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 overtones, argued that there is no substance more dangerous 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 at night is perceived by most people as normal.
Of course, when alcoholism goes beyond social boundaries, and a person slides into the abyss and begins to lead a marginal lifestyle, this is perceived as a slow suicide, but are most people so critical of the so-called domestic drunkenness? A glass or two of wine at dinner, a bottle of beer with a football match or 100 grams of liqueur for a date with a friend are considered appropriate as a cup of tea, but such a habit in the end does no less harm than harm. chronic consumption. Is alcohol that dangerous or is it just a stereotype? Let's turn to the opinion 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! Californian scientists claim that ethyl alcohol in small amounts is absolutely safe. True, they are tactfully silent about where "a small amount" ends and "drunkenness" begins. It is also impossible to find information about who funded these studies, as they are not published in any high-level scientific journal, which requires all experimental protocols and sponsor data. Is it because representatives of the alcohol industry are at the forefront? It remains only to guess.
At the same time, there is no such dependence that would arise on its own - most often alcoholism arises precisely from the habit of drinking a bottle in moments of special joy and sadness, in the circle of friends and relatives. And we are not talking about notorious alcoholics who cannot live a day without a bottle of cheap wine - those who ruin their health every day in smart circles are enough.
It's hard to find a more insidious liquid than alcohol. It acts in the brain like serotonin (the natural hormone of joy), causing an imaginary feeling of happiness and high spirits. It is this effect that is responsible for the emergence of the habit - instead of learning to enjoy life to the full, it is easier to cloud the mind with a substitute for pleasure.
However, this effect is quickly replaced by a much less pleasant one - a complete decrease in control over one's emotions and actions makes a drunk person "appear in all its glory. "Some show aggression, others start crying for no reason, others behave very lovingly. 🇧🇷🇧🇷The number of manifestations of drunkenness is large, but none of them looks attractive from the outside.
In addition, inappropriate behavior is far from the worst companion of intoxication. According to statistics, more than half of traffic accidents and a third of suicides occur while intoxicated. With each drunk glass, 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 - solid thoughts, social norms and human perception are gradually replaced by banal animal instincts and the desire for a bottle. Moreover, this process is irreversible - if the destroyed liver can still be treated a little, then the cerebral cortex will not be restored. Australian scientists have proven that even those who moderately drink alcohol 2-3 times a week, the size of the brain gradually decreases, and its functionality decreases due to shrinkage. On average, 200 ml of 40 degree strong drink kills 1, 000 to 2, 000 cells. Keep that in mind when pouring another glass!
Alcohol harm to men
Like any addictive substance, ethyl alcohol acts on the sly - at first you will not notice any changes and unpleasant consequences for health, but over time, when it is impossible to refuse a drunk glass, you yourself will understand how the first it's misleading impression is. And even the beliefs of some drinkers 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, getting into the blood, affects the brain centers and simulates a feeling of euphoria, which overshadows all other feelings, dulling the rational perception of reality. The same goes for marijuana or hashish. Why is the harm of drugs known even to a child, and alcohol is perceived as a treat? No reply…
In addition, the stereotype imposed by the media and advertising on the brutality and masculinity of the stronger sex is directly related to the use of alcoholic beverages. A glass of beer, a glass of whiskey or rum is considered a noble pastime of true gentlemen, but this is not the case. 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 at half strength. This means that after a few years of regular "night with a glass", 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 - any of these drugs have a strict alcohol restriction. So, dear men, remember: raising one glass after another, you are depriving yourself of an important aspect of a full life.
The harm of alcohol on a woman's body
Female alcoholism is much worse than male. Although ethanol acts equally destructively on the bodies of both sexes, female physiology is much more bizarre: the vulnerability, emotionality and psychological sensitivity of the fair sex is a reasonable physiological characteristic, which means that they develop dependence on the illusion of happiness and calm much faster. Trying to hide from the problems of alcoholic forgetfulness, ladies get drunk much faster, because the body does not resist this addiction, and the peculiarities of psychology interfere with the mind's attempts to prevail over the desire for a glass.
In addition, a woman's liver filters ethyl alcohol worse, which means that it breaks down faster under her 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. And although the difference is small, it clearly demonstrates that the female body is a priori more sensitive than the male one 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 every woman perceives the state of pregnancy in this way. Modern trends dictate new rules: today, ladies "in position" do not deny themselves anything, including a glass of red wine, which a gynecologist allegedly recommends to them to lighten the tone and general relaxation of the body. Who issued the medical education diploma to these doctors? What do gynecologists guide when recommending this 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's with the alcohol?
Studies by the American Association have shown that the infant mortality rate of alcoholic mothers is 5 times higher than that of non-alcoholic mothers. And this is not about alcoholism, but about the notorious "cultural drinking", which is called everyday drunkenness. Ethanol affects the fetus while still in the womb, causing underdevelopment, mental retardation and other pathologies that will accompany the child for life! Is your suffering worth the imaginary pleasure of a mother who wouldn't 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 placed in the incubator, while an ethanol steam generator was installed in the room. 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 serious malformations - for example, without a beak, a wing or with formed legs. It's worth considering!
The harm 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 prohibited on the same day, no child would feel deprived or inferior and, even more so, would not suffer from the desire to try products containing alcohol. However, in adolescence, the statistics change significantly: more than 60% of modern teenagers 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 and the state of drunkenness. If you ask children to play at a wedding, birthday or a trip to a party, they involuntarily clink glasses, pour drinks into them and make toasts. Thus, a stereotype is formed that alcohol is a party and fun companion, a symbol of a carefree and happy adult life. This is where teenage alcoholism begins.
What harm does alcohol bring to today's teenagers?
Today's teenagers perceive alcohol as a minor, idle pastime that allows you to overcome the first disappointment, cope with awkwardness on the first date or just have a good time with friends. However, even a glass of a low-alcohol drink, such as 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 yourself, to feel more mature, more relaxed and more courageous. Portraying yourself as a "bad guy" or "fatal girl" using alcohol to do so is as easy as shelling pears, but is everything as harmless as it seems? Destructive behavior, attempts to appear more mature, arrogance and hysteria are far from the worst companions of teenage drinking. Most young people, after drinking a glass, lose their sense of proportion, gradually succumbing to a surrogate feeling of euphoria. This is how attachment arises, and, taking into account 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 has arisen than in adults.
The harm of alcohol on the human body: results
Data from the World Health Organization are indisputable: one in three cases of premature death is somehow related to alcohol consumption. Some drink to total body destruction, others have accidents under the influence of ethanol, others lose self-control and injure themselves. However, today a conscious choice in favor of a sober lifestyle is not so simple: successful men and women with a glass of alcohol look at us from TV screens, billboards and their own smartphones, and only in the background in a small and almost imperceptible font is a footnote: "Excessive alcohol consumption harms our health" to comply with the law.
Such mass propaganda has a simple explanation: the profitability of the alcohol industry is estimated in billions of dollars, where each potential consumer is yet another opportunity to line your pocket. To resist such propaganda, it is enough to think with your own head and worry about your own health. The atomic explosion in Hiroshima claimed the lives of two hundred thousand people, and alcohol kills about a million and a half each year. That's all the math. 🇧🇷🇧🇷
6 reasons to give up alcohol
A glass of wine is often offered as a relief from stress and emotional difficulties. At the same time, alcohol can be a source of many problems. We tell you why alcohol-free is better.
Alcohol is a depressant
Alcohol is often referred to as an antidepressant, and this is not true. It just relaxes the body for a short time and improves mood by increasing dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But subsequently, the body adapts to the production of the hormone, and more and more is needed to achieve 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.
After a short-term mood boost, an increase in aggressiveness and apathy follows. 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, the 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, graying of the skin, bruises under the eyes and the appearance of wrinkles. Cholesterol increases in the blood, which leads to the appearance of reddish streaks in the whites of the eyes. When a person stops drinking, most functions in the body 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 significantly 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 causes disease
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 the cells changes, they cease to fully absorb useful substances, which affects the immune system and overall health. Alcoholic beverages adversely 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 eliminating alcohol from the body. By the way, the withdrawal of alcohol from the female body is 20-25% slower than that of men. If a person is sober for two weeks, he will have clarity of thinking, blood pressure will normalize, heart rate will stabilize, shortness of breath and headaches will disappear.
Constant financial expenses
One of the non-obvious but pleasant consequences of giving up alcohol is the economy. High taxes are imposed on raw materials for winemaking, therefore, ready-made drinks are mainly purchased in the country from abroad. Alcohol prices are constantly rising, and if you drink high-quality (and the other is not worth it), then this will hit the budget. Even at an average cost of about a glass of wine with dinner a month, you'll save a considerable amount. Add to this the cost of doctor's appointments, 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 external signs. An early-stage alcoholic may continue an active social life, work, take care of loved ones and hang out with friends. Alcoholism occurs regardless of standard of living, wealth and education. At the same time, not obvious at first glance, dysfunctions appear in the work of the body and psyche. 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 faster most of the problems arising from it are resolved.
What if it's just a little?
You can often meet the opinion that in small doses alcohol is good for health. Doctors from the American Heart Association disagree with 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.