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, claimed that there is no more dangerous substance for a person than alcohol. According to 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 lifestyle, it is perceived as a slow suicide, but are most people so critical of so-called home drinking? A glass or two of wine with dinner, a bottle of beer with a football match or a 100 gram drink for a meeting with a friend is considered as appropriate as a cup of tea, but such a habit ultimately causes no less devastating harm than chronic drinking. Is alcohol that dangerous or is it just a stereotype? Let's turn to the opinion of scientists.
Harm of alcohol on the human body: briefly about the main ones
So what is the main danger of alcohol? In its deceptive innocence! Californian scientists claim that ethyl alcohol in small quantities is absolutely safe. True, they tactfully gloss over where "little" ends and "drunkenness" begins. It is also impossible to find information about who funded these studies, because they are not published in any high-profile scientific journal, which requires all the experimental protocols and sponsor information. Is it because the representatives of the alcohol industry are at the helm? One can only guess.
At the same time, there is no such addiction that would arise 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 are not talking about notorious alcoholics who cannot go a day without a bottle of cheap wine - in intelligent circles there are enough people who destroy their health every day.
Hard to find a more insidious liquid than alcohol. It acts on the brain like serotonin (natural hormone of joy), causing an imaginary feeling of happiness and mood. It is this effect that is responsible for the formation of the habit - instead of learning to enjoy life to the fullest, it is easier to cloud the mind with a surrogate for pleasure.
However, this effect is quickly replaced by a much less pleasant one - the total reduction of control over one's own emotions and actions makes the drunk person "appear in his glory". Some show aggression, others start crying for no reason, others behave too kindly. . . 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 intoxication. According to statistics, more than half of 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 drinks alcohol regularly for a long time - healthy thoughts, social norms and human perception are gradually replaced there by banal animal instincts and craving for a bottle. Moreover, this process is irreversible - if the destroyed liver can still be treated a little, then the cerebral cortex is not restored. Australian scientists have proven that even in 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 the second glass!
Harm of alcohol for men
Like any addictive substance, ethyl alcohol works secretly - at first you will not notice any changes and unpleasant health consequences, but over time, when it is impossible to refuse a drunk glass, you yourself will understand how deceptive the first impression is. Even the belief of some drinkers that the bottle helps them relax and relieve stress is nothing more than self-delusion. Such a feeling causes paralysis of the center of attention and self-control - ethanol, entering the blood, acts on the brain centers and simulates a feeling of euphoria, which overshadows all other feelings, dulls 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 pampering? No answer…
Moreover, the stereotype imposed by the media and advertising about 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 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 at half power. This means that after several years of regular "dinner with a glass" circulation will inevitably be disturbed, and as a result, impotence will occur, which cannot be eliminated even with the help of modern potency regulators - any of these drugs have a strict alcohol limit. So, dear men, remember: by raising glass after glass, you are depriving yourself of an important aspect of a fulfilling life.
Harm of alcohol on the female body
Female alcoholism is much worse than male alcoholism. Although ethanol has an equally destructive effect on organisms of both sexes, female physiology is much more bizarre: the vulnerability, emotionality and psychological sensitivity of the fairer sex is a reasonable physiological trait, which means that they develop a lot of addiction to the illusion of happiness and calmness. faster. Trying to hide from the problem in alcoholic oblivion, ladies get drunk much faster, because the body cannot resist this attachment, and the peculiarities of psychology interfere with the mind's attempts to overcome the desire for a glass.
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 addiction, and in men - after 7. And although the difference is small, it clearly shows that the female body is a priori more sensitive than the male. 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 every woman perceives the state of pregnancy in this way. Modern trends dictate new rules: today, ladies "in position" do not deprive themselves of anything, not even a glass of red wine, which is allegedly recommended by a gynecologist to ease the tone and general relaxation of the body. Who gave these doctors their medical degrees? What are gynecologists guided by 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 a walk in nature. What about 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 is not about alcohol addiction, but about the notorious "cultural drunkenness", 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 for life! Is his suffering worth the imaginary satisfaction of a mother who could not refuse a glass of alcohol?
An interesting experiment on the effect of alcohol vapors on embryos was performed at the Federal Medical-Biological Center. 160 eggs were laid in the incubator, and at the same time an ethanol vapor generator was placed in the room. As a result, half of the embryos simply did not form, and of the remaining 80, 40 of them died in the first days after birth, and another 25 had serious malformations - for example, without a beak, one wing or with an improperly formed leg. Worth considering!
Harm of alcohol on the body of teenagers
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, much less suffer from the desire to try products containing alcohol. However, by adolescence, the statistics change significantly: more than 60% of modern teenagers try alcohol by the age of 15, and by adulthood their percentage reaches 90.
The research of our scientists B. S. Bratusya and P. I. Sidorov showed that children even at kindergarten age easily reproduce the process of drinking and the state of intoxication. If you ask children to play a wedding, birthday or going to a party, they will involuntarily clink glasses, pour drinks into them and toast. This is how the stereotype is formed that alcohol is a companion of celebration and fun, 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 see alcohol as a petty and idle pastime that allows you to get over a first disappointment, deal with embarrassment on a first date, or just have fun with friends. However, even a glass of low-alcohol drink such as beer or domestic wine will be enough to make a fragile body drunk and lose control.
Drinking for teenagers is the wrong opportunity to assert themselves, to feel more mature, relaxed and brave. To portray yourself as a "bad guy" or "femme fatale" using alcohol is easy as pie, but is everything as harmless as it seems? Destructive behavior, attempts to appear more mature, ostentatiousness 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 feeling of surrogate euphoria. This is how attachment arises, and taking into account the fact that in adolescence the body as a whole, and especially the psyche, are not yet fully formed, it will be much more difficult to overcome the resulting addiction than in adults.
Harm of alcohol on the human body: results
The data of the World Health Organization are indisputable: every third case of premature death is in some way related to alcohol consumption. Some drink to the point of complete destruction of the organism, others get into accidents under the influence of ethanol, others lose self-control and harm themselves. However, today the 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 at the bottom in a small and almost imperceptible font is the footnote: "Excessive consumptionalcohol 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 every potential consumer is another opportunity to fill their pockets. To resist this propaganda, it is enough to think for yourself and take care of your health. The atomic explosion in Hiroshima took the lives of two hundred thousand people, and alcohol kills about one and a half million every year. That's all 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'll tell you why it's better without alcohol.
Alcohol is a depressant
Alcohol is often referred to as an antidepressant, which is not true. It relaxes the body only briefly and improves mood by increasing dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But later the body adapts to the hormone production and more and more is needed to achieve the effect. In addition, tetrahydroisoquinoline is created, a substance that blocks the production of dopamine and serotonin. A person stops enjoying life without stimulation, falls into a depressed mood. Thousands of neurons are destroyed, which can no longer be regenerated.
After a short-term increase in mood, there is an increase in aggressiveness and apathy. Scientists say that alcohol contributes to insomnia, increases anxiety, and with systematic use can cause nervous disorders.
Negative effects on mood decrease after two weeks of abstinence from alcohol and are almost completely eliminated within a month - mental functions return to a person, mood normalizes, vitality and motivation increase.
Alcohol consumption affects appearance
Frequent use of alcohol causes the skin to lose elasticity due to dehydration. This leads to premature aging and cosmetic problems: redness and swelling, grayish skin tone, bruises under the eyes and wrinkles. Cholesterol increases in the blood, which leads to the appearance of reddish stripes on the whites of the eyes. When a person stops drinking, most bodily functions are gradually restored, which has a positive effect on appearance. It will last from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the duration of drinking.
Alcohol causes overeating
Ethanol stimulates a special AGRP protein called the "obesity protein". Significantly increases appetite, causes gluttony, even when a person is full of energy and does not want to eat. The habit of drinking a glass of wine slows 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 intestine are destroyed under the influence of alcohol, the cell structure changes, they stop absorbing useful substances completely, which affects the immune system and general health. Alcoholic drinks have a negative effect on most organs. The production of mucin - a substance that protects the mucosa from irritants - is suppressed in the stomach. Without it, the stomach is prone to gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Intestinal microflora is gradually restored within a week after the body is freed from alcohol. By the way, withdrawal of alcohol from the female body is 20-25% slower than in men. If a person remains sober for two weeks, he has clarity of thought, blood pressure will normalize, heart rate will stabilize, shortness of breath and headache will disappear.
Fixed financial costs
One of the non-obvious but pleasant consequences of giving up alcohol is savings. High customs duties are imposed on raw materials for wine production, so ready-made drinks are mostly bought in the country from abroad. Alcohol prices are constantly rising, and if you drink high-quality (and other things are 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 bit of money. Add to this the costs of visiting doctors, as well as buying medicines and cosmetics, which you need much less with a healthy lifestyle.
Risk of developing alcoholism
It seems that alcoholism can only develop in the disadvantaged. In fact, this is not always a pronounced disease with external signs. An alcoholic in the early stages can continue an active social life, go to work, take care of loved ones and socialize with friends. Alcoholism occurs regardless of living standards, wealth and education. At the same time, non-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 to avoid irreversible consequences. Moreover, the sooner a person stops drinking alcohol, the faster most of the problems arising from it are solved.
What if it's just a little?
One can often find the opinion that alcohol in small doses is good for health. Doctors at the American Heart Association debate this theory. During six years, they observed about five thousand volunteers, half of whom drank often and little by little - only a glass of wine or a pint of beer in the evening. Experts pointed out that these people, according to general health indicators, have an increased risk of developing disorders of the cardiovascular system, including an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation.