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 new generations, women and men. It is worth understanding: alcohol is harmful to a person; what impact does it have on each life support system; how bad alcohol is for 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 system, cardiovascular, genitourinary, respiratory, musculoskeletal system, organs of vision and so on. Alcohol does more 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 the mutation and formation of oncology;
- when used during pregnancy, it can lead to irreversible consequences for the fetus;
- it's a drug;
- disrupts normal metabolism;
- reduces immunity.
Effect on the liver
The effect of alcohol on the liver is associated with its main function - to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances. Prolonged alcohol intake causes liver damage caused by ethanol and disruption of its performance. When the liver is unable to 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 onset of diseases:
- Acute alcoholic hepatitis. Symptoms: depression, deterioration in general well-being, decreased or loss of appetite, fever, jaundice, clouding of consciousness. This disease is treatable provided the use of ethanol-containing products is stopped and treatment is prompt and correct.
- Cirrhosis of the liver is manifested by symptoms of digestive disorders, abdominal pain, weight loss, weakness. It can develop asymptomatically. Cirrhosis is characterized by the growth of connective tissue, which begins to destroy liver cells. The liver slowly stops working. In the later stages, increased pressure in the vessels of the liver, encephalopathy and oncology can join liver cirrhosis.
- fatty hepatosis. It occurs in the absence of symptoms, the presence of which is established by means of 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 vacation or just a day off. However, it is worth noting that not all people have a sense of proportion. And sooner or later, such a harmless hobby becomes a bad habit. And on whatalcohol is harmfulknow and write for a long time. To date, there has been a lot of discussion aboutalcohol is the cause of many diseases. That it destroys the liver cells and is unable to perform its functions. Which also impairs the functioning of the brain. As a result, a person's memory and brain activity deteriorate. This happens because when drinking an alcoholic drink, in other words, alcohol, which is absorbed into the bloodstream and moves with the bloodstream to the brain, where the process of its active destruction takes place.
The human brain is made up of 15 billion neurons, which are 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 increases more and more.
And how is everything going? 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, breaking down their membranes. These two processes cause red blood cells to join 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 sets in gradually.
When doctors opened the brains of people who had died from alcohol poisoning or had been heavily abusing alcohol during their lifetime, they found that this person's brain was completely destroyed. Subsequently, 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. Because 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 influenced. And in the second case, the moral center itself is subject to destruction. The latter case is considered the most dangerous condition, as 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 where 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 a glass of alcohol kills around 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. As these cells poison the brain, protective processes begin to function in the human body. Which, in turn, contribute to the pumping of a large amount of fluid through the skull. Subsequently, this fluid, along with the dead cells, leaves the human body through the urethra. For a person, alcohol is harmful in any form and in any dose. It disrupts the work of all metabolic processes in the human body and affects its genetic code.
The processes described 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 thinking 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:
- It causes insomnia and nightmares. Night terrors can be excruciating, and it's not uncommon for alcoholics to be afraid of sleep. Taking sleeping pills or antidepressants only aggravates the situation or lead to serious side effects.
- It violates thought processes, adversely affects memory. First, memorization occurs in fragments, so ethanol destroys neural connections and gradually a person stops remembering the past and is unable to remember something new.
- The consequences of alcohol consumption are manifested in the weakening of the intellect: a person stops thinking logically, emotions, feelings, perceptions disappear.
- Polyneuritis is a neurological complication. It manifests itself in inflammation of the nerves in 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 isolates himself and begins to live in a self-created world.
- Delirium tremens. Manifested by sleep disturbances, seizures, 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, tremor, clouding of consciousness, coma. High probability of death.
- Alcoholic 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 the 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 heart obesity.
- 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 beverages, 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 is formed in the urine. Minerals washed with ethanol settle and accumulate in the kidneys, forming stones - urolithiasis develops.
If the metabolism is disturbed under the influence of alcohol, the structure of the kidneys is damaged, harmful substances accumulate and toxins develop renal dystrophy. In the absence of treatment and further alcohol consumption, one of the listed diseases develops kidney failure.
Influence on the digestive organs
Alcohol, entering 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. Subsequently, in chronic alcoholics, swallowing is disturbed.
Gradually, a deterioration of the secretory function occurs, in case of a violation of which the pancreas is attacked. Alcoholic gastritis develops, which gradually turns into pancreatitis.
In addition, 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. Also, alcohol clogs the capillaries and thus stops the absorption of vitamins, which is harmful to the human body.
The spleen cleanses the body of dead blood cells. In case of alcohol poisoning in 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.
Due to alcohol abuse, blood flow to the spleen is disturbed, resulting in tissue infarction and suppuration of the spleen capsule - abscess of the spleen.
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 disease is impaired.
- It violates the synthesis of cytokines, the excess of which leads to the destruction of tissues, the lack of frequent diseases.
- Suppresses the work of T lymphocytes, increasing the risk of oncology.
- Alcohol lowers 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 fluids leads to metabolic disorders. As a result, decomposition products and harmful compounds build up in the 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 breakdown of muscle tissue.
The effect of alcohol on the joints
- With alcoholism, arthrosis and arthrosis develop - thinning of the cartilage tissue, with regular abuse, its disappearance. The protective mechanism against friction disappears, the joints begin to ache.
- Joint pain after alcohol can cause compression of the epiphyses and impaired blood flow, and as a result, bone 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 increased pressure of intra-articular fluid.
Impact on appearance
How does alcohol affect 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.
- The 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 on the face turns brown.
- In the later 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 thyroid - 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 pancreas - ethanol inhibits the pancreas and, against the background of reduced immunity, pancreatitis develops.
- Alcohol reduces insulin production - diabetes develops. Cases of a latent course of the disease are not uncommon.
- The adrenal glands are responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates and minerals, the production of sex hormones and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In case of violation of the work of the adrenal glands, the whole body suffers, the biggest 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 actively participate 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 organs of the 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 sight
With regular use of alcohol, it is not uncommon for the eyes to hurt, this is due to:
- The formation of blood clots in the vessels of the optic nerve and oculomotor muscles cuts off the blood supply to the entire visual system.
- A decrease in oxygen in the blood, which leads to darkening of the eyes, can lead to blindness.
- An increase in eye pressure, which causes blood vessels to rupture and bleed.
- Vision does not adapt well to changing conditions and lighting. Objects in the field of view move away and blur. Alcohol-induced disorders in the eye center of the brain cause double vision.
- At the last stage, under the influence of alcohol, the optic nerves atrophy.
Alcohol negatively affects the whole body without exception. There is a violation of the digestive, excretory, cardiovascular, endocrine and other systems of the body. The harmful effect on the functioning of organs leads to the development of serious diseases, some of which are not curable.