Drinking alcoholic beverages can be likened to a national tradition. They find themselves at the table both on vacation and in days of mourning, they spend free time with them and relax, without thinking about the harmful effects of alcohol on the body and its destructive effects on health.
Ethyl alcohol is poisonous for humans. Depending on the predisposition of the individual, even small doses can cause serious disturbances in the functioning of organs, cause changes in behavior and disturb general well-being. The absence of measures and the systemic consumption of alcohol often lead to the development of addictions, the control of which requires considerable physical, moral and financial efforts.
Specialists in clinics know first-hand the dangers of alcohol, on the basis of which patients receive competent and high-quality assistance aimed at eliminating the consequences of alcohol abuse. Doctors in clinics help cope with hangover symptoms, eliminate excessive alcohol consumption, relieve intoxication, and choose treatment and rehabilitation. Drug treatment is provided at home, on an outpatient basis or in a hospital environment.
Developmental stages of alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease that characterizes the presence of heavy and craving for alcohol. It develops in stages, going through several stages.
1st step
The first stage of the development of the disease is characterized by the emergence of a stable craving for alcoholic beverages. The urge to drink appears in stressful and emotionally intense situations, whatever their nature (joy or inconvenience).
2nd step
The frequency of alcohol consumption is constantly increasing, the volume and strength of the drinks consumed are increasing. Gradually, a person loses control of the situation, as well as the ability to critically assess his behavior and actions.
Step 3
The body gets used to drinking alcohol, which is expressed by the weakening of the ability to resist its destructive influence. Even a small dose of alcohol causes poisoning, and subsequent use does not change the nature of the disease.
The consequences of alcohol consumption
Ethanol is a chemical that has a psychoactive effect and the ability to over-arouse the central nervous system. Depending on the dose and the individual reactions of the body, alcohol consumption may induce a state of relaxation or uncontrollable fits of rage, lead to a slight loss of coordination, or threaten to pass out and have epileptic seizures. . In clinics, doctors observe a variety of consequences of alcohol consumption, in each case choosing an adequate way to provide assistance.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
Under the influence of ethanol, various pathological processes occur in the body, including the adhesion of erythrocytes. The plaques formed enter the circulatory system and begin to circulate in the bloodstream. By passing through the thin vessels of the brain, they can create a blockage that stops the blood supply. As a result, the brain begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen, resulting in cell death. Physically, this condition manifests as headaches during a hangover, as well as memory lapses.
The regular recurrence of the disease increases the level of stress, which leads to irreversible changes in the tissues of the brain. As a result, over time a person may be faced with diseases such as dementia and atherosclerosis.
The effect of alcohol on the nervous system
The central nervous system is subject to the action of the stallion. Due to the forced relaxation, the sensitivity of nerve fibers decreases, which leads to the elimination of excess stress. But it is precisely this state that becomes the trap. In anticipation of a pleasant feeling, a person begins to regularly drink alcohol, which teaches the nervous system to relax. Without it, the tension increases, creating a heavy load on the body:
- the period of worry about stress and problems increases;
- internal anxiety and anxiety increase;
- stress does not decrease, causing mental and physical changes in the condition.
The effect of alcohol on the liver
Like all other poisons and toxins, ethanol has a negative effect on the tissues and cells of the liver. As soon as ethyl alcohol enters the body, the liver begins to produce an enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) which can process and neutralize it. High stress levels cause healthy liver cells to die and replace them with fatty and connective tissue. If the process is not stopped, the consequences are very serious:
- liver failure develops: the organ does not do its job;
- the load on the digestive tract increases, the activity of the gallbladder decreases;
- there is an increase in the size of the liver, which causes a change in the position of organs, an increase in the load on the vascular system, an increased risk of thrombus formation;
- due to the exhaustion of the liver, the process of using sodium compounds is delayed, which leads to increased stone formation in the bile ducts and bladder.
The effect of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract
Alcohol consumption is harmful to your gastrointestinal health. The lining of the esophagus and the gastrointestinal tract is in direct contact with alcohol, which significantly increases the risks:
- the development of peptic ulcer and inflammatory processes;
- changes in the acidity of gastric juice, which causes pain and digestive problems;
- the development of reflux, which leads to the appearance of heartburn, burns of the mucous membrane and the development of other chronic diseases.
The Harms of Alcohol for Women
The female body turns out to be particularly vulnerable, the harmful effect of alcohol on it turns out to be more pronounced and stronger than the effect on men. Even a small dose of alcohol can cause poisoning. Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages causes rapid destructive effects.
The hormonal system suffers the most. Drinking alcohol becomes a powerful stressor for her. The load causes disturbances in the work of the endocrine glands, suppresses the work of the ovaries and adrenal glands, the production of female sex hormones is significantly reduced, on the other hand, the synthesis of testosterone increases. As a result, the systematic use of alcoholic beverages causes the appearance of masculine traits:
- the timbre of the voice changes: there is hoarseness and roughness of the sound;
- coordination of movements changes;
- grace and attractiveness are lost;
- the steps appear;
- weight gain.
Alcoholism changes a woman's appearance. The state of intoxication and a hangover cause swelling of the face, the appearance of redness and swelling. The skin of the face acquires an unhealthy earthy color, the vascular network becomes noticeable, the whites of the eyes turn red and subsequently darken. Dark circles also appear under the eyes. Fat deposits form in the abdomen. Excessive hair growth becomes noticeable.
Alcohol consumption has a negative effect on the condition of blood vessels and veins. Their walls lose elasticity, which is manifested by the appearance of cyanotic, vascular meshes, heaviness in the limbs, pain in the legs.
Alcoholism causes the appearance of metabolic disorders. The body loses its ability to fully absorb nutrients, while actively losing vitamins and minerals. In this regard, manifestations of vitamin deficiency are aggravated, the skin and hair acquire a dull appearance. Fatigue appears, endurance disappears, activity is lost.
Drinking regularly hits the reproductive system. Alcohol causes disturbances in the functioning of the ovaries, which results in the absence of ovulation and difficulties in the onset of pregnancy. If conception occurs against the background of systematic alcohol consumption, the risks to the fetus increase significantly. As a result, a child can be born with serious pathologies and developmental disorders.
Without skilled help, it is more difficult for women to cope with addiction and stop the destruction of the body. In this regard, communicating with the clinic is particularly important. A course of restorative therapy based on her helps cope with unhealthy cravings for alcohol. The program for the treatment of female alcoholism is developed taking into account the specific nuances of the course of the disease, which increases its effectiveness in the fight against the disease.
The Harms of Alcohol for Men
Regular alcohol abuse harms the male body. Toxins destroy organs and systems, chronic diseases worsen, character changes and health worsens.
Against the background of drunkenness, the level of male hormones decreases, which leads to external changes: fat is deposited on the chest and hips, muscle weakness appears, bags under the eyes become noticeable.
Alcohol is particularly bad for the reproductive system. Under the influence of toxins, the hormonal background changes, sexual endurance goes away, libido decreases, signs of impotence appear.
Drinking also causes a problem such as a decrease in the testicles. As a result, the production and quality of sperm is drastically reduced. Design becomes an issue. But even with pregnancy, the chances of developing abnormalities in the fetus increase significantly.
Considering the seriousness of the consequences that alcoholism entails, the treatment in the clinic provides for an integrated approach to the problem. It aims both to fight against alcohol addiction and to restore the body.
The Harms of Alcohol in Adolescents
It is forbidden to drink alcohol during adolescence. But due to the protest of young people and the urge to reach adulthood, these prohibitions are often violated. Drinking alcohol at a young age is particularly dangerous. The body is at the stage of training and training, and the toxic effect of alcohol interferes with this process. The harmful effects of alcohol in adolescence are particularly noticeable:
- addiction develops rapidly: even small doses are enough for its formation;
- symptoms of intoxication develop rapidly and manifest themselves with special brightness;
- the psyche does not support the load, which is expressed by the appearance of aggression, anger, irritation, inadequate reactions;
- memory decreases, the ability to concentrate worsens, the adolescent cannot cope with his studies, begins to fall behind and deteriorate.
The treatment of adolescents and the choice of the right therapeutic intervention strategy require taking into account the characteristics of their development and their physical and psychological state. The clinics have developed special care methods for a particularly vulnerable group of patients, the use of which gives good results.
Harmless doses of alcohol
The variety of alcoholic beverages and their availability give the impression that they are safe and harmless to drink. But the opinion of scientists on the matter remains categorical - alcohol is harmful to health in any dosage. Depending on the level of its consumption, this damage can be minimal or critical. Regular consumption of alcohol has been proven to cause illness and exacerbate existing illnesses.
Critical thinking and understanding the seriousness of the problem is necessary in any situation, including the issue of alcohol use. Much depends on personal preferences, attitudes and guidelines, as well as health. It is easier for someone to completely exclude alcohol, someone admits the possibility of its periodic use.
Scientific research suggests that the risks of addiction formation will be minimal if the daily dose of ethanol does not exceed 12/24 grams (the norm for women and men). That is, women can safely drink a glass of wine or a glass of beer a day, a man's body can withstand a few glasses of wine or 0. 6 liters of beer. However, you shouldn't take these numbers as a direct guide to action. Drinking every day is not beneficial and can create a basis for addiction formation, which may need to be managed.