When alcohol enters the body, it passes into the blood very quickly, within a few minutes. Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver (approximately 93% alcohol), and is excreted from the body through urine, sweat and breath.

Under normal circumstances, in a healthy person, this process can take from 3 to 24 hours (this depends on the amount of alcohol consumed). The most well-known consequence of alcoholism is the deterioration of the liver (hepatitis-steatosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer are not uncommon); the digestive organs suffer no less, which can lead to cancer of the esophagus or stomach.

Long-term alcohol abuse usually leads to impotence in men and infertility in women (fertility problems).

Every cell of the body, especially sensitive nerve cells, suffers from the toxic effects of alcohol, which leaves a number of serious and irreversible consequences.

Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that alcohol abuse accelerates the process of atherosclerosis, leads to poor circulation, and poor nutrition of every cell in the body. Alcohol can cause psychological dependence even with irregular intake in smaller quantities, physical dependence occurs in people who systematically abuse alcohol.

The fact that alcohol is dangerous when consumed in excess is confirmed by the fact that more than 12 times more people die from it every year. more people(about 3,000,000 worldwide) than due to drug use (about 250,000).

It should be noted that alcohol, when consumed in recommended quantities, is not harmful to health, but, unfortunately, the vast majority of people drink it in quantities that significantly exceed the recommended standards.

Alcohol abuse is complex problem, and some of its lovers fall into three categories:

High-risk alcohol drinkers
. drinking alcohol in toxic quantities
. alcohol addiction.

Alcoholism is defined as "the inability to abstain from drinking alcohol." A person who is dependent on alcohol feels strong desire continued to drink despite existing problems. No one is immune from the dangers that arise from excessive drinking.

The dangers of alcohol for mental health

Most alcoholic drinks contain ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, a neurotoxin, a substance that can damage or destroy the nervous system. Large amounts of ethanol can cause loss of consciousness and death. Human body may reverse the harmful effects of ethanol, but it doesn't happen overnight.

For example, when the body cannot cope with excess alcohol consumption, it begins to significantly affect the functioning of the brain. In what sense?
Speech, vision, motor coordination, logical thinking and behavior are all related to a series of complex chemical reactions that occur in neurons in the brain. Ethanol alters the course of these reactions by decreasing or increasing the influence of certain neurotransmitters - chemicals, which transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another. This causes the flow of information in the brain to change so that it cannot function properly.

Thus, a person under the influence of alcohol cannot speak and think correctly, has blurred vision, and loses control over his behavior. All this general symptoms intoxication.

In the human brain, changes occur over a long period of time in a certain chemical process that seeks to protect the brain and nervous system from the toxic effects of ethanol.

This develops tolerance to alcohol, or addiction. Addiction occurs when the brain is so accustomed to alcohol that it cannot function normally without it. The body requires alcohol to maintain chemical balance. When a person stops drinking, problems arise in his brain. severe violation chemical balance and withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, tremors and even seizures.

In addition to causing abnormal brain chemistry, alcohol abuse can damage or destroy brain cells, thereby altering the brain's physical structure. Although the brain may partially recover if a person stops drinking, some of its cells die permanently, weakening memory and other mental abilities.

Liver diseases and cancer.

Liver plays important role in degradation food products, fights infection, regulates blood flow, and also removes toxic substances from the body. Long-term alcohol consumption damages liver tissue in three stages. The first stage of ethanol breakdown slows down the breakdown of fats so that they accumulate in the liver. This disorder is called steatohepatitis, or fatty liver.

Over time there is chronic disease liver - hepatitis. Alcohol can also reduce the body's resistance to hepatitis B and C viruses. If hepatitis is left untreated, liver cells begin to die. To make matters worse, alcohol activates a natural mechanism of programmed cell death called apoptosis.

The last stage is cirrhosis of the liver. Due to a series of severe inflammations and cell destruction, irreversible liver damage occurs. Eventually, the liver becomes spongy and scar tissue prevents blood flow, causing liver failure and death.

There is another hidden danger - weakening the ability of this organ to protect the body from carcinogenic substances. In addition to developing liver cancer, alcohol significantly increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. In addition, alcohol allows the carcinogenic components of tobacco to more easily penetrate the mucous membranes of the mouth, so that smokers who drink face a high risk of developing cancer.

Women who drink alcohol daily are at risk of developing breast cancer. According to one study, women who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day have 69% more high risk breast cancer development.

Fetal alcohol syndrome.

It is especially sad that alcohol abuse during pregnancy can cause harm. born child still in the period embryonic development. Alcohol causes irreversible damage to the central nervous system, there is a disruption in the formation of neurons. Some cells die and some of them develop in the wrong place.

As a result, fetal alcohol syndrome, which is the most common cause mental retardation in children. Children who suffer from this syndrome are developmentally delayed, it is more difficult for them to learn to speak, and they have hearing and vision impairments due to physical and mental developmental delays. Many children are born with various facial deformities.

Even if a mother drinks moderate amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, the baby may have certain impairments that can negatively affect behavior and learning.

What amount of alcohol is not harmful to health?

Alcohol can threaten human health in many other ways. How to determine what amount of alcohol is not harmful to health? Today, millions of people around the world occasionally drink alcohol in what they consider to be moderate quantities.

But how to determine this moderation?
However, research shows that in Europe, one in four people drinks alcohol in quantities considered hazardous to human health.

Various sources define moderate alcohol consumption as 20 grams pure alcohol(or two standard drinks) per day for men and 10 grams (or one standard drink) for women. According to standard World Organization health 10 grams of pure alcohol is 250 ml of beer, 100 ml of wine.

French and British medical experts recommend a "reasonable limit" of three alcoholic drinks a day for men and two drinks for women.

Bottle of beer 0.5 l (5% alcohol).
. Alcoholic drinks (cognac, whiskey, vodka) - 50 ml (45% alcohol).
. A glass of wine 250 ml, (12% alcohol).
. 100 ml liqueur (25% alcohol).

However, everyone’s body is different and some don’t even large number alcohol can be harmful. For example, people who suffer from mood disorders and anxiety disorders Even moderate amounts of alcohol can be harmful. It is necessary to take into account the person’s age, his physique, illness and health.

If you drink alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach, the blood alcohol concentration reaches its highest level. high level for about half an hour. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your ability to drive vehicle. Alcohol impairs vision. Road signs seem smaller. The field of view narrows and the ability to judge distance and focus on distant objects decreases. The brain processes information more slowly, reflexes slow down. Don't drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Is alcohol addiction hereditary?

In an attempt to find a cure for alcoholism, scientists are studying the influence of genes on the development of alcohol addiction. So far, they have discovered several genes that influence the development of alcohol dependence. But this is not the only risk factor. Even if someone has a certain genetic predisposition, this does not mean that he will become an alcoholic.

The environment can also play an important role. Factors such as poor education of parents, alcohol abuse in the family, communication with people who drink alcohol, conflicts with other people, emotional difficulties, depression, aggressiveness, dependence on any others medicines may contribute to the development of alcohol dependence.

The benefits of red wine.

Scientists believe that certain substances found in red wine (polyphenols) inhibit the action of substances that cause blood vessels to constrict.
In addition, alcohol is generally associated with increased levels of so-called good cholesterol and reduces the concentration of a substance that can lead to the formation of blood clots.

But it appears that red wine may only be beneficial if consumed in moderation.

Otherwise, it may lead to hypertension, stroke and may cause pulmonary edema and cardiac arrhythmia. Excessive amounts of red wine will reverse any beneficial effects on the heart and circulatory system.

Nowadays it is difficult to find a person all over the world who does not know that alcohol harms our body. Everyone knows this unpleasant fact, but people continue to persistently drink beer, vodka, and abuse wine. Meanwhile, alcohol causes thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of divorces, hundreds of thousands of fights and crimes.

It is difficult to overestimate all the harm of alcohol, because each of us knows what unpleasant consequences he leads. But people still stubbornly go to the green serpent and seem to ignore all the warnings of the Russian Ministry of Health. However, this situation has developed not only in our country - alcohol is abused wherever it is available.

Today we will figure out what harm alcoholic drinks cause to our body. All the facts will be collected here, scientific research and the results of experiments that prove the involvement of alcohol in diseases of our body. We will also give a full answer to the burning question: is it worth giving up alcohol completely or is there still some kind of “safe” dose?

The relevance of this problem cannot be ignored. Every day in our country people suffer from alcohol poisoning, fatalities occur regularly. Families of alcoholics collapse, children are left without parents, and the number of crimes committed while intoxicated is constantly growing. This is a very bleak prospect.

Every person must consciously and responsibly approach their lifestyle. Everything we eat, drink, what we breathe affects our body in the most direct way. And alcohol for our body is a poison that poisons it according to our own will.

We hope that our article will help you understand the harm of alcohol and stop drinking it. We also want to protect those who have not yet fallen into this deadly trap from making a fatal mistake.

Alcohol addiction - myth or reality

There is a constant debate among people about addiction to alcohol and dependence on it. It is difficult to say that alcoholism has nothing in common with drug addiction - scientists have long proven that these diseases are related. However, at what point does the body begin to become accustomed to a toxic substance? How many drinks does it take to become addicted to poison?

Most people disagree here. Some people think that it takes a couple of months to get used to alcohol and become physically and psychologically dependent person, someone claims that one glass is enough. We adhere to the “golden mean”.

We can safely say that periodically drinking wine in small quantities (roughly speaking, one glass a day three times a week) will in no way harm your body. He would rather contribute good metabolism, calmness, high spirits, relieve tension and relieve digestive problems. But it’s difficult to say the same about beer, cognac and vodka.

These alcoholic drinks (as well as champagne, whiskey and others) have no positive influence on our health, so even the smallest portions of them are not beneficial. Does this mean that we harm the body from the very first sip of harmful drinks? Is vodka addictive from the first shot?

No, that's not entirely true. To better understand the mechanism of addiction, you need to have a good understanding of how our body works. When our body gets used to something, it rearranges itself in a certain way. However, in the case of the “first stack” it does not change – practically. Within 24 hours, the toxin is out of your body. If after this you long time If you don’t drink, then all body functions return to normal. However, if you drink again after a day or two, your body will gradually adapt to your “rhythm.” If a person systematically takes a toxin, then the body also systematically removes it and puts this function on automatic. This is called addiction.

Alcohol harms the brain

The worst harm that alcohol does to us is damage to parts of the brain. If you have ever met and communicated with an “experienced” alcoholic, you have probably noticed that even in a sober state he does not think or speak very well. This is due specifically to brain damage.

The pleasant relaxation from alcoholic drinks is a consequence of the death of hundreds of thousands of neurons in the brain. You can say that you are relaxing during alcohol intoxication only because alcohol kills your brain—literally.

When alcohol enters the bloodstream, an elementary chemical reaction– dissolution of fats. Our blood needs a certain amount of fat because it helps blood cells move freely through the vessels and not stick to each other. However, after fats are dissolved, red blood cells form large connections, which find it difficult to pass through the capillaries. As a result, they cannot carry oxygen through the small vessels of the brain - neurons literally suffocate. They are deprived of oxygen and can no longer function normally. Unfortunately, neurons cannot be restored. Even if a person completely gives up alcohol, all of his dead cells will not return.

The harm of alcohol on the teenage body

Unfortunately, teenage alcoholism in our country is too common. Children don't think much about the future when they start drinking alcohol. This is terrible, because the harm alcohol does to a teenager’s body is much more serious than the damage caused by alcoholic beverages to an adult.

When a person starts drinking early age, his body continues to form, adapting to a new factor - alcohol. At a young age it is very easy to become dependent, because the body continues to develop, it has not yet formed and has not found its final image. Therefore, children who abuse alcohol have a higher chance of becoming heavy alcoholics than their adult counterparts.

It is very important to explain to your child the consequences of alcoholism in a timely manner. Try to explain everything to him as clearly and understandably as possible. Don't put off the conversation until the last minute - it may already be too late. Your baby will grow up sooner or later and learn about what beer and cognac are. It’s better to let him learn about these drinks from you than from persistent high school students who will persistently offer your child poison.

What diseases does alcohol cause?

It is difficult to list all the diseases and health problems that alcohol causes, even with moderate consumption. However, we will try here to list the most common problems caused by the green snake.

1. Liver cirrhosis is one of the most common and, unfortunately, deadly diseases that affects alcoholics. Almost everyone knows about it.
2. Serious brain damage. As we have already said, alcohol most of all affects the neurons of the brain. Therefore, with its constant and excessive consumption an alcoholic has strong problems with thinking, memory and coordination of movements.
3. Intoxication of the body. Complete poisoning, which will manifest itself in decreased immunity, unpleasant smell from the body, slimy secretions and constant feeling unwell. Alcoholics always feel sick - darkening of the eyes, nausea, headache and others unpleasant symptoms appear in them constantly.
4. Overweight. This is, of course, not the most dangerous manifestation alcoholism, but, nevertheless, it is quite widespread. Most alcoholics suffer from a slow metabolism, which negatively affects their health and figure.

Many people know that alcohol is harmful to the entire human body and psyche. The harm from alcohol begins with memory impairment and ends with serious illnesses that may not respond to treatment and, in some cases, lead to death. According to recent studies, even small doses of alcohol can lead to some changes in the human brain and other body systems. Alcohol harms not only the drinker, but also the people around him and society as a whole.

In 2009, more than 12,000 accidents were recorded in the Russian Federation due to drivers who were driving while intoxicated.

The harm of alcohol on the body can be colossal. The alcohol molecule is quickly absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the body. The absorption process begins in the oral mucosa, the gastric mucosa absorbs about 20% of alcohol, and the main part falls on small intestine. Alcohol penetrates easily into cell membranes any tissue, but its content depends on the amount of water in the cell. Therefore, the most ethanol is absorbed into the brain tissue: 1.5 - 2 times more than in the tissues of other organs. Also observed in the liver high content alcohol, as it serves as a filter for the body and neutralizes substances harmful to it.

Parkhomenko Oleg Viktorovich, narcologist
Drinking alcoholic beverages is harmful, regardless of frequency of consumption and age. The positive effect is incredibly minimal compared to the harm that drinks containing ethanol (ethyl alcohol) cause to the human body. Especially noticeable negative impact alcohol at a young age, when drinking alcohol distorts the internal picture of the world for life.

Other organs and systems of the body may suffer from alcohol consumption:

1. blood vessels and heart;
2. urinary system;
3. stomach and intestines;
4. reproductive system;
5. nervous system.

After the first intake of alcohol, its molecule oxidizes at a rate of 85-100 mg/kg per hour. If alcohol is consumed frequently, the rate of oxidation increases, and resistance to large doses of alcoholic beverages occurs. The first consequence of harm from alcohol is memory impairment even after a small amount of alcohol. How more dose alcohol, the more often a person suffers from memory loss. According to facts about the dangers of alcohol, one glass of alcoholic drink can kill 1000-2000 cells in the brain. 95% of alcoholics and 85% moderate drinking people this figure is observed.

The harm of alcohol to the central nervous system is manifested primarily by the fact that alcohol molecules initial stage enter nerve cells. This is due to the high property of alcohol to dissolve fats, which are most found in the membrane of the nerve cell and amount to more than 60%. Alcohol penetrates into the neuron and is retained in it, since its cytoplasm contains increased level water. Alcoholic drinks quickly excite the nervous system, causing a person to become cheerful and relaxed. Over time, alcohol accumulates in nerve cells and begins to inhibit their functioning.

Liver cells suffer significantly from alcohol, as they are forced to process its molecules, although they are not adapted for this. As alcoholism develops, the liver wears out and its cells begin to degenerate. In place of the affected liver cells, fragments of adipose tissue appear. As a result, the working liver decreases in size and is unable to process harmful toxins. Liver diseases can affect the brain, causing irreversible damage.

Harm from drinking alcohol with certain drugs.

Alcohol +		Effect
1	aspirin	stomach ulcer
2	caffeine, coldact, coldrex, epherdine or theophedrine	hypertensive crisis
3	diuretics, antihypertensive drugs	strong decline blood pressure
4	panadol, paracetamol, efferalgan	toxic damage liver
5	insulin and other drugs that lower blood sugar	sharp drop blood sugar levels, coma
6	painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, neuroleptics, tranquilizers, sleeping pills	intoxication of the body, cerebral coma
7	sulfonamides, antibiotics	absence therapeutic effect, drug intolerance by the body
8	antihistamines, nitroglycerin	allergic reaction, increased pain

The harm of alcohol to the body is manifested in a lack of thiamine, which plays a large role in the functioning of the body. Thiamine or vitamin B1 is extremely important for many processes; its deficiency leads to various pathological conditions and diseases. With a lack of thiamine, brain activity and nerve cells decreases, which leads to various violations from the nervous system. Vitamin B1 deficiency occurs due to insufficient nutrition, disorders metabolic processes in the body, as a large amount of alcohol is consumed and the person eats poorly.

Alcohol and smoking

Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes themselves are harmful to the body. Tobacco smoking in combination with alcohol causes a double blow to the body. Alcohol molecules and nicotine are absorbed into the blood and interact with red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, and carbon dioxide back from the tissues. Ethanol dissolves the protective layer with outer surface red blood cells, removing electrical voltage from them, which causes the red blood cells to stick together and form large balls. With an increase in the dose of drinking and smoking cigarettes, their size increases. This leads to the formation of blood clots in the vessels, and the blood supply to some areas of the brain and other human systems is disrupted.

The harm of alcohol and smoking is expressed in a mutually reinforcing effect. According to information about the dangers of alcohol, the risk of formation cancerous tumors in the lungs, larynx, in drinking smokers it is 7-9 times higher than in those who do not smoke; in alcoholics it is 5-6 times higher than in non-drinkers. When combining two bad habits malignant tumors may occur in 40% of cases. By eliminating at least one factor, the risk is significantly reduced.

Alcohol and drugs

Drugs in combination with alcohol cause enormous harm to the body and can lead to frequent cases fatal outcome. Drug addicts can mix drugs in alcoholic drinks to get double the pleasure. Either similar in action or opposite are used to reduce the effect of one of them. Cocaine is most often combined with alcohol. After such a cocktail, the nerve cells of the brain are instantly affected, since the body is affected by two types of substances: restraining and stimulating, absolutely opposite to each other.

Restraining substances calm and relax the nervous system, stimulants force it to act actively. Alcohol in this case is a restraining substance, suppressing the nervous system, and cocaine is a stimulant, stimulating and activating nerve cells. This combination often ends in the death of a person.

By combining alcohol with drugs, a person suppresses the simplest reflexes in the body and important functions. Even with small doses of alcohol and drugs can be impaired respiratory functions. In a state of intoxication, a person is not able to control the dose of the drug taken, and alcohol enhances the effect even from low dose narcotic substance. Therefore, the harm of alcohol and drugs develops into a mortal threat to life.

Harm of alcohol for women

Researchers have found that the harmful effects of alcohol on a woman’s body are much higher than on a man’s body. This is explained by the structure and characteristics of the female body. Women's tolerance to alcohol is much lower than that of men, so female alcoholism develops faster and is much more difficult to treat. In women with alcohol addiction, liver cells are more quickly affected, the heart muscle is weakened, blood vessels are destroyed, and the nervous system is depleted. The harm of alcohol for women is manifested in aging skin, rapid withering of the whole body, changes in voice and appearance. The woman becomes ugly, aggressive and unable to control herself.

Everyone knows about the dangers of alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy leads to negative consequences for the fetal brain, later they are expressed in poor development of organs, psyche and behavior of the child. If the mother regularly drank during pregnancy, the child develops (fetal alcohol syndrome). Children with this syndrome often have developmental defects external organs, arms and legs are small, the head is disproportionate compared to the body. They grow and develop slowly compared to their peers. Such children are not able to adequately perceive information, remember poorly and have a harder time adapting to the outside world.

A child with fetal syndrome has a brain volume that is smaller than normal, and the number of brain cells and neurons is much lower than normal. Neuronal cells in the brain of such children are not able to function normally, which leads to behavioral and psychological disorders. The child may be aggressive, and the ability for logical and abstract thinking decreases. It is more difficult for him to get used to communicating with other children and to be socially active. Such a child often becomes an alcoholic himself, since addiction is inherited.

The harm of alcohol for adolescents is higher than for an adult, since the child is at the formative stage. The harm of alcohol for adolescents manifests itself in growth inhibition, delayed development of mental and sexual functions, muscles, and affects appearance person. A young body perceives alcohol worse and is not able to resist its influence. 100 grams of wine or vodka is enough to make a teenager drunk. Teenage alcoholism develops 5-10 times faster than in adults. Particular attention should be paid to the harm of alcoholic energy drinks, which seem harmless. However, this is not true; they contain ethanol and can pose a threat to the child's life.

The harm of alcohol on the body of a child and adolescent is expressed in the following:

• violation chemical processes in the child’s brain and nervous system, causing developmental delays and memory impairment;
• the teenager’s ability to study and other areas of science and creativity decreases;
• the ability for logical and abstract thinking decreases;
• manifestation of psychosis and depression;
• children and adolescents deteriorate emotionally, and their real perception of the world around them decreases.

It is very important in the family and educational institutions talk about the dangers of alcohol for teenagers and schoolchildren. Regular preventive conversations about the dangers of alcohol will help protect children from addiction and further alcoholism.

The harm of alcohol to others

Experts say that alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs, since it has a depressing effect on the body, causes attacks of aggression in a person, makes him unable to control his actions, prone to violence and even murder. The harm of alcohol manifests itself not only for the person himself, but also for those around him. In a state of severe alcohol intoxication, a person can attack another person or start a fight for no reason.

About 80% of domestic violence cases occur under the influence of alcohol, and about 60% of all crimes are committed while heavily intoxicated. A person is not able to control his actions and actions. About 50% of all road accidents occur due to alcohol influence on the driver's body. A drunk person driving can cause harm to other drivers and pedestrians.

The harm and benefits of alcohol

Many researchers and modern scientists argue about the dangers and benefits of alcohol. Recent studies have shown that drinking wine several times a week can significantly reduce the risk of heart and vascular diseases and protect against diabetes. Red wine contains a large number of antioxidants that slow down the aging process and kill cancer cells. The number is decreasing blood clots, which means the risk of blood clots is prevented. But is this really so?

An alcoholic does not need coding

After coding, they drink even more and develop health problems. Men experience potency disorders.

A person literally ceases to be himself.

Russian scientists have developed a drug that discourages even experienced alcoholics from drinking alcohol...

Alcohol, even in small doses, causes emotional dependence. Academician Pavlov found that reflexes disappear after drinking a small dose of alcoholic beverages and return to normal after 7-11 days. Gradually, the amount of alcohol consumed may increase. According to data, people who drink alcohol moderately have an 85% chance of brain cell shrinkage after 4 years. Alcoholic drinks in low doses they are harmful to the human liver, blood vessels and skin. Risk increases diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pancreatitis and cancer. Whether you get harm or benefit from alcohol is up to you to decide, but it is better to protect yourself from the addiction.

Noisy parties, home feasts and other holidays rarely take place without drinking alcohol. However, few people think about the fact that such a treat can not only give you a feeling of relaxation and lift your spirits, but also cause significant harm to health, including death. Find out why alcohol is harmful, how ethyl alcohol affects the human body, what drinks and in what doses are considered optimal.

What is alcohol

Alcohol is essentially ethyl alcohol, a colorless liquid that begins to boil at a temperature of 78 degrees and is highly flammable. It has a specific smell and taste. These characteristics largely depend on its variety. For example, a glass of red wine has a slight tart or sweet taste and smells like grapes. Frequent consumption of any type of alcohol can cause severe dependence, causing various diseases up to and including death.

Is alcohol harmful in small doses?

A little alcohol will help cheer up a person with low blood pressure, and a glass of wine from red grape varieties once a week will prevent the development cardiovascular diseases and oncology. However, not a single doctor can recommend this method of treatment to his patient, and all because long-term use strong drinks leads to alcoholism. For the same reasons, WHO has established conditionally safe doses of alcohol for a person per day (provided that two days a week are alcohol-free):

• for men – 40 grams;
• for women – 30 grams.

Natural wines and beer

No one will deny the fact that drinking a moderate amount of quality wine or beer has a beneficial effect on the body. These types of alcohol and champagne are prepared by fermentation. To produce the first drink, grapes are used, and for the second, hops and malt are used. The dose of quality drinks per day is:

• for women – 1 bottle of beer or 2 glasses of dry wine;
• for men – 2 bottles of beer or 3 glasses of dry wine.

Strong alcoholic drinks

Spirits are produced by distillation certain products fermentation. For example, grain, beets, different types wheat, water. Compared to natural wines and beers, strong alcohol is considered more harmful to the body and more often leads to alcoholism. Minimum daily doses should not exceed:

• for men – 100 ml of vodka;
• for women – 80 grams of vodka.

Why is alcohol dangerous?

One can argue endlessly about the dangers of alcohol or its benefits, but scientists advise, first of all, to pay attention to the composition of drinks. Good alcohol should consist only of natural ingredients, but in the vast majority of drinks there are also additional elements. To enhance the taste and give a special aroma or color, the following is added to low-quality products:

• various essences;
• dyes;
• flavorings;
• fusel oils;
• acetaldehyde;
• harmful preservatives.

Toxic effect of ethanol

Ethanol - natural psychoactive substance, which has negative impact on the nervous system and the body as a whole. Among other alcohol derivatives, ethanol has relatively low toxicity, but if the dosage is exceeded, it has a negative effect on the brain and can lead to death. The same element reduces a person’s reaction speed, affects coordination of movements and clouds thinking.

Fusel oils phenols and acetaldehyde

Often alcohol-containing drinks are rejected due to their excessive content of aldehydes or fusel oils, in the presence of phenols. These indicators determine quality characteristics many alcoholic drinks. Depending on the type, alcohol poisons have different effects on the human body:

• Aldehydes begin fermentation and transformation reactions during the production of strong drinks, actively interacting with other impurities. Its amount, even in the lowest grade “swill,” should not exceed 8 mg/dm3.
• Phenols in any form are hazardous to health. They cause food burns allergic reactions, lead to tissue necrosis, respiratory arrest, and paralysis. Their presence is unacceptable in high-quality products.
• Fusel oils impart alcoholic drinks organoleptic characteristics. Without them, cognac would only be a mixture of water and alcohol. However, excess amounts lead to severe intoxication, poisoning and a painful hangover. The norm for fusel oils is 4 mg/dm3.

Food additives and colorings

The original drink should consist only of an organic base: malt, hops, herbs, berries or fruits, spices. These additives give the drink a special taste, aroma and color. However, such drinks are usually expensive. Sugar, dyes, and various essences are added to cheap products. Such harmful additives not only improve taste, but also have a negative impact on health, worsening the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), heart muscle, endocrine system.

Harm of alcoholic drinks

How quickly alcohol is absorbed depends on its concentration in the drink. For example, strong alcohol is more harmful to health and is absorbed faster than wine or beer. About 20% of what you drink is absorbed by the stomach, and the remaining 80% is sent to the small intestine. After alcohol has entered the stomach and intestines, it penetrates into systemic blood flow, along with the blood, flowing to other organs and systems of the body. Approximately 10% of everything drunk is excreted by the kidneys and lungs. The liver has to deal with the rest of the harmful substances.

Brain dysfunction

Regular consumption of ethanol-containing products affects a person’s ability to control his speech, coordinate movements, and the alcoholic’s vision deteriorates. Harmful substances irreversibly destroy brain neurons, due to which pain is dulled and muscle control is reduced. With the development of alcoholism, a person’s memory deteriorates, he perceives the information received poorly, and reacts inadequately to what is happening.

Deterioration of the cardiovascular and circulatory system

Red blood cells carry oxygen and nourish soft fabrics the whole body. On top, red blood cells are covered with a fatty membrane, which helps them move freely, pushing away from each other. As soon as a person takes extra grams of alcohol, the process of destruction of red blood cells begins - the bodies stick together and can no longer easily enter the small capillaries, which leads to blockage of blood vessels, the formation of blood clots, which provokes strokes and heart attacks.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Drinking also has a detrimental effect on the digestive system. The gastric mucosa takes the first blow. It becomes thinner over time, leading to the development of ulcers or gastritis. Under the influence of alcohol, varicose formations form in the esophagus, which, even with minor trauma, can provoke internal bleeding. Under the influence of harmful ethanol, the structure of tissues changes, which is why alcohol is considered one of the factors in the development of cancer.

Endocrine disorders

Ethanol also has a negative effect on sexual activity. In men, erection disappears, libido fades, sperm production and motility decreases, and impotence develops. Ethanol reduces testosterone production, but increases the level of estrogen, a female hormone. This is why adult men who drink acquire feminine traits, such as enlarged breasts, fat on the thighs or in the abdominal area.

Ethanol has just as active an effect on female body. In a drinking woman, on the contrary, the production of estrogen decreases and the amount of testosterone increases. As a result, women's voices become rougher, their gait changes, and a violation is noted. menstrual cycle, the ability to bear children is lost. An alcoholic woman does not feel sexual desire and often suffers from early menopause.

Liver and kidney damage

The human liver and kidneys process ethanol and its derivatives. If the normal doses are violated, the liver does not have time to neutralize the entire amount of alcohol, which leads to the deposition of fat in its cells. Over time, such formations lead to hepatosis and cell death. Scars form in place of healthy tissues, and liver cirrhosis develops. In the absence of adequate treatment, the disease develops into cancer.

Clear signs the fact that the kidneys cannot cope with alcohol can be felt even completely healthy person, going through the excess – this is high blood pressure, headache, swelling, pain in the lumbar region. Regular drinking leads to disorder acid-base balance, the kidneys stop coping with their functions and begin to accumulate toxins and other breakdown products of alcohol.

Nervous system degeneration caused by alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages from time to time does not lead to serious mental changes, unlike alcoholism. A sick person first experiences joy, euphoria, and peace, which are subsequently replaced by depression, aggression, and loss of interests. Personality degradation is irreversible - drunkenness often leads to hallucinations, mental insanity, and delirium tremens.

Damage to nerve cells

Alcohol produces alcohol addiction, leads to degradation of the nervous system. Scientists have found that ethanol not only destroys the connection between brain cells, but can also change their structure, which leads to the development of cancer. In addition, irreversible damage to nerve cells is fraught with the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This neurological disease characterized by memory problems, visual impairment, can lead to paralysis and complete amnesia.

Aggression and irritability

The stage of intoxication, at which a person begins to experience aggression, becomes irritable and gets into a fight, is dangerous for others. Sound arguments no longer work on such a person; often what is said only worsens the situation. Research shows that aggression largely depends on individual characteristics personality. The list of such criteria includes:

• aggressive character;
• previously previous injuries heads;
• mental disorders;
• nervous tension before drinking alcohol.

Depressive states

There is also an absolutely opposite effect of alcohol on the human body, when instead of irritability a person begins to experience apathy. Almost all heavy alcoholics experience such mental deviations, the intensity of which depends on the duration of alcoholism and the amount of alcohol taken. The main symptoms of alcoholic depression:

• apathy;
• vision of the surrounding world in gray tones;
• tearfulness;
• lack of brightness of emotional sensations;
• lack of joy.

Dementia

Dementia is a disorder of mental functions caused by serious damage to the structures of the brain, or, more simply, dementia. Regular consumption of alcohol makes it difficult to acquire new knowledge, leads to partial or complete loss previously acquired skills. Dementia is dangerous because a person can no longer make decisions on his own, reason logically, his sense of duty, politeness, and delicacy disappear.

Why alcohol is bad for teenagers

Parents should constantly remind their growing child that drinking alcohol is harmful and set their own example. healthy image life. Often children turn to alcohol due to lack of attention in the family, when they feel like a burden or unnecessary and strive to assert themselves. First, they begin to drink low-alcohol drinks, gradually increasing their strength.

If you convert sweet drinks to vodka, then you will need about 50-10 ml of strong alcohol per package. Canned cocktails contain a lot of sugar and chemical additives that have a negative impact on gastrointestinal tract, metabolism, absorption of vitamins and useful substances. What is harmful about alcohol for a teenager is the development of diabetes mellitus, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and hepatitis in the future.

Consequences of female alcoholism

If we compare male addiction with female addiction, the latter is much more dangerous and difficult to treat. It has been scientifically proven that women get drunk faster than men because of physiological characteristics, lower body weight, psychological factors. Harm of drinking alcohol for women:

• they are more susceptible to early liver cirrhosis and other pathologies;
• functions are impaired thyroid gland;
• memory and ability to perceive sharply deteriorate new information;
• Alcohol is especially harmful for expectant mothers - it leads to infertility, reduces the production of female hormones– estrogens.

Pregnant women should remember that ethanol has a negative effect not only on their body, but on the formation of the fetus and mental development child. Such ladies have a high risk of having disabled children, babies with physical or mental disabilities. Alcohol abuse in the first trimester can cause miscarriage, in the second - placental abruption, and in the third - premature birth.

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