decreases sexual attraction. Hormonal disbalance in men, it leads to a decrease in testosterone production, and testicular atrophy reduces sperm count. As a result, potency is greatly reduced and infertility is often diagnosed.

In women who are addicted to alcohol, there is a decrease in craving for opposite sex, they get masculine appearance as the body begins to produce a large number of testosterone ( male hormone). violated menstrual cycle even early menopause.

Ethyl alcohol negatively affects the conception of a child, as it damages the egg and sperm. It also adversely affects the development of the embryo. If at the time of conception the parents were in a state of intoxication, then there is a high probability of the appearance of deviations and defects in the development of the fetus. He may have an incorrectly formed skeleton, skull, brain, internal organs. Further drinking during pregnancy leads to sad consequences for the unborn child, for example, to the development of mutations.

Children from drinking mothers are born with low weight, with an underdeveloped psyche, impaired motor skills. Fetal alcoholism can form in utero, as a result of which the baby is born with signs of dependence on alcohol. Such a child grows and develops slowly. His brain has a much smaller volume, there is a change in the structure and activity of brain cells.

If a woman breastfeeds and drinks alcohol, then the baby becomes lethargic and lethargic. Ethyl alcohol, which enters the child's body along with breast milk, adversely affects his nervous system, because of which the baby becomes nervous and excitable. Also, the baby's heartbeat and colic become more frequent, and from breast milk useful material are not absorbed as actively.

Skin and muscle condition

The systematic use of alcoholic beverages weakens and exhausts the muscles. 50% drinking people arise skin diseases, because the immune system is weakened very much, it is not able to cope with various viruses. Since the liver also functions halfway, on the surface skin boils, ulcers, acne and allergic rashes occur.

Ethyl alcohol affects the skin and muscle condition as follows:

leads to dehydration;
increases estrogen;
reduces the amount of testosterone;
reduces protein synthesis;
promotes vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

In addition, the body is uncontrollably replenished with calories. Muscles weaken, lose elasticity and atrophy.

Blood sugar

Some alcoholic beverages raise blood sugar levels, while others lower them. The glucose index increases with the use of sweet alcohol. But its decrease occurs if you regularly drink cognac, dry wine and other strong alcohol that has high content alcohol and minimal amount Sahara.

Evil Influence alcohol on the human body depends on how much alcohol is taken and how regularly this happens. As a result large doses ethyl alcohol is observed significant reduction blood sugar levels, leading to hypoglycemia.

If the patient drinks alcohol diabetes, in which the destruction of nerve cells is already occurring, then ethanol only exacerbates this pathological process. Ethyl alcohol adversely affects the pancreas that produces insulin. Alcoholic drinks in large quantities wear out blood vessels and heart muscle, which is why a diabetic quickly develops dangerous cardiovascular pathologies.

The effect of alcohol on different categories of people

Drinking alcohol affects men in the following ways:

reduced testosterone production;
potency decreases;
infertility develops;
fat is deposited according to the female type;
muscles begin to dry out;
increase mammary glands;
the skin becomes porous and wrinkles appear.

Women who drink alcohol frequently have premature aging, weight gain, problems in the reproductive system, early onset of menopause. Deviations in the functioning of the nervous system are expressed more clearly. It can be both sleep disturbance and complete memory loss.

If alcoholic beverages are taken by teenagers, then this negatively affects growth and development. Since ethanol affects brain cells, there is a violation of biochemical processes in them, which leads to a delay in physical and mental development. Alcohol slows down logical thinking, because of which adolescents lag behind in intellectual and emotional growth. In addition, liver cells begin to suffer and collapse, and this happens much more intensively than in adults.

The positive effect of alcohol

Ethyl alcohol is useful for humans, but only in small doses. Red wine contains antioxidants and trace elements that have a positive effect on the body. It is recommended to drink only three glasses a week. Red wine promotes the elimination of toxins and slags, normalizes metabolism and is an excellent means of preventing atherosclerosis.

Different drinks are beneficial in the following cases:

champagne - necessary for a weak heart;
mulled wine - helps the body fight the flu, pneumonia, colds, bronchitis;
vodka - lowers cholesterol;
beer - prevents the development of heart disease and slows down the aging process.

These drinks should be taken in small doses. Men are recommended 20 g pure alcohol per day, and for women - 10 g. This amount equals 100 g of wine, 300 ml of beer or 30 g of vodka. Thus, only alcohol drunk in a small dose does not harm the body.

Many people know a lot about feasts. Rich holiday tables, decorated with bottles of alcohol beckon relaxation, and after a hard day to miss a glass or two is considered a duty of honor. But rarely does anyone think, pouring another portion of intoxicating drink, how alcohol affects the human body.

The main component of alcohol is ethyl alcohol (ethanol). It is he who tirelessly works on the destruction of the body drinking man. What is the danger of alcoholic beverages and how do they destroy the body?

Alcohol, even in small doses, is harmful human health

The WHO (World Health Organization) classifies the stages of alcohol abuse and harmful effects into three levels:

Potential danger. It includes the amount of alcohol taken that carries potential (expected) harm to the social, mental and physical health person. This is the dose of alcohol that exceeds, with medical point view, acceptable.
Harmful use. Regular intake of alcoholic beverages, already a habit. Such doses noticeably cause tangible harm to health, but do not yet cause dependence.
chronic abuse. This stage refers to complete alcohol dependence and is a disease. A person can no longer feel normal without a dose of alcohol and drinks constantly.

What is the danger of alcohol

The body is a well-established system with its own level of protection against poisons and toxins. But alcohol is insidious, the organs of the body are able to excrete only 5% of the deadly ethyl alcohol along with urine and sweat. The remaining 95% freely enter the gastrointestinal tract, circulatory and nervous system, precipitate the liver, brain, kidneys. The destructive effect of alcohol on the human body begins.

How alcohol harms

Once in the internal organs, ethanol undergoes oxidation processes, and then is processed. Oxidized, ethyl alcohol corrodes the tissues and cells of the body, leading to the formation of scars, ulcers, burns. Damaged tissues die, and the organs gradually cease to function normally.

The lethal dose for humans is simultaneous reception alcohol in the amount of 1-1.5 liters.

How ethyl alcohol affects the body can be seen from the internal organs of a person seized after death. Take a look at the consequences of alcohol abuse:

How alcohol destroys internal organs

Alcohol is a ruthless killer. Disappointing statistics give horrific figures: every year more than 500,000 people die from alcohol poisoning, diseases caused by ethanol, and accidents. The effect of alcohol on the human body causes:

50-60% accidents;
35-40% suicides;
30% male and 15% female deaths.

The life of regular drinkers is significantly reduced. According to the observations of doctors, on average, people who abuse alcohol live 15-20 years less than supporters of a sober lifestyle. Ethyl alcohol, destroying tissues and cells of internal organs, leads to the development of deadly diseases.

Alcohol and its impact on human health

According to statistics, alcohol abuse most often leads to cancer. Under prolonged exposure alcohol mucous oral membrane loses protective functions, and carcinogenic substances easily penetrate the body.

Studies have shown that women who drink more than 3 drinks daily have a 70% increased risk of breast cancer.

The effect of alcohol on the body provokes not only oncology mammary glands. Through his fault are formed malignant tumors in the liver, esophagus, stomach, kidneys, oral cavity.

brain destruction

Ethanol is a powerful neurotoxin that completely destroys the nervous system. Gradually accumulating in the body of a drinking person, ethyl alcohol has a negative effect on brain function. This is expressed as follows:

There is an impact on the work of neurotransmitters (bioactive chemicals that transmit signals between neurons). Ethanol is able to either stop the action of neurotransmitters, or enhance.
Due to failures in the transmission of nerve impulses, the main functions of the brain are disrupted. This is reflected in the violation visual perception, coordination, disorders of speech, memory and thinking.
The biochemical processes occurring in the brain are gradually destroyed.
The body, trying to stop negative impact ethanol, begins to reduce its productivity. There is an addiction to alcohol.
Gradually, the brain "gets used" to alcohol infusions and is rebuilt. He is no longer able to function normally without another dose of alcohol.

The body requires alcohol, alcohol becomes necessary for him to maintain a chemical balance. With the abolition of a hot dose, a person develops characteristic symptoms: convulsions, seizures, tremors in the limbs, aggressive and inappropriate behavior.

left brain healthy person, on the right - the drinker

Research conducted by doctors proves that even a rare abuse of alcoholic beverages causes irreparable damage to the functioning of the brain.

The complete abolition of alcohol with a competent approach can restore a certain number of neurons. But the disastrous changes that have begun are irreversible.

Liver death

The effect of alcohol on the human liver

The liver is the main guardian of the body, working to cleanse the internal organs of toxins and poisons. With regular alcohol libation, the unfortunate liver cannot cope with the huge load and gradually begins to die. Doctors classify the process of its decay from alcohol into three stages:

Decomposing in large quantities, ethyl alcohol dramatically reduces the level of absorption of fats. They begin to concentrate in the liver tissues, provoking fatty hepatosis. Doctors call this stage “fatty alcoholic liver”.
The next step is the appearance of hepatitis. It's a chronic liver disease inflammatory nature. Progressing, the disease causes the death of liver tissue and cells.
The last stage in the destruction of the liver is the formation of cirrhosis. Such a disease is characterized by an irreversible pathological change in the organ. The healthy spongy structure of the liver is deformed, being replaced by dense knots and scars. Scarred liver tissue stops the blood flow, leading to complete failure of the organ and death of a person.

Problems in the heart

Consistent drinking of more than 2 drinks daily significantly increases blood pressure levels. An immoderate alcoholic libation becomes the main culprit of a heart attack, a heart attack, a strong tachycardia, a persistent expansion of the heart chambers.

How alcohol destroys a person's heart

Alcohol and pregnancy

Ethyl alcohol is especially dangerous for an unborn baby. If a woman who is expecting a child regularly takes alcohol, the fetus takes the brunt of ethanol toxins. Poisons are instantly absorbed by the placenta, leaving no chance for a healthy life for the future baby.

What are the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

Alcohol has the following detrimental effect on the formation of the fetus:

irreversible destruction occurs in the central nervous system;
brain neurons are not fully formed;
cell development occurs with gross violations.

All this leads to the appearance of mental disability, gross delays in speech, thinking, physical and psychological development. Children born to drinking mothers are distinguished by deviant antisocial behavior and suffer from hyperactivity. External mutations that disfigure the appearance of the baby are not uncommon.

A woman harms her child, even drinking alcohol in small doses. Even a small glass of alcohol can provoke developmental deviations in a baby.

Ethanol instantly penetrates into the mother's breast milk. A woman who drinks during lactation turns her child into a chronic alcoholic with all the ensuing consequences.

Why alcohol addiction develops

One of the most common factors in the appearance of an irresistible craving for alcohol, doctors call the factor of heredity. In 60% of cases, the cause of alcoholism is a genetic predisposition. Other culprits of alcohol addiction include:

frequent depression;
human environment;
emotional disorders;
addiction to drug use;
lack of parental care and attention;
aggressive character traits, impulsiveness and irascibility;
craving for thrill, the desire to experience risk and adrenaline rush.

When is alcohol safe?

The harmful effects of alcohol on a person can be reduced by strictly adjusting the rate of alcohol. WHO experts, having analyzed the negative effects of ethanol, have deduced a dose of alcoholic beverages that is safe for the body. It:

Wine 90-100 ml.
Beer 200-250 ml.
Strong alcohol 25-30 ml.

A person can be called a moderate drinker (when the dose of alcohol taken does not bring obvious destruction to the body) in the following case:

if a man takes 1.5-2 standard servings;
for women and people over 60, this dose is reduced to one legal dose of alcohol.

It is necessary to take into account the existence chronic diseases, human complexion (height, weight), as well as past illnesses. For example, in the presence of psycho-emotional disorders, even a moderate dose of alcohol will harm.

Ultimately allowable dose alcohol

With a competent approach to the use of alcohol, alcoholic beverages become even beneficial to health. Various alcohol (only natural) has an individual positive effect:

Red wine. Polyphenols contained in noble ruby wines have a positive effect on health blood vessels. Red wine increases the body's defenses, stabilizes cholesterol balance and prevents thrombosis.

White wine. Gentle alcohol, which is usually offered with fish, has a good effect on the state of the cardiovascular system. The composition of the refined drink is rich in essential oils, vitamins and microelements. White wine is excellent for fighting off various viruses and bacteria.

There is a belief that if you add a little bit of white wine to the water, the water will be disinfected.

The caffeic acid found in white wine strengthens the functioning of the pulmonary system. Helps to thin and remove pathogenic sputum. In many anti-cold recipes from traditional healers includes natural white wine.

Benefits of white wine

Mulled wine. An indispensable tool from hypothermia. An old, time-tested strong drink perfectly helps to escape from colds especially during the off-season. Also mulled wine restores vitality, improves metabolism and has a beneficial effect on the state of the digestive tract.

Beer. An intoxicating drink, one of the oldest on earth, slows down the aging process of the body. Doctors have proven that beer reduces the risk of heart disease by 2 times and prevents the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Beer is also considered a good protector against the appearance of malignant cells.

Pros and cons of beer

Vodka. Even pure, without dyes and preservatives, vodka raises well-deserved doubts about its usefulness. But this alcoholic drink has actually been used for a long time medicinal purposes. Ethyl alcohol - the basis of vodka, has enormous antiseptic reserves.

Rare consumption of vodka significantly reduces the risk of developing diseases of various severity: from the common cold to oncology. Also, this alcoholic drink has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, immune and cardiac systems. After its competent use, a cessation of the growth of atherosclerotic plaques is noted.

In order for alcohol to bring only benefits and not make you run to the doctors, you should drink it in very moderate amounts. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment offers the following safe ways to consume alcohol:

Drink only 1-2 standard servings of alcoholic beverages per day.
Give rest to the body, refusing alcohol for 3-4 days a week.

But it is very important to realize that reducing portions of alcohol does not mean complete absence harm. Despite the fact that people react to drinking alcohol individually, alcohol in any case carries Negative consequences for good health. So that the best option remains complete failure from alcoholic beverages. Be healthy!

Ethanol is present in a low proportion in human blood and is a natural metabolite. To understand how alcohol affects the human body, it is necessary to imagine the process of its processing. When ethanol enters the body with food, it is oxidized to acetaldehyde, which is 30 times more toxic than alcohols. The processes of splitting occur in the liver. An excess of ethanol inevitably entails the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which in this case does not have time to be processed into acetate. Intoxication, poisoning of the body occurs, which leads to a sharp deterioration in well-being, loss of consciousness, there is a possibility of death.

What organs are affected by alcohol?

Now we will try to study more carefully how alcohol affects the body, which organs it affects. Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the blood and distributed to all nodes. Maximum effect from the action of alcohols occurs 50-70 minutes after ingestion. During this time, ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the small intestine and stomach lining. There comes a lesion of the central nervous system, the shell of which is destroyed.

At 10%, alcohol is excreted with the help of the kidneys and lungs, through breathing. This is the reason why it is easy to determine the degree of intoxication with a breathalyzer. The remaining 90% is processed by the liver.

According to research, alcohol is the most harmful drug in the world. British pharmacologist and psychotherapist David Nutt puts the dangers of alcohol on a par with heroin. According to his own research, cocaine is two times inferior, LSD ten.

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In some cases, alcohol causes the blood vessels in the esophagus to dilate. The veins become deformed and lose their effectiveness, the walls become thinner. High probability of internal hemorrhage. There is hemorrhagic shock, acute blood loss. Urgently needed health care, the risk of death is high.

Ethanol actively destroys the shell gastrointestinal tract. First of all, the microflora suffers, which to a certain extent forms the immune system. The intestinal mucosa is covered with numerous erosions, dying tissues. Subsequently, ulcers and malignant tumors occur.

Ethanol that enters the heart literally corrodes the structure of the muscle, destroying the cells. Micro scars form on the tissues, elasticity is significantly reduced. The heart can't pump blood. The liver does not have time to process glucose. Monosugars remain in the body and are converted into adipose tissue that cover the heart and other organs.

The liver takes over the main dose of ethanol. die off healthy cells, hepatocytes. Replacement occurs with adipose and connective tissues, which leads to hepatosis. The disease is characterized by a serious metabolic disorder in the liver. This is the initial stage of cirrhosis. The latter is one of the six leading causes of death for people aged 30 to 60 years. In some cases, cirrhosis leads to cancer.

Ethanol stimulates the active release of enzymes in the stomach. As a result, the walls begin to digest themselves. The decomposition of internal tissues and food begins. Crash occurs acid-base balance. There is gastritis, followed by an ulcer and cancer.

Alcohol, once in the pancreas, causes spasm of the ducts. There is an accumulation of enzymes that begin to digest the tissues of the organ from the inside. The gland swells strongly, which characterizes the onset of inflammatory processes. Tissue death begins, followed by decomposition. As a result - pancreatitis, which is a fatal disease.

Which organs are most affected by alcohol? - this question does not cause controversy in circles of doctors. The effect of ethanol on the brain is irreparable when other damage can be repaired to some extent. But, it is impossible to completely or even half rid the body of the consequences.

How alcohol affects the brain

The human nervous system consists mainly of receptors and microcapillaries. When ethanol enters the bloodstream, red blood cells stick together, forming blood clots. Clots block the thinnest blood capillaries. Vessels burst, forming numerous microhemorrhages. Tens of thousands of brain cells are irretrievably destroyed. In the morning, a person feels a characteristic headache.

Violation of the work of the blood vessels of the brain leads to its oxygen starvation. Drowsiness occurs, mental activity decreases. Since alcohol affects the brain and microcapillaries, the risk of stroke increases. Internal hemorrhage often leads to complete or partial paralysis, often to death.

Dead cells are excreted in urine and sweat. There is redness eyeballs swollen vessels. The stronger the pain, the more damage is done to the shell of the brain. The effect of alcohol on the central nervous system causes severe addiction - a neurotransmitter metabolic disorder in the brain. The disorder is accompanied by a satisfaction deficit syndrome. As a result, a person feels a constant or regular need for alcoholic beverages.

How alcohol affects the blood

Ethanol promotes gluing of erythrocytes, blood cells. As a result, blood clots form. Flake-like blood clots are instantly spread throughout the body. Many vessels and capillaries remain clogged, which reduces the nutrition of certain organs. Severe dehydration occurs. Glues cannot function as an oxygen carrier.

Clogged capillaries located in the nasal cavity do not provide the tissues with the proper amount nutrients. The tissues dying as a result of starvation turn blue, covered with a characteristic purple. As a result, the nose of those who drink alcohol turns blue, the face swells, and the skin loses its elasticity.

As alcohol affects the blood and brain, causing addiction, there is a need for treatment. Timely appeal in a narcological dispensary in most cases helps to exclude oncological diseases, other forms of pathogenesis. In the most advanced cases complete cleaning of the blood from toxins and blood clots is necessary.

How hard is it to get rid of alcoholism?

For complex neuropsychiatric disorders, complex drug addiction treatment may be required. Most clients find it difficult to persuade a loved one to seek help. This is due to the peculiarities of the human defense mechanism. A careful approach is needed so as not to run into complete denial or aggression. You shouldn't put pressure on it. Unfortunately, you can persuade a loved one only if he himself wants to fight the disease. Ultimate demands more often lead to the breakup of families than to a positive result.

First of all, you should put yourself in the place of a person who is in trouble. In most cases, the patient is aware of the harm of alcohol on the body and on the social level. The point is to explain how alcohol affects the human brain and body. The patient should be given to understand: how significant is his importance in society and in the family, how strong drinks destroy that very significance. It is important that a person at least partially assess his position with a third-party sober look.

The next step is to prove to the patient that there are effective methods exit from alcoholism. Communicate the severity of the physical and psychological state person suffering alcohol addiction. That the help of specialists will not be a waste of time and effort.

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How does alcohol affect the human body? Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages adversely affects all organs of the drinker. But the worst thing is that an alcoholic falls out of society, losing his personality. Mental, physical and social degradation develops. Alcoholism is a disease that people cannot cope with on their own. The help of specialists and relatives is required.

Alcohol impact on the human body

Alcohol and its impact on human health began to be intensively studied in the 19th century, when scientists began to worry about the human future. In 1952, alcoholism was given the status of a disease. Not a single person is immune from drunkenness.

The detrimental effect of ethyl alcohol on the body is reflected in the medical and social aspects, these are:

personality degradation;
distortion of thinking;
endangering others, such as drunk driving;
damage to internal organs;
mental disorders.

Alcoholic genesis has different reasons. Grief, joy or fatigue after labor day make you want to take a bottle of alcohol and relax.

Active substance any alcoholic beverage - ethanol. The component is quickly absorbed into the walls of the stomach and penetrates into human brain contacting brain neurons. The substance is excreted from the body unchanged. Ethanol is biotransformed in the liver and exits through the sweat and mammary glands, lungs, kidneys, feces and urine. The negative effect of ethanol on the human body occurs during its oxidation. The alcohol component turns into a toxic substance - acetaldehyde.

lasting impact ethyl alcohol on the human body leads to irreversible consequences. Intoxication develops, affecting varying degrees all organs - alcoholic visceropathy. First of all, the vessels, liver and brain are poisoned. Common diseases of alcoholics:

cirrhosis of the liver;
pancreatitis;
immune disorders;
hypertension;
myocardial dystrophy;
hemolytic anemia;
encephalopathy;
thrombophlebitis;
cancer of the esophagus and rectum.

The effect of alcohol on the brain and nervous system

Chronic alcoholism increases the risk of bleeding in the brain (stroke). Violation of blood circulation leads to the formation of blood clots in the capillaries and their rupture.

When taking only 50 ml of vodka, thousands of neurons die. Dead brain cells don't regenerate, so long-term use alcohol leads to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.

At autopsy cranium alcoholic, abnormal changes are detected:

atrophy of brain tissues and smoothing of its convolutions;
petechial hemorrhages;
voids with liquid form at the site of dead neurons;
multiple scarring of brain tissue.

The pathological effect of alcohol on the nervous system (CNS) is its oppression. It is only at the initial stage of alcoholism that a surge of strength and euphoria is felt. In the future, the functional ability of the brain weakens, and cognitive abilities are reduced to a critical level. There are such phenomena:

hallucinations and delusions;
astereognosia (disorder of perception);
decrease in intellectual ability;
immoral behavior;
incoherent speech.

The consequences of frequent drinking affect not only the drinker, but also the people around him. In a chronic alcoholic, the boundaries of what is permitted are erased. Unreasonable anger and rage lead to unpredictable consequences (swearing, fights, indecent behavior).

With CNS depression, the alcoholic suffers chronic depression, panic disorder and others psychological disorders. Over time, a drinking person loses the meaning of life. His apathetic state leads to labor and creative stagnation, which inevitably affects work and social status.

Alcohol and the cardiovascular system

Even with a small dose of alcohol, vasospasm occurs, forcing the heart to work with a vengeance. When drinking alcohol becomes systematic, the organ undergoes abnormal processes: due to the growth of adipose tissue, its volume gradually increases, and the heart muscle atrophies (myocardial dystrophy). Dysfunction of the heart inevitably leads to serious pathologies (atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemic disease and etc.). With heart failure, a person develops shortness of breath, unstable heartbeat (arrhythmia), swelling of organs and limbs, and a characteristic cough.

The first reaction of blood vessels to alcohol intake is expansion. But through short span time there is a sharp narrowing. If the process is repeated often, then the vascular system begins to malfunction: the walls of the vessels lose their elasticity and become covered with fatty plaques (atherosclerosis), blood circulation is disturbed. At the same time, all human organs feel acute deficiency nutrients and oxygen (hypoxia), metabolism is disturbed, the immune system is weakened.

With a large dose of alcohol, the adrenal glands begin to intensively produce hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine). This process wears out the cardiovascular system. The fragility of the capillaries is expressed by bluish streaks on the face and nose of the drinker.

The effect of alcohol on the joints

Alcoholism leads to disruption of metabolic processes in the body. As a result pathological changes not only affect internal organs, but also affect musculoskeletal system. Alcohol and arthritis-damaged joints are usually perceived as disparate facts. In fact, doctors point to a direct dependence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system on alcohol abuse.

Pathologies of the joints of an alcoholic:

arthritis;
gout;
arthrosis;
aseptic necrosis.

Inflammatory processes that occur due to excessive alcohol consumption affect the cartilage. Joint deformity occurs due to wear and tear cartilage tissue.

Potassium is a trace mineral essential for proper functioning skeletal system, - washed out with alcoholic beverages. As a result of potassium deficiency, fluid accumulates inside the joint with inflammatory pathology. At the same time, the person feels severe pain.

Joint mobility may decrease due to the deposition of salts formed against the background of kidney dysfunction. Alcohol consumption interferes with renal metabolism and correct exchange substances.

Bleeding disorders can also lead to joint pain.

beer alcoholism

Doctors constantly warn about the harmful effects of alcohol on the human body.

Frequent drinking of beer is considered another form of alcoholism. A painful addiction to a foamy drink causes a steady addiction. If alcohol-containing alcohol causes rejection in many, then beer is tried already in childhood. Natural product may have beneficial features and possesses them, but today the food industry offers a surrogate with the addition of the same alcohol.

Narcologists often mention the harm of beer on the body. This type of alcohol acts more slowly than alcoholic drinks, but the end result is the same. The insidiousness of beer - in its less repulsive form. In some countries, there is no concept of beer alcoholism at all. Passion for a foamy drink is characterized by the following:

Counterfeit beer production does not lead to high mortality of beer alcoholics, as, for example, counterfeit vodka.
Beer intoxication is much easier than alcohol poisoning, but the risk of addiction is higher than that of hard drink users.
Somatic anomaly (bodily diseases) in beer drinkers is ahead of psychopathic disorders. Along with this, personal degradation is poorly expressed. Beer alcoholics retain their intellectual and professional quality necessary for a fruitful life and work.
Beer abuse eventually causes the same health problems as alcohol-containing drinks. A "beer heart syndrome" appears, which can be accompanied by a change in its structure, necrosis of the heart muscle, and enlarged ventricles.
Cobalt - beer foam stabilizer - negatively affects digestive system, causing inflammatory processes.
Beer drinkers have a hormonal imbalance in endocrine system: a beer belly appears in men, the mammary glands increase, in women the voice becomes hoarse, mustaches and beards begin to grow.

hangover hunger

Why do you want to eat after drinking? The next day after drinking alcohol, a hangover occurs: headache, nausea, tremor of the limbs, feeling of emptiness in the stomach. But these consequences are overshadowed by uncontrollable hunger. This response of the body is sharp decline blood glucose. Insulin deficiency sends a signal to the brain that it is time to eat.

With a hangover, you should stick to a diet so as not to harm the body even more. Warm food is better than cold food. It should be remembered:

Broth or light soup in the morning will have a beneficial effect on the stomach and help eliminate toxic substances.
Porridge will saturate the body for a long time and help to establish the functions of peristalsis.
Sour milk drinks restore disturbed intestinal microflora.
Tea with lemon will quench your thirst well and make up for the colossal losses of vitamin C.
Eliminate spicy and fatty meals. It is difficult for an organism suffering from alcohol to cope with the additional load.
For dessert, eat fruit and some dark chocolate, which increases glycogen levels (responsible for performance and well-being).

The negative effect of ethyl alcohol on the human body is known to all. But that doesn't stop anyone. At first, a person denies the fact that he can become an alcoholic. Then he for a long time does not recognize his addiction to alcohol. At this stage, relatives should help in understanding what is happening. The drinker himself is no longer able to control the consumption of alcohol. Alcoholism enters the stage of chronic pathology.