The effects of alcohol on the body

Alcohol is very harmful to the human body. 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 noting: alcohol is harmful to humans; how it affects each life support system; how harmful alcohol is to the body.

Alcoholism and its consequences

The effects of alcohol and its effects on the body are well studied. Absolutely all human organs and systems are affected by ethanol: the digestive system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, genitourinary system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, visual organs, etc. Alcohol causes the most damage to the liver, heart and brain (memory training).

The effects of alcohol on the body are as follows:

• has a negative effect on the cells of the organs;
• promotes mutation and the formation of oncology;
• when used during pregnancy, can cause irreversible consequences for the fetus;
• is a drug;
• disrupts normal metabolism;
• reduces immunity.

Effects on the liver

The effect of alcohol on the liver is due to its main function - to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful substances. Prolonged alcohol intake leads to damage to the liver by ethanol and its dysfunction. When the liver is unable to cope with the filtration function, all the toxins enter the bloodstream and other organs.

The effect of alcohol on the liver manifests itself in the development of diseases:

1. Acute alcoholic hepatitis. Symptoms: depression, deterioration of general well-being, loss or loss of appetite, fever, jaundice, nausea. The disease is cured if you stop using products containing ethanol and carry out timely and proper treatment.
2. Cirrhosis of the liver occurs with symptoms of indigestion, abdominal pain, weight loss, weakness. May develop asymptomatically. Cirrhosis is characterized by the growth of connective tissue that begins to destroy liver cells. The liver slowly stops functioning. In later stages, increased blood pressure in the liver, encephalopathy and oncology may be associated with liver cirrhosis.
3. fatty hepatosis. Occurs in the absence of symptoms identified using a biochemical blood test. Hepatosis is not treated with drugs, it is the main way to stop drinking alcohol.

The effects of alcohol on the brain

Many people drink alcohol after a hard day at work or on vacation or just on a day off. However, it should be noted that not everyone 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. So far, many discussions have been held on thisAlcohol is the cause of many diseases. It destroys liver cells and is unable to perform its functions. This also damages the activity of the brain. As a result, a person's memory and brain function deteriorate. This is because alcohol, in other words, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and moves through the bloodstream to the brain, where it is actively destroyed.

The human brain is made up of 15 billion neurons, nerve cells that die when they interact with alcohol. That is, the number of dead nerve cells in the skull increases with each new and new sip of alcohol.

And how is everything going? Once in the body, ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried through the organs by current. Excessive consumption affects the hypothalamus and reduces the production of vasopressin, which causes thirst. Ethanol in the blood begins to affect red blood cells, breaking down 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 permeability of blood vessels - oxygen starvation enters the brain and brain cells die. Lack of oxygen causes acidity, and tissue hypoxia begins gradually.

When doctors opened the brains of people who died of alcohol poisoning or who had abused alcohol in their lifetime, they discovered that the person's brain was completely damaged. After that, scientists came to the conclusion that alcohol is the most powerful means of dementia. It is already known and scientifically proven that alcohol kills brain cells. However, it is worth noting that this affects everyone in different ways. Because in some people the first thing that is affected by the destructive effects of alcohol is the back of the brain. In this situation, they sway strongly. In the second case, the spiritual center itself is destroyed. The latter is considered the most dangerous situation, because alcohol kills the brain cells that control behavior. Experience has shown that a person in this situation can destroy not only his own life, but also the lives of others. However, there is a third case in which a person's memory is destroyed. In other words, 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 about 1000-2000 cells. This, in turn, begins to rot and break down in the cerebral cortex. In this case, a person is experiencing a severe headache called hangover among the people. As these cells poison the brain, protective processes begin to function in the human body. This, in turn, helps to pump large amounts of fluid through the skull. This fluid then leaves the human body through the urethra along with the dead cells. Alcohol is harmful to humans in any form and in any dose. It disrupts all metabolic processes in the human body and affects its genetic code.

The described processes cause damage to the vestibular apparatus of the brain, human behavior, as well as the parts of the brain responsible for memory and attention. With regular use of alcohol there is a change in thinking and mental processes - degeneration.

Effects on the psyche and nervous system

The effect of alcohol on the activity of the central nervous system is expressed as follows:

1. Causes insomnia and nightmares. Fears of the night can be unbearable, and it is not uncommon for alcoholics to have fears of sleep. Taking sleeping pills or antidepressants only aggravates the condition or causes serious side effects.
2. Disrupts thought processes, has a negative effect on memory. First, memorization occurs in fragments, then ethanol destroys nerve connections, and gradually the person stops remembering the past and cannot remember anything new.
3. The consequences of alcoholism are manifested in the weakening of the intellect: a person stops thinking logically, feelings, emotions, perceptions disappear.
4. 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:

1. Psychosis - Ethanol causes inhibition of metabolic processes and oxygen starvation. There is a cloud of mind, phobias, man gradually becomes isolated and begins to live in the world he created.
2. Delirium tremens. It manifests itself with sleep disorders, convulsions, depression, sudden changes in feelings of fear and joy, auditory and visual hallucinations.
3. In the third stage of alcoholism, alcoholic encephalopathy develops. It is characterized by symptoms of weakness, loss of appetite, tremors, nausea, delirium tremens accompanied by coma. High probability of death.
4. Alcohol paralysis - chronic encephalopathy. Loss of reality, neuritis of the extremities.
5. In the later stages of alcoholism, the effects of alcohol on the human psyche lead to alcohol epilepsy and alcohol degradation.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

Consequences of excessive alcohol consumption on the cardiovascular system:

1. Impaired vascular tone and elasticity of the circulatory system due to oxygen starvation and thrombosis.
2. myocardial dystrophy. It occurs as a result of pathological interstitial metabolism.
3. Myocardial hypertrophy and heart obesity.
4. With the accumulation of red blood cells, the formation and accumulation of blood clots leads to the death of heart cells, which in turn leads to heart attacks.
5. Blockage of blood vessels causes the appearance of blood streaks on the skin of the face.

Effects on the organs of the urinary system

Ethanol, which is part of alcoholic beverages, causes changes in the sensitivity of the renal pelvis, which leads to a decrease in protective mechanisms. Inflammatory processes in the kidneys, urethra and bladder are more likely to occur - pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, urethritis, cystitis.

With long-term use of alcohol, a protein precipitate is formed in the urine. Minerals washed with ethanol precipitate and accumulate in the kidneys, forming stones - urolithiasis develops.

When alcohol is disturbed, the structure of the kidneys is damaged, harmful substances accumulate, and toxins develop renal dystrophy. In the absence of treatment and more alcohol consumption, one of these diseases develops kidney failure.

Effects on the digestive system

Alcohol enters the oral cavity, disrupts the salivary glands in the oral cavity and causes saliva to become viscous, which reduces its protective ability. Ethanol begins to destroy the walls of the esophagus. Later, in chronic alcoholics, swallowing is impaired.

Gradually, there is a deterioration in secretory function, in which case the pancreas is attacked. Alcohol develops gastritis, which gradually turns into pancreatitis.

Alcohol also promotes the production of gastric juice and hydrochloric acid, which damage the walls of the digestive organs and over time cause ulcers that can lead to oncology of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, alcohol closes the capillaries, thereby disrupting the absorption of vitamins that are harmful to the human body.

The spleen cleanses the body of dead blood cells. Alcohol poisoning impairs the function of the spleen and the body's ability to cleanse itself. Disorders of the spleen are also caused by the effects of alcohol on the liver, pancreas and circulatory system and their dysfunction.

As a result of alcohol abuse, blood flow to the spleen is disrupted, resulting in tissue infarction and pus in the spleen capsule - splenic abscess.

Impact on immunity

The effect of alcohol on the defense mechanisms of the human body:

1. Reduces congenital and acquired immunity.
2. Decreased immunity stops the production of enough white blood cells, and the ability to fight disease is impaired.
3. It disrupts the synthesis of cytokines, the excess of which leads to the destruction of tissues, often in the absence of disease.
4. Suppresses the activity of T-cells, which increases the risk of oncology.
5. Alcohol reduces immunity and increases the risk of pneumonia, tuberculosis and HIV.

Effects on the musculoskeletal system

Ethanol is known to dehydrate the body. Water is essential for cell function. Dehydration causes metabolic disorders. As a result, putrefactive products and harmful compounds accumulate in muscle tissue and cause discomfort. Alcoholism leads to disruption of the endocrine system - the production of testosterone and glycogen is suppressed. Their deficiency leads to degradation of muscle tissue.

The effect of alcohol on the joints

1. Alcoholism develops osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis - thinning of cartilage tissue, with regular abuse, its disappearance. The anti-friction protection mechanism disappears, the joints begin to ache.
2. Joint pain after alcohol can cause constriction of the pineal glands and impaired blood flow, resulting in the development of bone ischemia.
3. Aseptic necrosis - death of bone tissue
4. Gout is an inflammation of the joints.
5. After alcohol, joints and knees ache due to fluid retention in the tissues and increased intraarticular fluid pressure.

Affects appearance

How alcohol affects appearance:

1. Alcoholic beverages, along with high-calorie, high-calorie snacks and impaired metabolism, cause the appearance of obesity and cellulite.
2. Effects of alcohol on the skin: dehydration causes skin aging and wrinkles.
3. Ethanol washes vitamins, minerals and nutrients, disrupts blood flow - the face is covered with acne and capillaries.
4. The body is covered with papules and non-infectious scales - psoriasis develops.
5. Vinegar aldehyde dilates blood vessels, resulting in brown skin.
6. Skin cancer is possible in the later stages of alcoholism.

Effects on the endocrine system

Alcohol interferes with the endocrine system, including the endocrine glands:

1. Alcohol and thyroid: hormonal activity is impaired, which negatively affects the likelihood of offspring. Infertility, miscarriages, and premature births are common in women suffering from alcoholism.
2. Alcohol and pancreas: Ethanol inhibits the pancreas and develops pancreatitis against the background of decreased immunity.
3. Alcohol reduces insulin production - diabetes develops. The latent course of the disease is not uncommon.
4. The adrenal glands are responsible for carbohydrate and mineral metabolism, the production of sex hormones, and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In the case of dysfunction of the adrenal glands, the whole body suffers, the biggest impact falls on reproductive function.
5. Alcoholism disrupts the connection between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. The production of tropical hormones decreases and the synthesis of hormones of the opposite sex increases - the appearance gradually begins to change.

Effects on the lungs

Alcohol is eliminated from the body not only by the digestive and excretory systems. The lungs are actively involved in this process. The organs of the respiratory system do not adapt to such a load, so the lung tissue gradually hardens and expands. Connective tissue fibrosis occurs. Mucus and mucus begin to accumulate in the lungs. It causes pneumonia and other diseases of the lower respiratory tract.

Alcohol also causes dehydration of the mucous membranes and disrupts the defense mechanisms, a person is more often exposed to viral and infectious diseases. Alcoholics often suffer from tuberculosis. Clogged blood vessels cause a lack of oxygen.

Affects vision

It is not uncommon for the eyes to ache with regular use of alcohol - the reason:

1. The formation of blood clots in the vessels of the optic nerve and oculomotor muscles disrupts the blood supply to the entire visual system.
2. Decreased blood oxygenation, which causes darkening of the eyes, can lead to blindness.
3. Increased intraocular pressure, which causes blood vessels to rupture and bleed.
4. Vision does not adapt well to changing conditions and lighting. Objects in the field of view move away and become blurred. Alcohol-induced disorders in the center of the brain cause double vision.
5. In the final stage, under the influence of alcohol, the optic nerves atrophy.

Alcohol has a negative effect on the whole body without exception. There are disorders of the digestive system, secretions, cardiovascular, endocrine and other body systems. Harmful effects on the functioning of organs lead to the development of serious diseases, some of which are not treated.