Drinking alcoholic beverages can be equated with a national tradition. They find themselves at the table both on holidays and in days of mourning, spend free time with them and relax, without thinking about the harmfulness of alcohol on the body and its harmful effects on health.
Ethyl alcohol is a poison to humans. Depending on the predisposition of the individual, even small doses can cause serious disturbances in the work of organs, cause changes in behavior and disturb the general condition. Lack of measures and systemic alcohol consumption often cause the development of addiction, which requires significant physical, moral and financial efforts to combat.
Clinic specialists know first hand about the dangers of alcohol, on the basis of which patients are provided with competent and quality care in order to eliminate the consequences of alcohol abuse. Clinic doctors help deal with hangover symptoms, eliminate alcohol, alleviate intoxication, and also select the course of treatment and rehabilitation. Drug treatment is performed at home, on an outpatient basis, or in a hospital setting.
Stages of development of alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease characterized by the presence of significance and craving for alcohol. It develops in stages, going through several stages.
Phase 1
The first stage of disease development is characterized by the appearance of a stable craving for alcoholic beverages. The desire to drink occurs in stressful and emotionally intense situations, regardless of their nature (joy or discomfort).
Phase 2
The frequency of alcohol consumption is constantly increasing, the amount and strength of drinks consumed is growing. Gradually, the person loses control of the situation, as well as the ability to critically evaluate their behavior and actions.
Phase 3
The body becomes accustomed to drinking alcohol, which is expressed in a weakening of the ability to resist its destructive influence. Even a small dose of alcohol causes intoxication, and further use does not change the nature of the condition.
Consequences of alcohol consumption
Ethanol is a chemical that has a psychoactive effect and the ability to cause excessive excitation of the central nervous system. Depending on the dose and individual reactions of the organism, drinking can cause a state of relaxation or seizures of uncontrolled anger, lead to a slight loss of coordination or threaten loss of consciousness and epileptic seizures. In clinics, doctors notice various consequences of alcohol consumption, in any case choosing an adequate way to provide help.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
Under the influence of ethanol in the body, various pathological processes occur, including the adhesion of erythrocytes. The resulting plaques enter the circulatory system and begin to circulate in the bloodstream. When they pass through the thin vessels of the brain, they can create a blockage that stops the flow of blood. As a result, the brain begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen, leading to cell death. Physically, this condition manifests as a headache during a hangover, as well as memory disorders.
Regular recurrence of the condition increases the level of stress, which leads to irreversible changes in brain tissues. As a result, over time, a person may face diseases such as dementia and atherosclerosis.
Influence of alcohol on the nervous system
The central nervous system is subject to standard action. Due to forced relaxation, the sensitivity of nerve fibers decreases, which leads to the elimination of excess stress. But it is precisely this state that becomes a trap. In anticipation of a pleasant feeling, a person begins to regularly turn to drinking alcohol, which teaches the nervous system to relax. Without it, the tension progresses, creating a serious burden on the body:
- the period of worrying about stress and troubles increases;
- internal anxiety and anxiety increase;
- stress does not subside, it causes mental and physical changes in the condition.
The effect of alcohol on the liver
Like any other poison and toxin, ethanol has a negative effect on liver tissue and cells. As soon as ethyl alcohol enters the body, the liver begins to produce an enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) that can process and neutralize it. High levels of stress cause the death of healthy liver cells and their replacement by fat and connective tissue. If the process is not stopped, the consequences are very terrible:
- liver failure develops: the organ does not cope with its work;
- 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 the organs, an increase in the load on the vascular system, an increased risk of thrombus formation;
- as a result of liver depletion, the process of utilization of sodium compounds is delayed, leading to increased stone formation in the bile ducts and bladder.
Influence of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract
Consuming alcohol is harmful to your gastrointestinal health. The mucous membrane of the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract is in direct contact with alcohol, which significantly increases the risks:
- development of peptic ulcer and inflammatory processes;
- changes in the acidity of gastric juice, which causes pain and digestive problems;
- development of reflux, which leads to heartburn, burns of the mucous membranes and the development of other chronic diseases.
The harm of alcohol to women
The female body turns out to be particularly vulnerable, the harmful effect of alcohol on it is more pronounced and stronger compared to 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 strong stress for her. Load causes disorders of the endocrine glands, suppresses the work of the ovaries and adrenal glands, significantly reduces the production of female sex hormones, in contrast, increases testosterone synthesis. As a result, the systematic use of alcoholic beverages causes the appearance of masculine traits:
- the timbre of the voice changes: hoarseness and roughness of the sound occur;
- change in movement coordination;
- grace and attractiveness are lost;
- bending occurs;
- weight gain.
Alcoholism changes a woman's appearance. The state of intoxication and hangover causes swelling of the face, redness and swelling. Facial skin takes on an unhealthy, earthy color, the vascular network becomes noticeable, the whites of the eyes become red and subsequently darken. Dark circles also appear under the eyes. Fat deposits form on the stomach. Excessive hair growth is noticeable.
Alcohol consumption negatively affects the condition of blood vessels and veins. Their walls lose elasticity, which is manifested by the appearance of cyanotic, vascular network, heaviness in the limbs, pain in the legs.
Alcoholism causes metabolic disorders. The body loses the ability to fully absorb nutrients while actively losing vitamins and minerals. In this regard, the manifestations of vitamin deficiency worsen, the skin and hair get a dull appearance. Fatigue appears, endurance disappears, activity is lost.
Regular alcohol consumption affects the reproductive system. Alcohol causes ovarian dysfunction, which means the absence of ovulation and difficulties with pregnancy. If conception occurs in the background of systematic drinking, then the risks to the fetus increase significantly. As a result, a child can be born with serious pathologies and developmental disorders.
Without qualified help, it is harder for women to deal with addiction and stop the destruction of the body. In this regard, contacting the clinic is of particular importance. A course of restorative therapy based on it helps to solve unhealthy cravings for alcohol. The program of treatment of female alcoholism is composed taking into account the specific nuances of the course of the disease, which increases its effectiveness in combating the disease.
The harm of alcohol to men
Regular alcohol abuse harms the male body. Toxins destroy organs and systems, chronic diseases worsen, character changes, health deteriorates.
In the background of drunkenness, the level of male hormones decreases, which implies external changes: fat is deposited on the chest and hips, muscle weakness appears, and bags under the eyes become visible.
Alcohol is especially bad for the reproductive system. Under the influence of toxins, the hormonal background changes, sexual stamina disappears, libido decreases, signs of impotence appear.
Drinking also causes such a problem as testicular shrinkage. As a result, seed production and quality is significantly reduced. Conception becomes a problem. But even in the case of pregnancy, the risks of developing abnormalities in the fetus increase significantly.
Given the severity of the consequences that alcoholism brings with it, clinical treatment provides an integrated approach to the problem. At the same time, it is aimed at combating alcohol dependence and restoring the body.
The harm of alcohol to teenagers
It is forbidden to consume alcohol during adolescence. But because of youthful protest and longing for adulthood, these prohibitions are often violated. Consuming alcohol in youth is especially dangerous. The body is in a phase of formation and formation, and the toxic effects of alcohol interfere with this process. The harm of alcohol in adolescence is especially noticeable:
- the addiction develops rapidly: even small doses are sufficient to create it;
- symptoms of intoxication develop rapidly and are manifested by a special brightness;
- the psyche does not cope with the load, which is expressed in the appearance of aggression, anger, irritation, inadequate reactions;
- memory decreases, the ability to concentrate deteriorates, the adolescent cannot cope with his learning, begins to lag behind and degrade.
The treatment of adolescents and the choice of the correct strategy of therapeutic intervention requires taking into account the characteristics of their physical and mental development and condition. Clinics have developed special methods of caring for a particularly vulnerable group of patients, the use of which gives good results.
Safe doses of alcohol
The variety of alcoholic beverages and their availability create the impression that they are safe and safe to drink. But the opinion of scientists on this issue remains categorical - alcohol is harmful to health in any dose. Depending on the level of its consumption, this damage can be minimal or critical. It has been proven that regular use of alcohol can cause diseases, but also cause worsening of existing problems.
Critical thinking and understanding of the seriousness of the problem is necessary in every situation, including the issue of drinking alcohol. 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 occasional use.
Scientific research suggests that the risks of developing addiction 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 handle a couple of glasses of wine or 0. 6 liters of beer. However, you should not take these figures as a direct guide to action. Daily drinking is not helpful and can create a basis for addiction, which you will eventually have to deal with.