For many people, alcoholic beverages are an integral part of any holiday or celebration. Often, when drinking another glass of wine or a glass of strong alcohol, one does not think about the fact that, in addition to pleasant sensations, intoxicating liquid is harmful. Excessive alcohol consumption leads to irreversible consequences: at certain stages of alcohol dependence, severe pathologies of the nervous system and other body systems are found.
What is alcohol
Scientifically speaking, alcohol is directly ethyl alcohol. Ethanol is a colorless liquid with a specific taste and smell. This type of alcohol is obtained by fermentation or artificially. The substance is used as a disinfectant, fuel, solvent. In everyday life, alcohol is called a beverage, which contains ethanol in various concentrations.
What is the harm of alcohol
Once in the human body, alcohol acts as a solvent, destroying the fatty membrane of red blood cells. As a result, the blood cells stick together. Such formations can block blood flow to the small capillaries. The process leads to the fact that the brain does not get enough oxygen and nutrients, its cells die. Dysfunctions of the central nervous system contribute to the dysfunction of other organs. A large amount of alcohol causes chronic, irreversible pathology.
What if you drink
The consequences of alcohol consumption are associated with the toxic effects of ethyl alcohol on the body of men and women. The severity of the side effects of drinks is related to their strength, quantity and frequency of drinking. Drinking small amounts of alcohol at important events may not be harmful. Excessive use threatens the development of alcoholic encephalopathy, the formation of addiction, dysfunction of internal organs, social degradation and other negative consequences.
Moderate use
According to some experts, moderate consumption of alcohol in the amounts allowed by the WHO does not cause much harm to the body, does not create addiction and does not lead to intoxication. Alcohol in small doses can be helpful in preventing disease as it forces the immune systems to function. It should be remembered that this method of disease prevention is very dangerous, especially for people with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism.
Daily use
Representatives of the World Health Organization warn that the use of ethanol on a daily basis is strictly prohibited. By drinking every day, a person risks gradually becoming addicted. There is a risk of losing control, the desire to systematically increase the dose - this is a direct path to alcoholism, the acquisition of mental and physical health disorders. It is recommended to take a break of a few days in order for the toxins to leave the body.
abuses
The body perceives increased doses of strong alcohol as poison, so you harm yourself, even if you drink infrequently. A large amount of alcohol adversely affects the brain, liver, cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract. Persistent alcohol abuse can cause persistent addiction, which leads to irreversible consequences.
Alcohol dependence
Once ingested, high concentrations of alcohol can cause persistent addiction. This is explained by the toxic properties of ethanol. Alcoholism is a disease characterized by the constant and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, a pathological attraction to the state of intoxication and a change in alcohol tolerance. Experts identify the following symptoms of the disease:
- Presence of alcohol withdrawal syndrome - when the patient refuses to drink alcohol, the patient experiences negative physical and psychological changes.
- The desire to drink appears in every situation of emotional importance.
- Behavioral changes are observed: lack of memory, aggression, lack of desire to communicate with loved ones, etc.
- Lack of a system, alcohol consumption can last more than a day (binges).
- Increased tolerance to ethyl alcohol, increased threshold for alcohol rejection.
- Persistent hangover, desire to drink to relieve its symptoms.
- The presence of some external manifestations (bruising, thickening of the veins, rapid aging of the skin).
When a person is considered an alcoholic
Experts recommend separating domestic intoxication from alcoholism. In the first case, a person can afford to drink systematically, however, stopping the use of alcoholic beverages does not bring serious consequences, aggression occurs at will. This condition is not classified as a disease. An alcoholic is a person who suffers from alcoholism. He is unable to control his desire to drink, the amount of alcohol consumed and is prone to excessive drinking.
Causes of occurrence
Anyone can become addicted to alcohol if they stop controlling themselves, as some cultural characteristics provoke people to drink intoxicating drinks during hours of joy, sadness and holidays. There are 2 groups of citizens who are particularly prone to ethanol addiction. Experts identify the following causes of alcoholism:
- Hereditary predisposition. People who have alcoholics among their ancestors may get the genetic material responsible for the high risk of alcohol dependence.
- Psychological factors. Emotional experiences (losing a job, unhappy love, the death of loved ones) can lead to alcohol addiction. A person tries to drink alcohol to relax, to avoid moral trauma. As a result, she gains a persistent craving for ethanol.
How alcoholism develops
A risk factor in the development of alcoholism is that persistent addiction can arise unnoticed by the patient. A person starts drinking alcohol in company during the holidays or occasionally drinks to calm the nerves. Ethanol can not cause adverse reactions at this stage. The feeling of relaxation and fun leads to the fact that alcohol consumption becomes more frequent. As a result, a person becomes addicted, he begins to exhibit symptoms of alcoholism. Gradually personality disorder occurs, the physical craving for alcohol begins.
Stages of alcoholism
Experts distinguish 3 degrees of alcoholism. Each stage is characterized by the following factors:
- The first stage - at this stage of disease development, the patient often has a desire to drink alcohol. If he is not satisfied, he disappears after a while. When the patient drinks, there is a sharp loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed. The person becomes aggressive, irritable, episodes of memory loss occur. Every intoxication has one reason or another that the patient comes out to justify. The alcoholic ceases to regard it as a negative phenomenon.
- The second stage is characterized by an increase in tolerance to alcoholic beverages. At this stage, physical dependence is formed: withdrawal symptoms, headache, thirst, irritability, trembling of hands and body, sleep disturbances. With a sharp cessation of pleasure, complications can occur.
- The third stage - the desire for alcohol increases. Mental disorders appear, leading to amnesia. Physical, social and personal degradation is on the rise. Strong drinking provokes severe depletion of the body, if discontinued without medical intervention, metal-alcoholic psychosis can occur.
Lifespan of an alcoholic
It is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of how long alcoholics live, as each person's body individually reacts to ethyl alcohol. An important factor is the quality of drinks and the quantity of their consumption. Drinking a glass of good wine with dinner can lead to a long and happy life. According to many scientists, some people may even benefit from this.
Using cheap drinks, a substitute can cause not only damage to internal organs, but also acute intoxication. According to statistics, the average life expectancy of an alcoholic is 48-55 years. At the same time, the period may be shorter for women, heavy drinkers and people who started drinking alcohol as teenagers. Patients in stage 3 addiction have the highest risk of mortality. They die from severe organ pathologies, living 6-7 years after such a diagnosis.
Consequences of drinking alcohol
Excessive consumption of alcohol at any age increases the risk of diseases of body systems, disrupts the activity of the human brain. The consequences of such processes are irreversible changes in the psyche, a decrease in social activity, physical harm to the patient. With regular use, a person experiences constant poisoning, which causes the deposition of harmful substances within the body.
Social implications
Alcohol addiction directly affects not only the patient himself but also his family, social circle and career. The patient faces economic difficulties, as a lot of money is spent on the purchase of alcohol. In addition, due to addiction, problems at work may appear, as the alcoholic is not able to perform his functions properly, skipping work days due to hangover.
Persistent intoxication also has a devastating effect on the patient's family. This happens because conflicts become more frequent, the patient becomes aggressive. The life of the alcoholic and others is threatened by driving while intoxicated. Driving after drinking alcohol significantly increases the chance of an accident. People who are drunk are at greater risk of committing a crime.
Health consequences
Alcohol dependence has a significant impact on the patient's physical and mental health. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can cause the following consequences of alcoholism:
- The toxic effect of ethanol on neurons (nerve cells) and brain structures begins even when small doses of the substance enter the body. Experts note a violation of the activity of control centers, failures in the regulatory mechanisms of the cortex. Such processes contribute to a rapid change of mood, partial loss of control over actions, irritability, aggression, and the onset of mental disorders.
- Pathological processes in neurons negatively affect the functioning of sensory organs, the patient's intellectual abilities and his memory. With systematic alcohol consumption, chronic encephalopathy is observed and cerebral infarction is possible. Prolonged exposure to alcohol provokes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's.
- Cerebral vessels become fragile, aneurysms can form with subsequent rupture. There is an increased risk of blood clots, blood supply disorders, atrophic phenomena of the auditory and optic nerves, ischemic strokes of the spinal cord and brain. Gradually, chronic alcoholism leads to irreversible mental illness, complete degradation of personality.
- The consequences of alcohol consumption by the cardiovascular system are: cardiomyopathy with the development of heart failure, hypertension with a tendency to rupture arteries, veins, aneurysms, ischemia, myocardial infarction, blockade and arrhythmia.
- The negative impact of frequent alcohol consumption on the human reproductive system is the impairment of germ cell viability and maturity, the formation of infertility and the high risk of congenital fetal abnormalities. For men, the risk is reduced erection, leading to the gradual development of impotence. Also, with prolonged use, persistent hormonal disorders occur.
- Common consequences of alcoholism are necrotic ulcerative and inflammatory processes of the stomach (gastritis, peptic ulcer), lesions of the pancreas, accompanied by chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. Gradually, doctors notice fatigue of the whole body, accompanied by metabolic disorders and decreased appetite. The occurrence of oncological diseases of the stomach and intestines is possible.
- Liver disease is considered by experts to be the most dangerous consequence of systemic intoxication. Organ cells can not withstand chronic intoxication, so alcoholics often suffer from fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatitis.
How often can you drink alcohol?
The World Health Organization, by setting a safe dose of alcohol per day, warns that drinking every day is a risk to the normal functioning of the body. To prevent the appearance of pathological conditions, it is recommended to take vacations. Experts advise you to consume alcoholic beverages no more than 1 time in 3 days and you should do it with a minimum dose.
Safe dose of alcohol per day
The standard dose of alcoholic beverages, set by the WHO, is equal to the content of 10 g of pure ethanol. This part is called the drink or unit. Its equivalent is 330 ml of beer, 150 ml of dry wine, 45 ml of strong alcohol. The World Health Organization has established the following safe doses of alcoholic beverages per day:
- For men - 4 drinks, which is equal to 100 g of vodka, 3 glasses of dry wine, 1-2 cans of beer.
- For women, a safe dose is 3 units, that is 1-2 glasses of dry wine, 80 g of vodka, 1 bottle of beer.