The scandalous British psychotherapist, David Nutt, who became famous not only for his scientific results, but also for his habit of expressing his thoughts and beliefs directly, without unnecessary overtones, argued that there is no substance more dangerous to humans than alcohol. In terms of its destructive effect, ethyl alcohol surpasses many poisons and drugs, but for some reason the habit of drinking in the evening is considered normal by most people.
Of course, when alcoholism crosses social boundaries and a person slips into the depths and begins to lead a marginal lifestyle, then this is considered a slow suicide, but are most people so critical of so-called home drunkenness? A glass or two of wine with dinner, a bottle of beer with a soccer match, or 100 grams of drink with a meeting with friends is considered an adequate cup of tea, but in the end such a habit is no less destructive. harms like chronic drinking. Is alcohol that dangerous or just a stereotype? Let's turn to the opinion of scientists.
The harmful effects of alcohol on the human body: a brief overview
So what is the main danger of alcohol? Deceptive in its harmlessness! California scientists claim that ethyl alcohol is perfectly safe in small amounts. True, they tactfully keep silent about where "small amount" ends and "intoxication" begins. It is also impossible to find information about who funded these studies, as they are not published in any high-profile scientific journal, which requires all experimental protocols and sponsor data. Is it because representatives of the alcohol industry are at the forefront? All that remains is speculation.
At the same time, there is no such addiction that arises by itself - most often, alcoholism grows precisely from the habit of drinking a bottle in moments of special joy and sadness, in the circle of friends and relatives. And we're not talking about the notorious alcoholics who can't live a day without a bottle of cheap wine - in intelligent circles, it's enough to ruin your health every day.
It is difficult to find a more insidious liquid than alcohol. It acts on the brain like serotonin (the natural hormone of happiness), causing imaginary feelings of happiness and good mood. This effect is responsible for the formation of a habit - instead of learning to enjoy life to the fullest, we more easily cloud the mind with a substitute for pleasure.
However, this effect is quickly replaced by a much less pleasant one - due to the complete loss of control over one's own emotions and actions, the drunk person "appears in his full glory". Some people show aggression, others start crying for no reason, others behave too lovingly. . . 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 accompaniment to intoxication. According to statistics, more than half of road traffic accidents and a third of suicides occur while intoxicated. With each drink, the number of cells in the cerebral cortex gradually decreases, 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 - sober 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 recover. Australian scientists have proven that even those who drink alcohol moderately 2-3 times a week, the size of the brain gradually decreases, and as a result of shrinkage, its functionality decreases. 200 ml of strong, 40-degree drink destroys 1000-2000 cells on average. Keep this in mind when you pour another glass!
Harmful effects of alcohol for men
Like any addictive substance, ethyl alcohol acts insidiously - at first you will not notice any changes and unpleasant health consequences, but over time, when it will be impossible to refuse a drunken glass, you yourself will understand how deceptive the first impression is. And even the belief of some drinkers that a bottle will help them relax and relieve stress is nothing more than self-delusion. Such a feeling causes the paralysis of the center of attention and self-control - once ethanol gets into the blood, it affects the centers of the brain and simulates a feeling of euphoria, which overshadows all other feelings, dulling the rational perception of reality. The same applies to marijuana or hashish. Why does even a child know the harm of drugs and why is alcohol considered indulgent? No answer…
In addition, the stereotype of the brutality and masculinity of the stronger gender by the media and advertising is directly related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. A glass of beer, a glass of whiskey or rum is considered a noble pastime for real gentlemen, but this is not the case at all. Yes, at first this bottle will be invisible, but with each new sip, blood vessels and capillaries become vulnerable and less flexible, and the heart will work at half capacity. This means that after a few years of regular "drinking in the evening", the 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. these drugs strictly limit alcohol consumption. So, dear men, remember: by raising one glass after another, you are depriving yourself of an important aspect of a meaningful life.
Harmful effects of alcohol on the female body
Women's alcoholism is much worse than men's. Although ethanol has an equally destructive effect on the body of both sexes, female physiology is much more bizarre: the vulnerability, emotionality and psychological sensitivity of the fairer sex are reasonable physiological characteristics, which means that they depend on the illusion of happiness and tranquility. faster. Ladies who try to hide from their problems with alcohol get drunk much faster, because the body cannot resist this attachment, and the peculiarities of psychology hinder the mind's efforts to overcome the craving for a drink.
In addition, a woman's liver filters ethyl alcohol worse, which means that it breaks down faster under its influence. Statistics show that the first signs of liver cirrhosis appear after an average of 5 years of alcohol addiction in women and 7 years in men. And although the difference is small, it clearly shows that a woman's body is inherently more sensitive than a man's. to alcohol.
What are the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy?
A pregnant woman is a sacred vessel in which the life of the unborn child is hidden. It is unfortunate that not all women perceive 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 supposedly recommends to them to relieve the tone and general relaxation of the body. Who issued the medical education to these doctors? What are gynecologists guiding when they recommend 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 about alcohol?
Studies by the American Association have shown that the death rate of newborns in alcoholic mothers is five times higher than in those who do not drink alcohol. And here we are not talking about alcohol addiction, but the notorious "cultural drinking", which is 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! It's worth it! Is her suffering the imaginary joy of a mother who couldn't refuse a glass of alcohol?
An interesting experiment was conducted at the Federal Medical and Biological Center on the effects of alcohol vapor on embryos. 160 eggs were laid in the incubator, and an ethanol steam generator was also installed in the room. As a result, half of the embryos simply did not develop, and of the remaining 80, 40 died in the first days after birth, and another 25 were severely malformed - for example, without a beak, without wings or incorrectly. shaped legs. Worth considering!
The harmful effects of alcohol on a teenager's body
There is and cannot be an innate need to drink alcohol - children learn this by observing 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, much less suffer from trying alcoholic products. However, the statistics change significantly during adolescence: more than 60% of modern teenagers try alcohol by the age of 15, and by adulthood the percentage reaches 90.
The research of our scientists B. S. Bratusya and P. I. Sidorova showed that even in preschool age, children can easily reproduce the process of drinking and the state of intoxication. If you ask children to play a wedding, birthday or a trip to a party, they will involuntarily clink their glasses, pour a drink into them and say a toast. This is how the stereotype is formed that alcohol is an accompaniment to celebration and fun, a symbol of a carefree and happy adult life. This is where teenage alcoholism begins.
What harm does alcohol do to today's teenagers?
Today's teenagers see alcohol as a minor and idle pastime that allows them to overcome initial disappointment, cope with first date embarrassment, or simply have fun with friends. However, even a glass of low-alcohol drink, such as beer or homemade wine, will be enough to make a fragile body get drunk and lose control.
Drinking is a false way for teenagers to assert themselves, to feel more mature, relaxed and brave. Portraying yourself as an alcoholic "bad boy" or "fat girl" is as easy as peeling a pear, but is everything as harmless as it seems? Destructive behavior, attempts to appear more mature, noise and hysteria are far from the worst companions of teenage alcohol consumption. Most young people lose their sense of proportion after drinking a glass, and gradually surrender to the feeling of substitute euphoria. This is how the bond is formed, and taking into account the fact that during adolescence the body as a whole and especially the psyche is not yet fully formed, it will be much more difficult to overcome the addiction that has developed than in adults.
Harmful effects of alcohol on the human body: results
The data of the World Health Organization are indisputable: every third premature death is in some way related to alcohol consumption. Some people drink until their bodies are completely destroyed, others have accidents under the influence of ethanol, others lose their self-control and harm themselves. In addition to a sober lifestyle, the conscious choice is not so easy today: successful men and women look at us with a glass of alcohol from TV screens, billboards and their own smartphones, and only at the bottom is a small and almost imperceptible one. pound a footnote: "Excessive alcohol is harmful to our health" to comply with the law.
There is a simple explanation for such mass advertising: the profitability of the alcohol industry is estimated at billions of dollars, where every potential consumer offers another opportunity to fill their pockets. To resist this 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, alcohol kills about one and a half million every year. That's the math. . .
6 reasons to give up alcohol
A glass of wine is often offered to relieve stress and emotional difficulties. However, alcohol can be a source of many problems. We'll tell you why it's better without alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant
Alcohol is often referred to as an antidepressant, and this is not true. It relaxes the body for only a short time and improves mood by increasing dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But after that, the body adapts to hormone production, and more and more is needed to achieve the effect. In addition, tetrahydroisoquinoline is formed, a substance that inhibits the production of dopamine and serotonin. A person stops enjoying life without stimulation and falls into a depressed mood. Thousands of neurons die and cannot be restored.
After a short-term rise in mood, aggression and apathy increase. According to scientists, alcohol contributes to insomnia, increases anxiety and, with systematic use, can cause disorders of the nervous system.
The negative effects on the mood decrease after two weeks of abstinence from alcohol and disappear almost completely within a month - the person restores his mental functions, the mood normalizes, vitality and motivation increase.
Alcohol consumption 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, gray skin tone, bruises under the eyes and wrinkles. Cholesterol rises in the blood, which leads to the appearance of reddish streaks on the white of the eye. When a person stops drinking, most bodily functions are gradually restored, which has a positive effect on appearance. This can last from a few weeks to several years, depending on how long you drink.
Alcohol causes overeating
Ethanol stimulates a special AGRP protein called "obesity protein". It significantly increases appetite and causes gluttony, even if a person is full of energy and does not want to eat. 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 the liver tissue. It actively destroys the pancreas and causes a tendency to diabetes. The walls of the intestines are destroyed due to alcohol, the structure of the cells changes, the complete absorption of useful substances ceases, which affects the immune system and the general state of health. Alcoholic beverages have a harmful effect on most organs. The production of mucin in the stomach is suppressed - a substance that protects the mucous membrane from irritants. Without it, the stomach is prone to gastritis and ulcers.
The intestinal microflora is gradually restored within a week after getting rid of alcohol. By the way, the removal of alcohol from the female body is 20-25% slower than that of men. If someone stays sober for two weeks, they think clearly, their blood pressure normalizes, their heart rate stabilizes, and their shortness of breath and headaches disappear.
Fixed financial expenses
One of the obvious but pleasant consequences of giving up alcohol is savings. High customs duties are imposed on wine-making ingredients, so ready-made drinks are mainly bought in the country from abroad. The price of alcohol is constantly rising, and if you drink good quality (and the other one is not worth it), it will affect the budget. Even if we have a glass of wine with dinner every month on average, we can save a significant amount of money. Added to this is the cost of visiting a doctor, as well as the purchase of medicines and cosmetics, which are much less necessary with a healthy lifestyle.
The risk of developing alcoholism
It seems that alcoholism can only develop in disadvantaged people. In fact, this is not always a pronounced disease with external signs. An early-stage alcoholic can continue an active social life, go to work, care for loved ones, and hang out with friends. Alcoholism occurs regardless of standard of living, wealth and education. At the same time, malfunctions in the work of the body and psyche are not obvious at first glance. Therefore, it is especially important to control this habit and monitor your health to avoid irreversible consequences. Moreover, the sooner a person stops drinking alcohol, the faster most of the resulting problems are resolved.
How about just a little bit?
It is often believed that alcohol in small doses is good for health. Doctors at the American Heart Association dispute this theory. Over six years, they observed about five thousand volunteers, half of whom drank often and sparingly - only a glass of wine or a pint of beer in the evening. Experts noted that these people were at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disorders according to general health indicators, including an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation.