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 nuances, claims that there is no more dangerous substance for a person than alcohol. In terms of 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 slow suicide, but are most people so critical of the so-called domestic drunkenness? One or two glasses of wine with dinner, a bottle of beer with a football match or 100 grams of alcohol for a meeting with a friend are perceived 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 just a stereotype? Let's turn to the opinion of scientists.
The harm of alcohol on the human body: briefly about the main ones
So what is the main danger of alcohol? In its deceptive harmlessness! Californian scientists claim that ethyl alcohol in small quantities is absolutely safe. True, they tactfully keep silent about where "a small amount" ends and "drunkenness" begins. It is also impossible to find information about who funded these studies, since they were not published in any high-ranking scientific journal, which requires all experimental protocols and sponsor data. Is it because representatives of the alcohol industry are at the helm? One can only guess.
At the same time, there is no such dependence that arises on its own - most often, alcoholism develops 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 the notorious alcoholics who cannot go a day without a bottle of cheap wine - those who daily ruin their health are enough in intelligent circles.
It is difficult to find a more insidious liquid than alcohol. It acts on the brain like serotonin (the natural hormone of happiness), producing an imagined feeling of happiness and an uplifted mood. It is this effect that is responsible for the emergence of a habit - instead of learning to enjoy a full life, it is easier to cloud the mind with a surrogate of 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 all his glory". Some 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.
In addition, 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 test glass, 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 - there healthy thoughts, social norms and human perception are gradually replaced by banal animal instincts and thirst for a bottle. In addition, this process is irreversible - if the destroyed liver can still heal a little, then the cerebral cortex does 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 its functionality decreases due to shrinkage. On average, 200 ml of strong 40-degree drink kills 1000-2000 cells. Keep this in mind when pouring the next glass!
Harm of alcohol for men
Like any substance that causes addiction, ethyl alcohol works secretly - 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 isf. And even the beliefs 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, getting into the blood, affects the brain centers and simulates a feeling of euphoria, which overshadows all other feelings, dulling 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 half. This means that after several years of regular "evening with a glass" 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 - any of these drugshave a strict limit on alcohol So, dear men, remember: by picking up one glass after another, you are depriving yourself of an important aspect of a full life.
The harm of alcohol on the female body
Female alcoholism is much worse than male alcoholism. Although ethanol has an equally destructive effect on the organisms of both sexes, female physiology is much more peculiar: the vulnerability, emotionality and psychological sensitivity of the fairer sex is a reasonable physiological feature, which means that they are much more dependent on the illusion of happiness and tranquility. faster. Trying to hide from problems 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 thirst for a cup.
In addition, a woman's liver filters ethyl alcohol worse, which means that it breaks down faster under its influence. As statistics show, the first signs of cirrhosis appear in women after an average of 5 years of alcohol dependence, 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 a pity that not every woman perceives 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 allegedly recommends to them to relieve tone and general relaxation of the body. Who issued the diploma of medical education to these doctors? guide gynecologists when recommending it 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 show that the death rate of newborns in alcoholic mothers is 5 times higher than in those who do not drink alcohol. And here we are not talking about alcohol addiction, but about the notorious "cultural drinking", which is called daily drunkenness. Ethanol affects the fetus even in the womb, causing underdevelopment, mental retardation and other pathologies that will accompany the child throughout his life! Is it worth it? Is his suffering the imaginary pleasure of a mother who cannot refuse a glass of alcohol?
An interesting experiment on the effect of alcohol vapors on embryos was conducted at the Federal Medical and Biological Center. 160 eggs were placed in the incubator, and at the same time an ethanol steam generator was installed in the room. As a result, half of the embryos simply did not form, and of the remaining 80, 40 died in the first days after birth, and another 25 had serious malformations - for example, without a beak, one wing or with incorrectly formed legs. Worth a look!
The harm of alcohol on the body of a teenager
There is not 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 prohibited on the same day, no child would feel deprived or inferior, and even more so would not suffer from the desire to try alcoholic products. By adolescence, however, the statistics change significantly: more than 60% of modern teenagers try alcohol by the age of 15, and by the time they reach adulthood, their percentage reaches 90.
Research by our scientists B. S. Bratusya and P. I. Sidorova showed that even in kindergarten, children easily reproduce the process of drinking and the state of intoxication. If you ask children to play a wedding, a birthday or a trip to a party, they will involuntarily clink their glasses, pour drinks into them and make toasts. Thus, a stereotype is formed that alcohol is a companion of celebration and fun, a symbol of a carefree and happy life for adults. This is where teenage alcoholism begins.
What harm does alcohol do to today's teenagers?
Today's teenagers perceive alcohol as an insignificant and empty pastime that allows you to overcome the first disappointment, deal with the awkwardness of a first date or just have fun with friends. However, even a glass of low-alcohol drink such as beer or homemade wine will be enough for the fragile body to get drunk and lose control.
Drinking for teenagers is a false opportunity to assert themselves, to feel more mature, calmer and braver. Casting yourself as a "bad guy" or a "fatal girl" using alcohol for this is as easy as peeling pears, but is everything as harmless as it seems? Destructive behavior, attempts to appear more mature, arrogance 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 the feeling of surrogate euphoria. This is how attachment arises, and taking into account the fact that in adolescence the body in general and the psyche in particular are not yet fully formed, it will be much more difficult to overcome the addiction that has arisen than in adults.
The harm of alcohol on the human body: results
The data of the World Health Organization are indisputable: every third case of premature death is somehow related to alcohol consumption. Some drink until the complete destruction of the body, others get into accidents under the influence of ethanol, others lose self-control and self-harm. Today, however, 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 below in a small and almost imperceptible font is a footnote: "Excessive consumptionof alcohol 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 with your own head and worry about your own health. The atomic explosion in Hiroshima killed two hundred thousand people, and alcohol kills about a million and a half 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 tell you why alcohol-free is better.
Alcohol is a depressant
Alcohol is often referred to as an antidepressant, and this is not true. It only relaxes the body for a short time and improves mood by increasing dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But subsequently the body adapts to the production of the hormone and more and more is needed to achieve an effect. In addition, tetrahydroisoquinoline is formed, a substance that blocks the production of dopamine and serotonin. A person stops enjoying life without stimulation, falls into depressive moods. Thousands of neurons are destroyed, which can no longer be restored.
After a short-term increase in mood, an increase in aggression and apathy follows. Scientists say that alcohol contributes to insomnia, increases anxiety and, with systemic 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 - a person recovers mental functions, mood normalizes, vitality and motivation increase.
Drinking alcohol 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, grayish complexion, bruises under the eyes and wrinkles. Cholesterol rises in the blood, causing reddish streaks to appear on the whites of the eyes. When a person stops drinking, most body functions are gradually restored, which has a positive effect on appearance. This will take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending on how long you've been drinking.
Alcohol causes overeating
Ethanol stimulates a special protein AGRP called the "obesity protein". It greatly increases appetite, causing gluttony even when a person is full of energy and does not want to eat. The habit of 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 causes cirrhosis and hepatitis due to inflammation and scarring of the liver tissue. It actively destroys the pancreas and causes a tendency to diabetes. Under the influence of alcohol, the intestinal walls are destroyed, the structure of the cells changes, they stop absorbing useful substances completely, which affects the immune system and general health. Alcoholic beverages adversely affect most organs. In the stomach, the production of mucin is suppressed - a substance that protects the mucosa from irritants. Without it, the stomach is prone to gastritis and peptic ulcer.
The intestinal microflora is gradually restored within a week after the body is freed from alcohol. By the way, the withdrawal of alcohol from the female body is 20-25% slower than that of men. If a person stays sober for two weeks, he will have clarity of thought, blood pressure will normalize, heart activity will stabilize, shortness of breath and headaches will disappear.
Constant financial costs
One of the less obvious but pleasant consequences of giving up alcohol is saving. High duties have been set for the raw materials for wine production, which is why finished drinks are mainly bought in the country from abroad. Alcohol prices are constantly rising, and if you drink high-quality (and the rest is not worth it), then this will affect the budget. Even at an average cost of about a glass of wine with dinner per month, you'll save a pretty hefty amount. Add to this the costs of visiting doctors, as well as buying medicines and cosmetics, which you need much less 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 manifests itself regardless of standard of living, wealth and education. At the same time, malfunctions in the work of the body and psyche appear that are not obvious at first glance. That is why it is especially important to control this habit and monitor your health to avoid irreversible consequences. In addition, the sooner a person stops drinking alcohol, the faster most problems arising from it are solved.
What if it's small?
You can often come across the opinion that in small doses alcohol is good for health. Doctors from the American Heart Association dispute this theory. For 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 note 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.