Regular consumption of all alcoholic beverages cannot last long without consequences. The so-called beer alcoholism develops much more slowly than strong alcohol addiction, and this is its special danger.
What is the danger of beer
For the development of alcoholism, the type of alcohol does not matter. The disease is formed by drinking wine, vodka, moonshine, alcoholic cocktails and beer. The only thing that low-alcohol drinks affect is the rate of addiction formation. In this regard, beer is considered one of the most dangerous drinks. And that's why.
- The alcohol in it contains from 4 to 14%, which does not concern the majority. Indeed, in such harmless drinks as kvass or kefir, there is also alcohol.
- The beer is delicious. Unlike vodka or moonshine, which must be "pushed" inside, the intoxicating liquid can be savored at will and often makes you want to renew the pleasure.
- In terms of popularity, beer ranks first in almost all segments of the population: men, women and teenagers drink it. In an obsessive advertisement, it is presented as an ordinary soft drink.
- In addition to alcohol, most varieties contain a number of substances that negatively affect the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
If we consider the above facts in more detail, it becomes clear that there is nothing safe in this drink. Frequent consumption of beer is not condemned by society. On the contrary, there are arguments in its favour. It is recommended to compensate for vitamin deficiencies or to improve digestion. For this reason, many do not have a psychological stop signal, which is, for example, at the onset of heavy alcohol abuse. Drinking vodka is considered shameful and unhealthy, and drinking beer every day is just a form of relaxation. Some do not consider it dangerous to give it even to children "to promote health".
Signs and characteristics of beer addiction
The usual arithmetic calculation allows you to determine what threatens a beer binge with regular libations. In 1 liter of weak beer, 40 ml of pure ethanol, in strong varieties - 120-140 ml. In the latter case, the permitted daily dose of alcohol for men has been doubled. And if you consider that 1 liter is drunk only "for overclocking", and the amount is not counted, then it becomes clear that the consequences of drinking beer cannot be avoided.
From an ordinary hobby, the addiction slowly turns into psychological addiction, while the abuser is quite confident in his own well-being and does not put himself on the same level as alcoholics, but continues to drink beereveryday. You can understand that the disease develops when the following situations appear:
- the next gatherings with beer cause impatience and joyful expectation, for them you can postpone less important things;
- drunkenness comes quickly and lasts a long time;
- at least 1. 5 liters are drunk per day, the maximum is not exactly known;
- days when the usual beer is impossible for some reason, are lived with irritation, the mood deteriorates, only a few new cans or bottles can return it;
- light beer looks like water, you want to take the strongest;
- those around him and the mirror begin to notice changes in appearance: puffiness of the face, swollen body, bags under the eyes, pale earthy skin;
- more often than usual there is shortness of breath, chest pain, the pulse quickens;
- the next morning after the beer, I have a headache, I want to drink a little more to "get better".
The appearance of only one of the signs against the background of a daily "hobby" indicates an addiction to beer, the symptoms of which will make themselves felt more strongly in the future.
Narcologists do not recognize any specificity of alcoholic disease according to the type of drink they prefer, but they agree that beer addiction is very insidious. It is very difficult to identify it at the first stage, since there are no pronounced changes in the way of life and human health. For example, a wife in a situation where her husband drinks beer every day may not notice any signs of addiction from the outside.
Beer alcoholism in men is often disguised as somatic disorders. Often, heart problems, headaches and irritability are mistaken for accumulated fatigue.
Health effects of beer abuse
The consequences of beer alcoholism affect intellectual, moral and personal aspects to a lesser extent. People addicted to drink less often lose professional skills, maintain the adequacy of behaviors and judgments, unlike those who drink strong alcohol on a daily basis. This is a feature of weak alcoholic beverages: personality degradation develops, but very slowly.
Another danger that awaits beer lovers is the destruction of physical health. As a result of daily heavy drinking, serious chronic diseases develop:
- myocardial dystrophy;
- angina;
- coronary artery disease;
- gastritis;
- jade;
- fatty hepatosis;
- liver cirrhosis;
- neurological disorders.
A foamy drink puts a lot of strain on the kidneys, binds and eliminates the minerals and vitamins necessary for the body: potassium, calcium, ascorbic acid, riboflavin. As a result, the work of all internal organs is disturbed. The constant presence of acetaldehyde in the blood causes swelling, combined with dehydration, and poisons the liver and brain.
It is important that beer contains a lot of so-called phytoestrogens. Taken uncontrollably, these substances contribute to hormonal imbalance in both men and women, leading to reproductive system dysfunction, increased risk of blood clots, and increased cholesterol levels.
But the main thing for which beer alcoholism is dangerous is uncontrolled intoxication. The pleasure of the taste of the drink eclipses the effects of ethanol, the feeling of incipient euphoria disinhibits, retouches the problems, encouraging to take a few more mugs or bottles. While drinking beer, it rarely happens to someone that they have been through it. In addition, drug addicts often go from weak alcohol to abuse of vodka or other "fuel".
The fight against beer alcoholism
How to treat beer alcoholism depends on the degree of the disease and the overall situation. Since such abuse is not always accompanied by a loss of volitional qualities and mental disorders, it is logical that the addict should do all the work on his own. Coding of beer alcoholism as a separate specific pathology does not exist. Sewing drug torpedoes under the skin or hypnosis may not work.
As with other types of addiction, the patient must recognize the existing situation and the need to change it. Some can do it themselves, others will need a sign from outside. If there is no physical dependence on ethanol - the absence of beer does not lead to a deterioration in well-being, heart attacks - you can do without the help of a narcologist.
Approximate action program.
- Medicine does not recognize "small dose" methods of treating alcoholism. It is useless to recommend people who have a painful addiction to beer to drink 1 bottle a day. This is self-deception, after a while the problem will return. Only complete denial can help. You must act according to the principle "the last time was yesterday". This is the most difficult step, but it is necessary.
- After the rejection, you should analyze what annoys you the most. Boredom, a lot of free time, uninteresting television, stress at work, a quarrel with a friend. Usually, problems that have been alleviated by drinking beer go away immediately. They must be identified and started to be addressed without delay: instead of watching TV, fix something, go for a walk, start communicating with a forgotten friend, devote more time to work, to children, to helpingthe House.
- Boredom and irritability can be relieved by finding something you like and can enjoy doing. Hobbies, a new pet, sports, music, learning a foreign language, mastering a new job. Anything that arouses genuine interest, takes effort, but doesn't leave a sense of internal compulsion, will do. This is the most powerful way to deal with psychological addiction.
- With an irresistible urge to drink beer, you can replace the body: brew juice, green tea, lemonade. At first, a non-alcoholic version of beer is suitable. At the same time, after drinking 2-3 glasses of drink, it is urgent to turn your attention to an urgent matter. The brain will receive the necessary discharge, the psychological stress will disappear. If we are not talking about alcoholism, but only about a bad habit, then you can significantly reduce the amount of beer - drink no more than 0. 5 liters 1-2 times a week, ideally even less.
Lack of a good mood and interest in life and the presence of frequent dizziness, weak self-treatment of beer alcoholism is a reason to consult a neurologist or endocrinologist, since there is a riskdevelop metabolic disorders or damage to the central system. the nervous system. In this case, the doctor may prescribe a laboratory blood test, dopplerography, MRI of the brain. If signs of diseases are detected, it will be necessary to undergo treatment with hormonal or nootropic drugs.
Prevention of beer alcoholism consists in excluding the replacement of entertainment with a drink, fighting boredom, relaxing and solving problems. Like other alcoholic beverages, beer is acceptable on the festive table, but one cannot make it a constant companion of life or quench one's thirst with it.