The scandalous British psychotherapist David Nutt, who became famous not only for his scientific achievements but also for his habit of expressing his thoughts and beliefs directly and without unnecessary connotations, argued that there is no substance moredangerous for a person than alcohol. In terms of the degree of destructive effect, ethyl alcohol surpasses many poisons and narcotic substances, but for some reason the habit of drinking in the evening is perceived by most people as normal.
Of course, when alcoholism crosses social boundaries and a person slips into the abyss and begins to lead a marginal life, it is seen as slow suicide, but are most people so self-critical? -so-called domestic drunkenness? A glass or two of wine with dinner, a bottle of beer with a football game or 100 grams of alcohol for a meeting with a friend are seen as appropriate as a cup of tea, but such a habit ends up doing damage. no less devastating. harm than chronic consumption. Is alcohol so dangerous or is it just a stereotype? Let's move on to the advice of scientists.
The harm of alcohol on the human body: briefly about the main
So what is the main danger of alcohol? In its deceptive harmlessness! California scientists claim that ethyl alcohol in small quantities is absolutely safe. True, they tactfully keep silent about where "a small amount" ends and where "drunkenness" begins. It is also impossible to find information on who funded these studies, because they are not published in any high-level scientific journal, which requires all the protocols of the experiments and the data on the sponsors. Is it because representatives of the alcohol industry are in charge? It remains only to guess.
At the same time, there is no such addiction that would arise on its own - most often alcoholism develops precisely from the habit of drinking a bottle at times of joy and sadnessspecial, in the circle of friends and relatives. And we're not talking about notorious alcoholics who can't live a day without a cheap bottle of wine - those who ruin their health every day are enough in smart circles.
It's hard to find a more insidious liquid than alcohol. It acts on the brain like serotonin (the natural hormone of joy), causing an imaginary feeling of happiness and good humor. It is this effect that is responsible for the emergence of a habit - instead of learning to enjoy a full life, it is easier to cloud the mind with a substitute for pleasure.
However, this effect is quickly replaced by a much less pleasant effect - a complete loss of control over one's own emotions and actions causes a drunk person to "appear in all his glory". Some show aggression, others start crying for no reason, others behave with too much love. . . The number of manifestations of drunkenness is large, but none of them looks attractive from the outside.
Moreover, inappropriate behavior is far from the worst companion of drunkenness. According to statistics, more than half of road accidents and a third of suicides occur while intoxicated. With each drink drunk, the number of cells in the cerebral cortex is gradually reduced, but the irreversible effect is not immediately noticeable. Look into the eyes of a person who has been drinking alcohol for a long time and regularly - healthy thoughts, social norms and human perception are gradually replaced there by banal animal instincts and a craving for a bottle. Moreover, this process is irreversible - if the destroyed liver can still be treated a little, the cerebral cortex is not restored. Scientists from Australia have proven that even those who drink alcohol moderately 2-3 times a week, the size of the brain gradually decreases and its functionality decreases due to shrinkage. On average, 200 ml of strong drink at 40 degrees kills 1000-2000 cells. Keep that in mind when pouring another drink!
The harms of alcohol for men
Like any addictive substance, ethyl alcohol acts in secret - at first you will not notice any changes and unpleasant health consequences, but over time, when it becomes impossible to refuse a drunken drink, you will understand yourself-even how good the first impression is. And even some drinkers' beliefs that a bottle helps them relax and relieve stress are nothing more than self-deception. Such a feeling causes paralysis of the center of attention and self-control - ethanol, entering the blood, affects the brain centers and simulates a feeling of euphoria, which overshadows all other feelings, dampening the rational perception ofreality. The same goes for marijuana or hashish. Why are the harms of drugs known even to a child, and why is alcohol seen as healing? No answer…
Moreover, the stereotype imposed by the media and advertising on the brutality and masculinity of the stronger sex is directly linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. A glass of beer, a glass of whiskey or rum is considered a noble pastime of true gentlemen, but it is not at all. Yes, at first this glass will be invisible, but with each new sip the vessels and capillaries will become vulnerable and less elastic, and the heart will work halfway. This means that after a few years of a regular "evening with a drink", blood circulation will inevitably be disturbed, and as a result, impotence will appear, which cannot be eliminated even with the help of modern potency regulators - nAny of these drugs have a strict restriction on alcohol. So, dear men, remember: by raising glass to glass, you are depriving yourself of an important aspect of a fulfilled life.
The harm of alcohol on a woman's body
The alcoholism of women is much worse than that of men. Although ethanol acts equally destructively on the organisms of both sexes, the female physiology is much more bizarre: the vulnerability, emotionality and psychological sensitivity of the fair sex is a reasonable physiological characteristic, which means thatthey develop an addiction to the illusion of happiness and calm much faster. Trying to hide from the problems of alcoholic forgetfulness, women get drunk much faster, because the body cannot resist this attachment, and the peculiarities of psychology interfere with the mind's attempts to overcomecraving for a drink.
In addition, a woman's liver filters ethyl alcohol less well, which means that it breaks down faster under its influence. As statistics show, the first signs of cirrhosis appear in women on average after 5 years of alcohol dependence, and in men - after 7 years. And although the difference is small, it clearly demonstrates that the female body is a priori more sensitive than that of the man. to alcohol.
What are the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy?
A pregnant woman is a sacred vessel in which the life of an unborn child is hidden. It is unfortunate that not all women perceive the state of pregnancy in this way. Modern trends are dictating new rules: today, ladies "in position" deny themselves nothing, including a glass of red wine, which a gynecologist would allegedly recommend to them to relieve tone and general relaxation of the body. Who issued the medical training diploma to these doctors? What are gynecologists guided on when recommending it to pregnant women? There are many proven and safe ways to relieve stress, such as fresh air, meditation, simple yoga poses, or walking in nature. What is alcohol?
Studies by the American Association have shown that the infant mortality rate among alcoholic mothers is 5 times higher than among those who do not drink alcohol. And it's not about alcohol addiction, but about the famous "cultural drinking", called everyday drunkenness. Ethanol affects the fetus even in the womb, causing underdevelopment, mental retardation and other pathologies that will accompany the child throughout his life! Is her suffering worth the imaginary pleasure of a mother who cannot refuse a glass of alcohol?
An interesting experiment on the effects of alcohol vapor on embryos was carried out at the Federal Medical and Biological Center. 160 eggs were laid in the incubator, at the same time an ethanol steam generator was installed in the chamber. As a result, half of the embryos simply did not form, and of the remaining 80, 40 died in the first days after birth, and another 25 had severe malformations - for example, without a beak, a wing or withincorrect deformities. trained legs. Worth to be considered!
The harmful effects of alcohol on the body of a teenager
There is not and cannot be an innate need to drink alcohol - children learn this by watching their family and loved ones. If the advertising, sale and consumption of alcohol were banned on the same day, no child would feel deprived or inferior, let alone suffer from the urge to try products containing alcohol. However, in adolescence, the statistics change dramatically: more than 60% of modern adolescents try alcohol by the age of 15, and by the age of majority, their percentage reaches 90.
Research by our scientists B. S. Bratusya and P. I. Sidorova showed that even at kindergarten age, children easily reproduce the process of drinking alcohol and the state of intoxication. If you ask the kids to role-play a wedding, birthday, or trip to a party, they involuntarily clink glasses, pour drinks in, and say toast. Thus, a stereotype is formed that alcohol is a party and pleasure companion, a symbol of a carefree and happy adult life. This is where adolescent alcoholism begins.
What harm does alcohol do to today's teenagers?
Teenagers today see alcohol as a minor, idle pastime to get over the first disappointment, deal with embarrassment on a first date, or just have fun with friends. However, even a glass of a low-alcohol beverage like beer or homemade wine will be enough for a fragile body to get drunk and lose control.
Drinking for teenagers is a mistaken opportunity to assert themselves, to feel more mature, more relaxed and more courageous. Presenting yourself as a "bad guy" or a "girl fatale" by using alcohol to do so is as easy as shelling pears, but is it all as harmless as it seems? Destructive behavior, attempts to appear more mature, bluster and hysteria are far from the worst companions of teenage drinking. Most young people, after having a drink, lose a sense of proportion, gradually succumbing to a sense of surrogate euphoria. This is how attachment is born, and given the fact that in adolescence the body as a whole and the psyche in particular are not yet fully formed, it will be much more difficult to overcome the addiction that isappeared only in adults.
The harmful effects of alcohol on the human body: results
Data from the World Health Organization is clear: one in three premature deaths is related in some way to alcohol consumption. Some drink until the complete destruction of the body, others have accidents under the influence of ethanol, others lose control of themselves and harm themselves. However, today, a conscious choice in favor of a sober lifestyle is not so simple: successful men and women with a drink of alcohol watch us from television screens, billboardsdisplay and their own smartphones, and only at the bottom in a small and almost imperceptible font is a footnote: "Excessive alcohol consumption harms our health" in order to comply with the law.
Such mass advertising has a simple explanation: the profitability of the alcohol industry is estimated at billions of dollars, where each potential consumer is an additional opportunity to line their pockets. To resist this propaganda, just think with your own head and worry about your own health. The Hiroshima atomic explosion claimed the lives of two hundred thousand people and alcohol kills around one and a half million every year. That's all the math. . .
6 reasons to quit alcohol
A glass of wine is often offered to relieve stress and emotional difficulties. At the same time, alcohol can cause many problems. We tell you why without alcohol is better.
Alcohol is a depressant
Alcohol is often referred to as an antidepressant, and it's not true. It only relaxes the body for a short time and improves mood by increasing dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But afterwards, the body adapts to the production of the hormone, and it takes more and more of it to get the effect. In addition, tetrahydroisoquinoline is formed, a substance that blocks the production of dopamine and serotonin. A person ceases to enjoy life without stimulation, falls into a depressed mood. Thousands of neurons are destroyed, which can no longer be restored.
Following a short-term increase in mood, increased aggression and apathy ensue. Scientists say that alcohol contributes to insomnia, increases anxiety and, with systematic use, can cause nervous disorders.
Negative effects on mood are reduced after two weeks of abstinence from alcohol and are almost completely eliminated within a month - a person restores mental functions, mood normalizes, vitality and motivation increase.
Drinking alcohol affects appearance
With frequent use of alcohol, the skin loses its elasticity due to dehydration. This leads to premature aging and cosmetic problems: redness and swelling, grayish complexion, bruises under the eyes and wrinkles appear. Cholesterol rises in the blood, which leads to the appearance of reddish streaks on the whites of the eyes. When a person stops drinking, most bodily functions are gradually restored, which has a positive effect on appearance. This will take from a few weeks to several years, depending on the duration of consumption.
Alcohol causes overeating
Ethanol stimulates a special AGRP protein called "obesity protein". It greatly increases appetite, causing gluttony even when a person is full of energy and does not want to eat. The habit of drinking a glass of wine helps to slow down the metabolism, so it is better to replace alcohol with healthy drinks.
alcohol makes you sick
Alcohol is the cause of cirrhosis and hepatitis due to inflammation and scarring of liver tissue. It actively destroys the pancreas and causes a tendency to diabetes. The walls of the intestines are destroyed under the influence of alcohol, the structure of cells changes, they completely cease to absorb useful substances, which affects the immune system and general health. Alcoholic beverages negatively affect most organs. In the stomach, the production of mucin is suppressed - a substance that protects the mucous membrane from irritants. Without it, the stomach is prone to gastritis and peptic ulcers.
The intestinal microflora is gradually restored within a week after ridding the body of alcohol. By the way, the withdrawal of alcohol from the female body is 20-25% slower than that of men. If a person stays sober for two weeks, he will have clear thinking, blood pressure will normalize, heart rate will stabilize, shortness of breath and headaches will disappear.
Constant financial charges
One of the non-obvious but pleasant consequences of giving up alcohol is savings. High duties are imposed on the raw materials of winemaking, therefore, ready-made drinks are mainly purchased in the country abroad. Alcohol prices are constantly rising, and if you drink high quality (and the other is not worth it), it will affect the budget. Even at an average cost of around a glass of wine with dinner per month, you'll save quite a significant amount of money. Add to this the cost of visits to the doctor, as well as the purchase of medicines and cosmetics, which you need much less with a healthy lifestyle.
The risk of developing alcoholism
It seems that alcoholism can develop only in disadvantaged people. In fact, it is not always a pronounced disease with outward signs. A beginning alcoholic can continue an active social life, go to work, care for loved ones, and spend time with friends. Alcoholism occurs regardless of standard of living, wealth and education. At the same time, not obvious, at first glance, malfunctions in the work of the body and psyche appear. Therefore, it is especially important to control this habit and monitor your health in order to avoid irreversible consequences. In addition, the sooner a person stops drinking alcohol, the sooner most of the problems arising from it are resolved.
What if it was just a little?
You can often find the opinion that in small doses alcohol is good for health. Doctors from the American Heart Association dispute this theory. Over six years, they observed about five thousand volunteers, half of whom drank often and little by little - just a glass of wine or a mug of beer in the evening. Experts noted that such people, according to general health indicators, have an increased risk of developing disorders of the cardiovascular system, including an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation.