The harm of alcohol on the human body is great. All organs and systems of the human body are affected. The negative impact does not spare the younger generation, women and men. It is worth understanding: is alcohol harmful to a person; what impact it has on each life support system; how harmful alcohol is to the body.
Alcoholism and its consequences
The effect of alcohol and its effect on the body is well studied. Absolutely all human organs and systems fall under the blow, which is part of ethanol: organs of the digestive system, central nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary, respiratory systems, musculoskeletal system, organs of vision, and so on. Alcohol does the most damage to the liver, heart, and brain (memory training).
The effect of alcohol on the body is manifested as follows:
- negatively affects the cells of organs;
- promotes mutation and the formation of oncology;
- when used during pregnancy, it can lead to irreversible consequences for the fetus;
- is a drug;
- disrupts normal metabolism;
- reduces immunity.
Effect on the liver
The effect of alcohol on the liver is associated with its main function - cleansing the body of toxins and harmful substances. Prolonged intake of alcohol leads to damage to the liver by ethanol and disruption of its performance. When the liver cannot cope with the filtering function, all toxic substances enter the bloodstream to other organs.
The effect of alcohol on the liver is manifested by the occurrence of diseases:
- Acute alcoholic hepatitis. Symptoms: depression, deterioration in general well-being, decrease or loss of appetite, fever, jaundice, clouding of consciousness. This disease is curable provided that the use of products containing ethanol is stopped and the treatment is timely and correct.
- Liver cirrhosis occurs with symptoms of digestive disorders, abdominal pain, weight loss, weakness. May develop asymptomatically. Cirrhosis is characterized by the growth of connective tissue, which begins to destroy liver cells. The liver slowly ceases to function. In the later stages, an increase in pressure in the vessels of the liver, encephalopathy, and oncology can join cirrhosis of the liver.
- fatty hepatosis. It occurs in the absence of symptoms, the presence of which is established using a biochemical blood test. Hepatosis is not treated with drugs, the main way to stop drinking alcohol.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
Many people drink alcoholic beverages after a hard day at work or on a holiday or just a day off. However, it is worth noting that not every person has a sense of proportion. And sooner or later, such a harmless hobby becomes a bad habit. And about whatalcohol is harmfulknow and write for a long time. To date, there has been a lot of discussion about thealcohol is the cause of many diseases. That it destroys the liver cells, and it is not able to perform its functions. That it also harms the functioning of the brain. As a result, a person's memory and brain activity deteriorate. This happens because when drinking an alcoholic beverage, in other words, alcohol, which is absorbed into the bloodstream and moves with the bloodstream towards the brain, where the process of its active destruction takes place.
The human brain consists of 15 billion neurons, that is, nerve cells that die when interacting with alcohol. That is, with each time and with each new sip of an alcoholic drink, the number of dead nerve cells in the skull area becomes more and more.
And how is everything going on? Once in the body, ethanol is absorbed into the blood and with its current is carried through the organs. Excessive consumption acts on the hypothalamus and reduces the production of vasopressin, which leads to dehydration. Ethanol in the blood begins to act on red blood cells, splitting their membranes. These two processes cause red blood cells to stick together to form blood clots. Blood clots gradually increase in size and block the patency of blood vessels - oxygen starvation of the brain sets in and brain cells die. Lack of oxygen leads to acidification and tissue hypoxia gradually sets in.
When doctors opened the brains of people who had died from alcohol poisoning or had heavily abused alcohol during their lifetime, they found that the brain of this person was completely destroyed. After that, scientists came to the conclusion that alcohol is the most powerful tool that deprives a person of reason. As already known and scientifically proven, alcohol kills brain cells. However, it is worth considering the fact that it affects each person in different ways. Since in some people the first thing that is subject to the destructive effect of alcoholic beverages is the back of the brain. In this case, they are strongly swayed. And in the second case, the moral center itself is subject to destruction. The latter case is considered the most dangerous condition, since alcohol kills the brain cells that control behavior. As practice has shown, a person in this state is able to destroy not only his own, but someone else's life. However, there is also a third case in which a person's memory is destroyed. That is, in the morning a person simply does not remember what happened yesterday, where he was and what he did.
Scientists have found that one glass of alcohol kills approximately 1000-2000 cells. Which, in turn, in the cerebral cortex begin to rot and decompose. In this case, a person experiences a severe headache, which is popularly called a hangover. Since these cells poison the brain, protective processes begin to work in the human body. Which, in turn, contribute to the pumping of a large amount of fluid through the cranium. After that, this fluid, along with dead cells, leaves the human body through the urethra. For a person, alcohol is harmful in any form and in any doses. It disrupts the work of all metabolic processes in the human body and affects its genetic code.
The described processes lead to damage to the parts of the brain responsible for the vestibular apparatus, human behavior, as well as memory and attention. With regular alcohol abuse, a change in thought and mental processes occurs - degeneration.
Influence on the psyche and nervous system
The effect of alcohol on the functioning of the central nervous system is expressed as follows:
- Causes insomnia and nightmares. Nightmares can be excruciating, and it is not uncommon for alcoholics to have a fear of sleep. Taking sleeping pills or antidepressants only aggravate the situation or lead to severe side effects.
- Violates thought processes, adversely affects memory. First, memorization occurs in fragments, then ethanol destroys neural connections and gradually a person ceases to remember the past and is not able to remember something new.
- The consequences of alcohol intake are manifested in the weakening of the intellect: a person stops thinking logically, emotions, feelings, perceptions disappear.
- Polyneuritis is a complication of a neurological nature. It manifests itself in inflammation of the nerves of the arms and legs. Symptoms: numbness, burning and weakness in the limbs.
Mental consequences of alcoholism:
- Psychosis - ethanol causes inhibition of metabolic processes and oxygen starvation. There is a clouding of reason, phobias, a person gradually becomes isolated and begins to live in a self-created world.
- Delirium tremens. It is manifested by sleep disorders, convulsions, depression, sudden changes in feelings of fear and joy, auditory and visual hallucinations.
- Alcoholic encephalopathy develops in the third stage of alcoholism. It is characterized by symptoms of delirium tremens, which is accompanied by weakness, lack of appetite, trembling, clouding of consciousness, coma. High chance of death.
- Alcohol paralysis - encephalopathy in the chronic stage. Loss of reality, neuritis of the extremities.
- The influence of alcohol on the human psyche in the later stages of alcoholism leads to alcoholic epilepsy and alcohol degradation.
Effect on the cardiovascular system
Consequences of excessive alcohol consumption on the cardiovascular system:
- Violation of vascular tone and flexibility of the blood flow system due to oxygen starvation and thrombosis.
- myocardial dystrophy. Pathology is caused by a violation of interstitial metabolism.
- Myocardial hypertrophy and obesity of the heart.
- The formation and accumulation of blood clots by aggregation of red blood cells leads to the death of heart cells, which leads to heart attacks.
- Blockage of blood vessels leads to the manifestation of blood streaks on the skin of the face.
Influence on the organs of the urinary system
Ethanol, which is part of alcoholic products, leads to a change in the sensitivity of the renal pelvis, which leads to a decrease in protective mechanisms. The likelihood of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, urethra and bladder increases - pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, urethritis, cystitis.
With prolonged use of alcohol, a protein precipitate forms in the urine. Minerals washed with ethanol settle and accumulate in the kidneys, forming stones - urolithiasis develops.
If metabolism is disturbed under the influence of alcohol, the structure of the kidneys is damaged, harmful substances accumulate and toxins develop kidney dystrophy. In the absence of treatment and further alcohol consumption, one of the listed diseases develops renal failure.
Influence on the digestive organs
Alcohol, getting into the oral cavity, disrupts the salivary glands in the oral cavity and causes the viscosity of saliva, which reduces its protective ability. Ethanol begins to destroy the walls of the esophagus. Later, in chronic alcoholics, swallowing is disturbed.
Gradually, there is a deterioration in the secretory function, in case of violation of which the pancreas comes under attack. Alcoholic gastritis develops, which gradually turns into pancreatitis.
Also, alcohol contributes to the production of gastric juice and hydrochloric acid, which corrode the walls of the digestive organs and cause ulcers, which over time can cause oncology of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, alcohol clogs the capillaries and thereby disrupts the absorption of vitamins, which is detrimental to the human body.
The spleen cleanses the body of dead blood cells. In case of alcohol poisoning of the body, the work of the spleen and the ability to cleanse the body are disrupted. Disturbances in the work of the spleen are also caused by the effect of alcohol on the liver, pancreas and circulatory system and the disruption of their work.
As a result of alcohol abuse, blood flow to the spleen is disturbed, resulting in tissue infarction and suppuration of the spleen capsule - spleen abscess.
Impact on immunity
The effect of alcohol on the defense mechanisms of the human body:
- Suppresses innate and acquired immunity.
- Reduced immunity ceases to produce enough white blood cells, the ability to resist diseases is impaired.
- Violates the synthesis of cytokines, the excess of which leads to tissue destruction, the lack of frequent diseases.
- Suppresses the work of T-cells, which increases the risk of oncology.
- Alcohol reduces immunity and increases the risk of pneumonia, tuberculosis and HIV.
Impact on the musculoskeletal system
Ethanol is known to dehydrate the body. Water is essential for cell function. Lack of fluid leads to metabolic disorders. As a result, decay products and harmful compounds accumulate in muscle tissues, causing discomfort. Alcoholism leads to disruption of the endocrine system - the production of testosterone and glycogen is suppressed. Their deficiency leads to the degradation of muscle tissue.
The effect of alcohol on the joints
- With alcoholism, arthrosis and arthrosis develop - thinning of cartilage tissue, with regular abuse, its disappearance. The protective mechanism against friction disappears, the joints begin to hurt.
- Joint pain after alcohol can cause compression of the epiphyses and impaired blood flow, and as a result, bone tissue ischemia develops.
- Aseptic necrosis - death of bone tissue
- Gout is inflammation of the joints.
- After alcohol, joints and knees hurt due to fluid retention in the tissues and an increase in intra-articular fluid pressure.
Impact on appearance
How alcohol affects appearance:
- Alcoholic drinks are high in calories, combined with a high-calorie snack and a disturbed metabolism, lead to obesity and the appearance of cellulite.
- Effect of alcohol on the skin: Dehydration leads to aging and wrinkling of the skin.
- Ethanol washes away vitamins, minerals and nutrients, disrupts blood flow - the face becomes covered with acne and capillaries.
- The body is covered with papules and scales of a non-infectious nature - psoriasis develops.
- Acetic aldehyde dilates blood vessels and as a result, the skin of the face becomes brown.
- In the last stages of alcoholism, skin cancer is possible.
Influence on the endocrine system
Alcohol inhibits the work of the endocrine system, which includes the endocrine glands:
- Alcohol and the thyroid gland: hormonal activity is disturbed, which negatively affects the possibility of procreation. In women suffering from alcoholism, there are often cases of infertility, miscarriages, premature births.
- Alcohol and the pancreas: ethanol inhibits the pancreas and, against the background of reduced immunity, pancreatitis develops.
- Alcohol reduces the production of insulin - diabetes develops. Cases of latent course of the disease are not rare.
- The adrenal glands are responsible for carbohydrate and mineral metabolism, the production of sex hormones and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In case of violation of the work of the adrenal glands, the entire body suffers, the greatest blow falls on the reproductive function.
- Alcoholism disrupts the connection between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The production of tropic hormones decreases and the synthesis of hormones of the opposite sex increases - the appearance gradually begins to change.
Effects on the lungs
Alcohol is excreted from the body not only through the digestive and excretory systems. The lungs take an active part in this process. The organs of the respiratory system are not adapted to such a load, so the lung tissue gradually hardens and expands. Connective tissue fibrosis occurs. Mucus and sputum begin to accumulate on the lungs. This causes pneumonia and other diseases of the lower respiratory system.
Alcohol also leads to dehydration of the mucous membranes, and defense mechanisms are violated, a person is more often exposed to viral and infectious diseases. Alcoholics often have tuberculosis. Blockage of blood vessels leads to a lack of oxygen.
Impact on vision
With regular use of alcohol, it is not uncommon for eyes to hurt - this is due to:
- The formation of blood clots in the vessels of the optic nerve and oculomotor muscles disrupts the blood supply to the entire visual system.
- A decrease in blood oxygen, which leads to darkening in the eyes, can lead to blindness.
- An increase in eye pressure, which causes rupture of blood vessels and hemorrhage.
- Vision does not adapt well to changing conditions and lighting. Objects in the field of view move away and blur. Alcohol-induced disturbances in the eye center of the brain cause double vision.
- At the last stage, under the influence of alcohol, the optic nerves atrophy.
Alcohol adversely affects the entire body without exception. There is a violation of the digestive system, excretory, cardiovascular, endocrine and other body systems. The detrimental effect on the functioning of organs leads to the development of serious diseases, some of which are not treatable.