How alcohol affects a person. The effect of alcohol on the human body. Impact on the cardiovascular system
Alcoholic drinks are drinks containing ethyl alcohol in varying concentrations. They are divided by strength, which is measured in degrees, into low alcohol (beer), medium strength (wine) and strong (vodka, whiskey, cognac, etc.).
How does alcohol affect the human body? What are the consequences of its use, and how much will it affect health? Let's look into these issues.
A bit of history. From Antiquity to the Present Day
The detrimental effect of alcohol on the human body has been proven for a long time, and was known long before scientific and technological progress. In the days of Ancient Sparta, men were allowed to drink diluted wine only in old age, when they already had grandchildren, and until then, no, no. With slaves, the situation was just the opposite - they were forced to drink and get drunk to make them easier to control. In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, during the holidays, wine could flow like a river into literally this word. There was such a thing as bacchanalia - a kind of party for the nobility, accompanied by copious drunkenness and debauchery. But, in fact, it was these bacchanalia that partly ruined the once great Roman Empire.
In the Middle Ages, at the time of epidemics and unsanitary conditions, they tried to at least somehow disinfect the body with wine, but this, of course, cannot justify drunkenness. Although what to say about the mores of a society in which the inquisitions were bought for money. It is not surprising that the nobility was not afraid to indulge in debauchery.
It is worth noting that in Russia drinking alcoholic beverages was not common. There was simply nothing stronger than mead, and they rarely drank it, and they didn’t pour it for women at all - they took care of the gene pool. For a long time, our country was considered the least drinking. The trend began to change dramatically only in the last few decades, moreover, because of the corresponding specialized propaganda, and not at all because they always drank in Russia. Just the opposite.
Modern furnishings
In the last century, a wave of dry laws swept the world. True, they did not lead to anything constructive in the end. But they led to the mass underground production of low-quality moonshine. As a result, all bans on the consumption and sale of alcohol were quickly abolished due to their inefficiency. However, there are examples of countries and republics that quite effectively decided this problem, but in slightly different ways. Among them is the Republic of Chechnya, where the sale of alcohol is allowed only in specialized stores and only for 2 hours a day. That is, alcohol is not completely banned, but it is somewhat difficult to get it on free sale. On the territory of Russia, many regions have introduced temporary restrictions on the sale of alcohol. For example, in Moscow it is allowed only from 8 am to 11 pm.
About the action of ethyl alcohol and related problems
How does alcohol affect our body? And how much does it affect health?
The effect of alcohol on the body is mainly in the effect on the central nervous system. There is a so-called feeling of intoxication. For some, it is accompanied by strong excitability, for others, on the contrary, by severe depression. Alcohol in one way or another enhances the emotions experienced by a person. Someone in the process of intoxication falls into unconsciousness and after a binge does not remember what he did in such a state.
In addition to affecting directly the central nervous system, alcohol poisons our body. Because of this, a person begins to feel sick, and because of this, the excretory system begins to work actively, that is, all the time you want to go to the toilet. This in turn can overload the kidneys and liver. Not to mention that the basis of alcohol in the form of ethyl alcohol in itself is very harmful substance. Basically poisonous. We just don't think about it that often.
Does alcohol affect the reproductive system? If so, how and what are the consequences of its use?
The adverse effects of alcohol on the reproductive system have already been proven by many scientists from around the world. Its effect on women is especially detrimental. reproductive system. The fact is that male sex cells (spermatozoa) are updated after a certain time (usually after a few months). It is enough for a man not to drink for a certain time so that his sex cells are completely renewed and become “clean”. In women, everything is different, nature gives them a set of eggs once and for life. Thus, when a girl drinks, she undermines her ability to become a mother of a healthy baby. Indeed, at the right time, just a bad, damaged egg can be fertilized, which will certainly affect future offspring. Or there may be big problems with conception.
But men should not think that drinking alcohol will not leave adverse effects on their health. One of the most common causes of impotence is alcohol. In addition, alcohol destroys brain cells. And those who drink often and for a long time really get dumber over time. Their memory deteriorates, attentiveness disappears, it becomes more difficult for them to think logically. Often such people are put into a stupor by tasks that are quite simple for any sane person. Personal degradation occurs.
By the way, about personal qualities. Alcohol is really debilitating. A person who drinks often is more prone to stress and has less determination than a healthy person. He often feels depressed. His nervous system is shattered. He cannot fully concentrate on anything normally.
What are the other consequences of drinking drinks containing ethyl alcohol?
It has long been proven that even a single intake of alcohol reduces the level of testosterone in the blood of men by 4 times. Therefore, the use of beer drinks contributes to the appearance of the abdomen and body fat according to the female type in men. There's nothing aesthetic about it, right? But this is how a violation of the normal functioning of the hormonal system manifests itself, which leads to a number of problems, including, as mentioned above, with libido. Moreover, there is a risk of infertility even at an early age.
As you can see, the use of alcoholic beverages has very detrimental consequences, especially for lovely ladies who want to become mothers in the future. If your health and the health of your children are dear to you, then it is better to refrain from ethyl alcohol, no matter what colorful label it is disguised under. After all, there are so many alternatives! Next time, instead of a glass, reach out for juice, fruit drink, a glass of water or a cup of tea. The choice is always yours, and there are no rules that require you to drink on any significant occasion. Be healthy!
Alcohol is the most dangerous drug of all. Scientists came to this conclusion after evaluating the harm that ethyl alcohol causes to the body. This takes into account the influence of alcohol not only on the drinker, but also on others. The amount of drinks consumed is also of great importance. So, alcohol took first place among other drugs.
Can alcohol be helpful?
There is an opinion that small doses of alcohol can be beneficial for a person. Ethanol is one of the substances necessary for the normal functioning of the body. But for this, its own physiological processes of its production as a result of metabolism are provided.
Remember that the breakdown products of ethanol are concentrated in the brain, not in the blood. Their positive effect is associated with the nervous system:
- alcohol relieves stress, calms, reduces the excitability of nerve cells;
- alcohol improves mood, causes euphoria.
Pseudo-positive effects do not last long and are always associated with the risk of addiction. Despite this, studies are constantly published confirming the benefits of moderate doses of alcohol for organs and systems. Of course, such data should not be taken as a call to action. However, they contribute to the formation of the illusion of the safety of drinking alcohol.
How alcohol works
The effect of alcohol on the body can be clearly considered harmful. With an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed, it is impossible to protect the internal organs and brain from damage. Inevitably, there comes a point when there is no longer any hope of getting rid of an addiction on your own.
So, what is the harmful effect of alcohol?
- Cell poisoning. Alcohol is a poison that kills all living things. That is why it is used as an antibacterial agent for tissue damage. The main concentration of ethanol is observed in the liver and brain. For cell death, men need more than 20 ml of alcohol, women - more than 10 ml.
- mutagenic effect. The human immune system is set up to destroy all foreign cells. Alcohol causes mutation in tissues. This leads to cancer, as the immune system can not cope with the load.
- Sexual dysfunction. In men, spermatozoa are formed within 75 days. To avoid the appearance of mutagens in children, he needs to refrain from drinking alcohol for 2.5 months before conception. For women, things are much more difficult. Oocytes are present in the body from birth, so all mutations are stored in them at the genetic level and can manifest themselves in offspring.
- Violation of the development of the fetus. This fact is not associated with mutation, but with the incorrect functioning of the systems. Most often, the brain and limbs are affected.
- Alcohol is a drug. Concentrated in the brain, it affects the work of two groups of neurotransmitters. Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors begin to work in an enhanced mode. These cells are responsible for the inhibitory responses of the nervous system. The person calms down. Endorphins and dopamine begin to be produced in a larger volume, which leads to a state of euphoria.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
To a greater extent, the effect of alcohol extends to the brain. This organ is the main consumer of energy, it involves all other organs and receptors, and affects the functioning of systems as a whole. The negative effect of alcohol on the brain is based on the cessation of oxygen supply to neurons due to alcohol intoxication. Cells die, a person gradually becomes feeble-minded.
Intensive alcohol consumption has irreversible effects:
- decrease in brain functions;
- damage to the cells of the cerebral cortex.
All this invariably affects the intellectual abilities, and also explains the change in behavior, addictions and hobbies of alcoholics.
The effect of alcohol on other organs and systems
- Heart and blood vessels. Diseases of these organs occupy the first place among other disorders caused by the use of alcohol. The action of alcohol destroys the heart muscle, leading to serious consequences up to death. Alcohol abuse leads to the development of hypertension, coronary disease causes heart attacks. People with relatively little alcohol "experience" often have an increase in heart and heart rhythm disturbances.
- System external respiration. The effect of alcohol is manifested in the violation of the normal rhythm, the alternation of inhalations and exhalations. The result is serious disruption. Breathing becomes more frequent, as alcoholism develops, deterioration occurs. Against the background of such a disorder, diseases such as bronchitis, emphysema, tracheobronchitis, and tuberculosis occur. When combined with smoking, alcohol has a deadly effect on the respiratory system.
- GIT. The mucous membrane of the stomach is the first to take a hit from the systematic use of alcohol. Studies reveal gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the duodenum. The action of alcohol damages the salivary glands. With the progression of the disease, other tissue lesions are observed.
- The liver occupies a special place among the digestive organs. Its functions include the neutralization of toxic substances, the removal of toxins. The liver is involved in the metabolism of almost all incoming elements - proteins, fats, carbohydrates and even water. Under the influence of alcohol, the body loses the ability to perform its functions normally. cirrhosis develops.
- Kidneys. Almost all alcoholics suffer from impaired excretory function of this organ. Alcohol disrupts the work of the adrenal glands, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. This leads to improper regulation of renal activity. The epithelial cells that line the inner surface of the organs and protect them from damage die. This inevitably ends with serious pathological diseases.
- Psyche. Under the influence of alcohol, a wide variety of deviations develop - hallucinations, convulsive phenomena, numbness in the limbs, severe weakness, muscle dysfunction. Often there is paralysis, which disappears during the period of abstinence from alcohol.
- Immunity. The process of hematopoiesis is disturbed due to the systematic use of alcoholic beverages, the production of lymphocytes decreases, and allergies appear.
- reproductive system. Sexual dysfunction is an indispensable companion of alcoholism. In men, against the background of impaired reproductive ability, neuroses and depression develop. Women suffer from the impossibility of conception, frequent toxicosis during pregnancy, early cessation of menstruation.
In addition to the above, the effect of alcohol depletes the muscles and worsens the condition of the skin. In patients, delirium tremens is observed, life expectancy and its quality are reduced.
Risk to future children
The negative effect of alcohol on fetal development has been known since ancient Greece. Then the first attempts were made to limit the addiction. Today, scientists have unequivocally proven that chronic alcoholics are practically unable to conceive healthy offspring.
The problem is complicated by the fact that genetic coding due to illness of the parents is almost impossible to correct by pharmacological means. As a result, risks for offspring increase:
- mental retardation is manifested in most cases;
- physical deformity is often the result of chronic alcoholism in parents;
- in 94% of cases, even healthy children subsequently become drunkards themselves.
Of course, the question of the birth of healthy offspring is made up of many factors. But the danger of conceiving a sick child is too high. Even in almost healthy people who are prone to drinking alcohol, children with disabilities can be born. Especially if conception occurs at the time of intoxication.
A number of studies by European scientists were aimed at assessing the degradation of several generations of alcoholics in one family. The results of the observations were disappointing facts:
- the first generation of chronic alcoholics showed moral depravity, excessive drinking;
- the second generation suffered from alcoholism in the full sense of the word;
- in the third generation there appeared hypochondriacs, melancholics, and homicidal persons;
- the fourth generation became an indicator of the decline and cessation of the race (infertility, idiocy, mental inferiority).
Not only the effect of alcohol at the genetic level plays a role, but also the unfavorable environment in which children are brought up. Social factors are no less significant. Children are in a state of constant stress, they have learning difficulties. As a result, the child develops psychological disorders that lead to aggressiveness or isolation.
How to stop drinking alcohol?
The effect of alcohol on the body destroys a person. Not only the drinkers themselves suffer from the disease, but also the people around them, especially children. How to stop destroying yourself and find the strength to fight the disease?
Allen Carr's book The Easy Way to Quit Drinking will help you break free from addiction. The bestseller is specially created for people who have decided to change their lives and get rid of the harmful effects of alcohol. The book will help to realize the need for change and show the way back to normal life.
Alcohol, ethyl alcohol (ethanol), wine spirit, C2H5OH- a colorless volatile liquid with a characteristic odor and a burning taste, mixes well with water.
Alcohol is a waste product of yeast and can be produced chemically. It is highly flammable, burns, is used as a technical fluid in shock absorbers, brakes, etc., and is a good solvent for many organic substances. It is used as a raw material in the chemical industry and also as a fuel.
Alcohol is used in medicine for the preparation of tinctures and extracts. It destroys the cell membrane and through the destroyed membrane the necessary medicinal substances are delivered faster into the cell. In the Western pharmaceutical industry, when creating pharmaceuticals tend to do without ethyl alcohol. Alcoholic medicines are not recommended for children.
When applied topically, alcohol causes denaturation of proteins in the cytoplasm of microorganism cells. This property is used to treat the hands of health workers, sterilize instruments, etc.
Alcohol is a cellular toxin when ingested, the body tries to neutralize it. This is what the liver does. In liver cells, hepatocytes, ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde by the action of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which, by the action of another enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, is oxidized to acetic acid.
Acetic aldehyde is several times more toxic than ethyl alcohol. It causes a hangover, which, in fact, is a serious poisoning. In people who abuse alcohol, the body has to defend itself against excessive amounts of alcohol. They increase the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, which processes alcohol and accumulates acetaldehyde.
The second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase, cannot be activated. As a result, pronounced poisoning with acetaldehyde occurs.
With the systematic use of alcoholic beverages, alcohol dehydrogenase cannot cope with the decomposition of alcohol. Weaker additional enzymes come into action in the body and the concentration of acetaldehyde in the body still increases. In the future, even small doses of alcohol dramatically increase the concentration of acetaldehyde, self-control is lost and cravings for the next dose of alcohol appear instead of the quickly disintegrated one.
As early as the beginning of the twentieth century in 1915. At the XI Pirogov meeting of Russian doctors, alcohol was recognized as a narcotic poison. Doctor of Medicine A.L. Mendelssohn in the "Textbook of sobriety", published in 1913. Petersburg wrote: “Alcohol cannot be considered a food product in the usual sense of the word. This is a poison for the nervous system, classified as a narcotic substance: it, however, not only paralyzes the brain, but also has a detrimental effect on internal organs. Science is not able to indicate a harmless dose of beer, wine or vodka. Further, "No one really needs them ... Only complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages is a reliable protection against possible alcoholism and all its consequences."
Great Soviet Encyclopedia (vol. 2, p. 116): "Alcohol is a narcotic poison."
Foreign experts attribute alcohol to drugs such as depressants.
Modern narcologists consider alcohol to be a cytoplasmic poison that has a destructive effect on all human systems and organs, and an officially permitted drug.
The health consequences of drinking alcohol can be divided into 4 groups:
Influence on the central nervous system;
– influence on reproductive organs and gene pool;
Influence on the development of cardiovascular diseases;
Other physiological effects of alcohol consumption.
The effect of alcohol on the central nervous system
Drinking alcohol causes intoxication. Alcohol intoxication is acute alcohol poisoning. It is caused by hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the cells of the cerebral cortex.
Alcohol causes the formation of blood clots in the small vessels of the brain. Due to hypoxia of the cells of the cortex, some of them die and a cemetery of neurons is formed in the brain. The more a person drank alcohol, the more dead neurons.
Alcohol inhibits the activity of nerve cells, develops
lethargy, slowing down of speech, impaired mental activity, decreased concentration. The possibility of injury, accidents and death increases. Large doses of alcohol lead to the development of a coma, and death can occur from respiratory failure due to its suppression or from aspiration of vomit.
Scientists have found that 85% of “moderate drinkers” and 95% of alcoholics have a decrease in brain volume. After four years of drinking alcohol, the brain becomes “wrinkled” due to the death of billions of neurons. The systematic use of alcohol leads to a decrease in brain mass. In women, this degradation, associated with the loss of brain matter, occurs faster than in men.
The mental abilities of such people are reduced, the freshness and originality of thoughts are lost. Creativity disappears. The processing of current information is difficult, the replenishment of life and professional skills is disrupted. Decreased efficiency, reduced desire to work. Those who are addicted to alcohol are incapable of systematic work. Character deteriorates, morality falls.
Alcohol suppresses the function of the cerebral cortex, subcortical formations begin to control human behavior. Human behavior becomes aggressive, his base biological instincts are manifested.
Determined that mental capacity and memory deteriorate under the influence of even the smallest doses of alcohol. Violated coordination of movements, vigilance, intelligence. Only 25 grams of vodka worsen memorization by 60 - 70%.
Full recovery of brain functions, including its capabilities of systemic analytical thinking, after drinking alcohol occurs after 18-20 days. Thus, scientific data are confirmed that if people drink alcohol twice a month, then their brain is not able to work at the level of capabilities given to them by nature. That is why alcohol consumption by politicians, statesmen, leaders who make responsible decisions and form public opinion is unacceptable. Otherwise, it will lead to inadequate guidance and decisions and may set a bad example for the entire society.
Typical forms of alcohol damage to the central nervous system:
alcohol withdrawal syndrome;
Hangover seizures (alcoholic epilepsy);
Variants of delirium tremens that occur in a state of alcohol withdrawal and are accompanied by delirium (delusions), occur at stages II-III of alcoholism, during the period of cessation of drinking, delirium appears, visual, auditory and / or tactile hallucinations, there may be chills and fever. Hallucinations are usually threatening in nature, often presented in the form of small dangerous creatures (insects, devils). Sometimes ends in death. The main danger in delirium is the risk of self-harm.
Wernicke's encephalopathy - brain damage as a result of a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), usually occurring in chronic alcoholism, visual impairment, gait and coordination disorders, disorientation - confusion;
Korsakov's psychosis - a combination of polyneuritis with severe memory impairment, which relate to the memorization of current events and the reproduction of the recent past;
Alcoholic dementia - impaired mental (cognitive) functions, loss of normal perception, thinking, counting, speech, attention;
Manifestations of cognitive dysfunction: memory loss, mental performance, impaired rational knowledge of the world and interaction with it, perception of information, impaired processing and analysis, memorization and storage.
Atypical forms of alcohol damage to the central nervous system:
Atypical variants of delirium tremens - occur after repeated psychoses, often with fantastic content - alcoholic oneiroid;
Alcoholic paranoid - delusional perception of the environment, anxiety, fear and psychomotor restlessness;
Acute and chronic alcoholic hallucinosis;
Alcoholic delirium of jealousy.
The effect of alcohol on reproductive organs and the gene pool
When drinking alcohol, it lingers in the gonads, and in women it is 35%, and in men it is 55% more than in the blood.
Studies have found that even a single intake of alcohol 250 - 300 ml reduces the blood concentration of the male sex hormone - testosterone by 4 times and, accordingly, reduces sexual function in men. Already an hour after drinking alcohol, it is found in the seed of a man and in the ovaries of a woman. When the male and female germ cells, poisoned with alcohol, merge, defective embryos are obtained.
Children conceived while intoxicated are the main contingent of auxiliary schools. More than 90% of children with mental and physical disabilities are born to parents who started drinking at school age.
In children whose fathers used before the birth of the child alcoholic drinks for at least 4 - 5 years, signs of mental disability are found.
A break in the use of alcohol by male alcoholics at the age of 2-3 years against the background of restorative and anti-alcohol treatment creates favorable conditions (but does not guarantee) for the normal mental development of children conceived during this period.
The use of alcohol by a woman before and during pregnancy leads to toxicosis of pregnancy, miscarriages, premature births, intrauterine malformations of the child, a deficiency in fetal weight at the time of birth, and a slowdown in the rate of psychophysical development. Mentally retarded people born from drunken parents inevitably give the same offspring.
WHO experts believe that in Russia alone, due to drunkenness and alcoholism, more than 30% of the population currently has mental defects. At the same time, 13% of children out of their total number lag behind the average level in intellectual development, and 25% cannot master the program of a general education school.
The effect of alcohol on the development of cardiovascular disease
Alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Alcohol is in second place in the risk of the causes of the prevalence of arterial hypertension.
An elderly person with cardiovascular problems may die suddenly from taking a relatively small amount of alcohol. There are three external factors that provoke sudden cardiac death: alcohol intake, exercise stress, psycho-emotional stress. If these factors coincide in time, the likelihood of sudden death increases.
Alcohol contributes to the formation of blood clots in the arteries, the development of cerebral strokes, myocardial infarction.
Chronic alcohol intoxication reduces the life expectancy of men with diseases of the cardiovascular system by an average of 17 years.
Thus, there is a direct relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and alcohol consumption.
In recent decades, publications have appeared on the protective effect of low doses of alcohol in cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, in particular in coronary heart disease.
According to research in National Institute on the study of alcohol abuse and alcoholism of the United States, the director of this institute commented: “Although moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, science is not convinced that alcohol is the cause of this risk. Risk reduction may be due to as yet unidentified factors associated with alcohol use in combination with factors that reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, such as lifestyle, diet, or physical activity, or with substances in the composition of alcoholic beverages.
Current research is controversial and limited age groups men over 45 and menopausal women.
It would be most reasonable and correct from the position of prevention of cardiovascular lesions not to drink alcohol, since the harm from alcohol far outweighs the benefits.
Other Physiological Consequences of Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is the cause of acute and chronic gastritis, acute and chronic pancreatitis, fatty liver, acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, anemia.
Alcohol promotes development peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum, acute pneumonia, aggravates the course of hepatitis B and C, suppresses the immune system.
Drinkers are more likely to develop pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung diseases.
According to WHO experts, alcohol can cause more than 60 diseases and disorders in humans.
Effects of alcohol on children and adolescents
Children are very sensitive to alcohol. A case of death of a child who was under 1 year old is described, due to the application of a vodka compress to his chest three times during the day when coughing. There was a case of the death of a five-year-old child who drank 10 g of alcohol as a result of an oversight. The younger the body, the more detrimental to him the effect of alcohol.
Children and adolescents very quickly become addictive and have a positive attitude towards alcohol. Children at the same time imitate adults, parents. They may consume alcoholic beverages in secret and may experience alcohol poisoning. At the same time, they may experience loss of consciousness, impaired pulmonary and cardiovascular activity.
If a family often arranges alcoholic feasts, then the children of this family later associate holidays and weekends with drinking alcohol.
In adolescence, the attraction to alcohol is formed 8 times faster than in adults. Their behavior is disturbed, aggressiveness is manifested, a hangover syndrome is formed. And all this is 1-3 years after the onset of systematic drinking. The sons of persons suffering from alcoholism are 4 times more likely to become alcoholics, compared with the sons of those who did not have alcoholism.
Features of the influence of alcohol depending on the type of drinks
Alcoholic drinks are mixtures of water and alcohol with the addition of other substances that give drinks a certain taste and smell.
Everyone begins to drink alcohol with characteristic drinks - beer, wine, vodka.
Beer
The hop cones used in the production of beer to give a specific bitter taste contain phytoestrogen, which in activity approaches the female sex hormone - estrogen.
Women - lovers of beer, introduce themselves into the body an additional amount of the female hormone. This leads to an increase in the uterus, the growth of uterine tissues, the release of excess secretions and mucus in the fallopian tubes, and menstrual irregularities. This reduces a woman's reproductive capacity. At the same time, women's attraction to men increases and dominant behavior is manifested in relation to men. However, excess estrogen in women can cause breast cancer.
Male beer drinkers replace the male hormone testosterone with the female hormone. From this, their appearance changes: the pelvis expands, fat on the body is deposited according to the female type - on the hips, on the stomach, on the buttocks, the mammary glands grow, colostrum can be released from them. The character changes - activity disappears, the desire to win, the will weakens, apathy develops, indifference to the environment, sexual function is disturbed, impotence develops, attraction to a woman is replaced by attraction to alcohol.
Hops, like hemp, contain drugs such as marijuana and hashish in slightly smaller amounts. Hops produce some morphine, the active principle of opium and heroin.
Thus, beer is a "bouquet" of narcotic substances. Even the German Chancellor Bismarck said: "Beer makes people stupid, lazy and powerless." Beer contains harmful compounds that accompany alcoholic fermentation - "fusel oils". These include higher alcohols - methyl, propyl, isoamyl. In vodka, their content does not exceed 3 mg/l. Their beer contains 50 - 100 mg / l, i.e. ten times more.
Beer contains glucose, sucrose, fructose, dextrins and other carbohydrates, amino acids, polypeptides, B vitamins, ascorbic, folic, nicotinic acids, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus ions. it useful material, but there are very few of them, and when drinking beer, they are washed out of the body and excreted in the urine, since beer has a diuretic effect.
Carcinogens have also been found in beer, causing cancer diseases. Drinking beer in large quantities causes rectal cancer. With frequent use of beer, cardiomegaly or "beer", "bull" heart develops.
According to research, people are drawn to beer to get a mild inebriation. One liter of beer has the same effect on the body as 87 ml of vodka, and in terms of the total toxic effect it exceeds the toxicity of vodka.
Low-alcohol drinks are especially dangerous for teenagers and women, because through beer these categories are quickly attached to the use of alcohol. A habit is formed that turns into an addiction.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage obtained by complete or partial alcoholic fermentation of grape juice. Alcohol and other substances can be added to wine and fortified wine is obtained.
Various grape varieties are used in the production of wines. White, rosé, and red wines are distinguished by color.
By quality and aging time, wines are divided into:
- young;
- without endurance;
- sustained;
- vintage (aged wines from the same grape varieties that retain a certain aroma and taste);
- collection (wine with a very long aging time up to tens and hundreds of years).
Alcohol and sugar content in wines
Table or natural wines:
- dry - prepared by complete fermentation of the wort with a residual sugar content of not more than 0.3%, alcohol - 8.5 - 15% vol., sugar up to 4 g / l; “Dry” wine is called because it is “dry”, sugar is completely fermented;
- semi-dry - alcohol 8.5 - 15% vol., sugar - 4 - 18 g / l;
- semi-sweet - alcohol 8.5 - 15% vol., sugar - 18 - 45 g / l;
- sweet - alcohol 8.5 - 15% vol., sugar - not less than 45 g / l.
Special, i.e. fortified wines:
- strong - alcohol - 17 - 21% vol., sugar - 30 - 120g / l;
- sweet - alcohol - 14 - 20% vol., sugar - up to 150g / l;
- semi-dessert - alcohol - 14 - 16% vol., sugar - 50 - 120 g / l;
- dessert - alcohol - 15 - 17% vol., sugar - 160 - 200 g / l;
- liqueurs - alcohol - 12 - 16% vol., sugar - up to 210 - 300 g / l.
Flavored wines- alcohol - 16 - 18% vol., sugar - up to 6 - 16 g / l.
Sparkling wine– saturated in the secondary fermentation process carbon dioxide. The most famous sparkling wine in the world is champagne. It contains alcohol - 9 - 13% vol., sugar - 0 - 15 g / l. When drinking champagne, alcohol penetrates the blood faster, and intoxication sets in faster, and the consequences of such intoxication are more severe, the head hurts more than from drinking vodka.
There are many claims about the benefits of wine. As the grape must turns into wine, the beneficial ingredients of the grape berries disappear. In the process of its fermentation, in addition to ethyl alcohol, macromolecular alcohols are formed: propyl, isopropyl, butyl. They create a "bouquet" of wine and are poisons. The permissible norms of these poisons in reservoirs suitable for domestic use are tens and hundreds of times lower than their concentration in such wines as Sauvignon, Riesling. The same alcohols occur in large quantities in beer wort.
Wine lovers suffer from chronic alcoholism 4 times more often than vodka drinkers. The craving for wine is more pronounced, and the course of alcoholism of wine alcoholism is more malignant. More often than with vodka alcoholism, attacks of delirium tremens occur.
AT positive feedback about wine indicate that red grape wine contains polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that have a cardioprotective, anti-atherosclerotic effect, inhibit platelet aggregation, increase the concentration of lipoproteins high density and also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Chronic alcohol consumption to prevent the development of coronary heart disease can lead to alcoholic liver damage.
Studies by domestic and foreign scientists point to healthy alternatives to red wine.
So John D. Folts of the Medical School of Wisconsin points out that 3 cups of red grape juice prevents plaque formation in the blood vessels, as does 1 cup of red wine. The scientist reports that it is not alcohol that helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, but flavonoids, which are also found in grape juice.
Dr. Krasey points out that there are less toxic sources of antioxidants, polyphenols and other substances found in red wine. These are vegetables, fruits, garlic, spices, herbs and nutritional supplements. They have much more antioxidants than wine. Wine is drunk, as a rule, not for the sake of antioxidants, but for the sake of intoxication, because of its narcotic properties.
Vodka
Vodka — alcoholic drink, a colorless water-alcohol solution with a characteristic taste and alcoholic odor. The vodka production process includes mixing rectified ethyl alcohol from food raw materials with corrected water, treating the water-alcohol solution with activated carbon or modified starch, filtering it, adding certain ingredients, if they are provided for in the recipe, mixing, control filtering, bottling into consumer packaging and processing of finished products.
Vodka, cognac, rum, whiskey, schnapps- This is a mixture of ethyl alcohol with water, containing 40 - 60% alcohol. The strength of vodka products leads to faster and more severe intoxication, leading to consequences that are dangerous for human health and criminal consequences for others.
Alcoholic (including vodka) culture is the main source of high Russian mortality. Strong alcoholic beverages resulting from distillation contribute to the rapid achievement of a dangerously high concentration of alcohol in the blood and pose a greater danger to human life and health than beer and wine. The exceptional severity of the alcohol situation in the CIS countries is explained by the combination of the vodka culture of drinking alcohol of the “northern” type (drinking large doses of strong alcohol) and the presence of a tolerant policy towards alcohol in these states.
In countries where the most popular drinks are wine or beer, even high level alcohol consumption is not accompanied by catastrophic consequences. This is evidenced by the experience of not only France, Portugal, Germany, Austria, but also the post-socialist Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Georgia.
In all countries of the alcohol belt, without exception, there is a severe complex of alcohol problems: supermortality, leading to the extinction of the nation, degradation of the social environment, an increase in crime due to alcohol abuse, etc.
In some cases, when preparing cheap varieties of vodka, purification is not carried out at all, the mixture of alcohol and water is blended with various artificial additives (alcosoft, glycerin, soda, etc.), which mask the taste of the drink, making it soft. The harm to the human body, who has taken such a product, increases many times due to exposure to toxic impurities (ether-aldehyde fractions and other by-products of fermentation).
A one-time intake of 400 grams of undiluted ethyl alcohol (95-96%) is a lethal dose for the average person (death occurs in 30-50% of cases). Drinking a lethal dose in the form of a liter of vodka or moonshine in a short time is quite possible, but drinking 4 liters of wine is extremely difficult, and drinking 10 liters of beer is almost impossible.
Half a liter of vodka or moonshine is a dose that can lead to a stroke, cardiac arrest, death from injury, as a consequence of inappropriate behavior.
Regular consumption of vodka inevitably leads to diseases of internal organs (liver cirrhosis). Initially, a deep damage to the body manifests itself in the form of a hangover syndrome.
Among the most common causes of death of an alcoholic are myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, cirrhosis of the liver and cancer.
Ethyl alcohol has Negative influence on the reproductive system, affects the development of the fetus, increases the risk of pathologies.
Ethyl alcohol has a narcotic effect on the central nervous system, which affects labor safety. The use of even small amounts of alcohol disrupts the coordination of movements, the speed of visual and motor reactions, and negatively affects thinking. With severe intoxication, the real perception of the external world is disturbed, a person becomes unable to consciously control his actions.
Significant alcohol consumption at work and at home increases injuries, occupational diseases, accidents, etc.
Liqueurs
Liqueur - alcoholic drink - fragrant, usually sweet alcoholic drink from alcoholized fruit and berry juices, infusions of fragrant herbs with the addition of roots, spices, etc. The content of ethyl alcohol in liqueurs varies widely (from 15% to 75% by volume) and the sugar content typically ranges between 25% and 60%.
In liqueurs, alcohol is used with attractive additives, so women and young people are often addicted to liqueurs. Liqueurs are usually served at the end of a meal with tea or coffee, and also as a digestif - drinks served at the end of a meal. They are used both undiluted and as part of a variety of mixed drinks and cocktails, mix well with various juices. They are also used to prepare all kinds of dishes, especially desserts.
Liqueurs are classified as "heavy" alcoholic products and can cause nausea and vomiting, so it is customary to dilute them with water.
cocktails
Cocktails - mixtures of a liquid consistency, which include alcoholic products: vodka, cognac, strong and dry grape wines, fruit and berry wines; fruit and berry vegetable juices, syrups, dairy products, spices, sugar, honey, decoctions of wild plants, sweets, nuts, water, ice.
Cocktails make alcohol attractive, especially to young people and women. Unlike ethyl alcohol, even diluted with water, cocktails taste good and do not cause a gag reflex. Alcohol, masked by natural food additives, destroys this reflex.
"Energetic drinks" - contain shock doses of caffeine and up to 4 - 9% alcohol.
Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant. And any stimulation of the body ends with the depletion of its forces. A person wants to return to a normal state, he reaches for the stimulant, using it again and again. Against this background, alcohol dependence from small doses is quickly formed. Alcohol with its frequent use causes a feeling of satisfaction.
Small doses of alcohol
Recently, there has been a lot of research and reasoning about the benefits of small doses of alcohol. They write that "light and moderate" alcohol consumption can have a protective effect in coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, cholesterol gallstones, atherosclerosis, "prolongs life", "stimulates mental activity." At present, everyone understands the comprehensive harm of alcohol for both the individual and society as a whole. However, leaders of the alcohol business, having great financial resources, promote the benefits of small doses of alcohol and pay for "studies" that point to the benefits of alcohol.
In modern medical literature, there is evidence that the mortality of the population is growing after exceeding the dose of 15 ml of alcohol per day. The use of moderate doses of alcohol (about 25 g per day) significantly increases the incidence of liver cirrhosis, alcoholism, cancer of the upper respiratory tract, cancer of the digestive system, breast cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, pancreatitis. Drinking one glass of red wine a day increases the risk of developing cancer. It turns out that even small and moderate doses of alcohol increase the incidence and mortality of the population.
The “benefit” of small doses of alcohol is refuted by studies by a number of Western scientists. So Joanne Hietall from the School of Medicine at the University of Tampere in Finland convincingly proved that the consequences of drinking the so-called "moderate" doses of alcohol, although poorly distinguishable, a person may not feel them subjectively, but the internal processes in the body are disturbed. She divided the effects of alcohol into eight categories.
These are liver diseases, oncological diseases, diseases of the nervous system, postpartum abnormalities, diseases of the immune system, mental disorders, accidents and injuries, coronary heart disease.
Some researchers believe that small doses of alcohol can improve the sensitivity of body cells to insulin and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
According to some publications, there is a positive effect of small doses of alcohol in coronary heart disease, but it is refuted by other researchers.
The results of such studies were first published in 1974. Hardy Friedman and Abraham Siegelaub presented data on the effects of alcohol in moderate doses on non-smokers. In this study, it was noted that there is an inverse relationship between the amount of alcohol and the risk of myocardial infarction. Following the publication of this information in different countries the world began to conduct similar experiments.
The results of the studies allow us to see the relationship between the health status of patients and the amount of alcohol. In 2000, scientists from Italy summarized the results of previous tests. Based on 28 studies, they presented their own analysis, confirming the opinion that 25 g of alcohol per day will reduce the likelihood of developing coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction by 20%. To date, it has not been possible to establish the real reasons for such results.
The positive effect of small doses of alcohol is associated with a decrease in the amount of cholesterol, lipids and a decrease in blood clotting. Ongoing studies allow us to establish that in moderate drinkers the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which are recognized as beneficial for the cardiovascular system, is 10-20% higher. Thus, we can conclude that the likelihood of developing coronary artery disease in these patients is lower. There are other ways to increase the content of high density lipoproteins - regular physical activity and special drugs.
Fewer plaques are formed due to the fact that HDL redirects cholesterol from the blood back to the liver. Thanks to this, it is excreted from the body, and does not accumulate in the vessels. Scientists have not established for certain the mechanism of the effect of alcohol on the content of HDL. There is an assumption that alcoholic beverages can affect the liver enzymes involved in their production.
Currently, it is only well established that alcohol consumption in moderation reduces the risk of developing coronary artery disease and this happens due to high density lipoproteins.
Another theory is based on the effect of alcohol on the biochemical reactions that provide the process of blood clotting. Violations of this mechanism lead to the formation of blood clots, which can clog the vessel. There is an assumption that platelets under the influence of alcohol lose their high properties of "stickiness".
In the 1980s, researchers at Brown University Memorial Hospital found that alcohol increased levels of prostacyclin, which reduces blood clotting. At the same time, the level of thromboxane, which contributes to this process, decreased in the body. The experiments were conducted by Walter Log from the Keck Medical College of the University of Southern California, who was able to prove that alcohol raises the level of the activator of profibrinolysin, which allows dissolving blood clots. A decrease in blood clotting can also be considered an indirect reason for reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.
Another factor is the reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. It is this disease that predisposes to the development of coronary artery disease. Alcoholic beverages increase insulin sensitivity. Thanks to this, the process of normal glucose utilization is being established. But this applies only to "moderate", that is, small doses. Alcohol abuse leads to the opposite results and stimulates the development of diabetes.
Thus, a comprehensive study of the effect of alcoholic beverages on the development of coronary artery disease was carried out. Scientists have been able to identify some factors that contribute to the positive effects of alcohol in moderation. Please note that these recommendations are not universal.
The positive and negative impact depends on general condition the patient, the presence of concomitant ailments, etc.
Permissible amounts of alcohol consumption
The concept of "standard serving of alcohol" does not exist. There are some accepted rules in this regard. For example, beer is sold in 330 ml containers. This volume contains about 17 gr. alcohol. The same amount is contained in 150 ml of wine or 50 ml of spirits - vodka, whiskey, cognac, etc.
A moderate dose for women is 10-20 gr. ethanol, for men - 30-40 gr. These are "standard portions".
In 2002, data on the relationship between alcohol and the risk of coronary artery disease were presented at the convention of the American Association of Cardiovascular Diseases. The results of examination of 128,934 patients were analyzed. A lethal outcome occurred in 16,539 cases, including 3,001 from coronary heart disease. Their medical histories were checked, and it turned out that those who drank 1-2 standard drinks every day had a 32% less chance of dying from this disease.
The risk of the disease is also reduced in those people who consume two or less standard servings of alcoholic beverages per day. In this case, the fact of reducing blood clotting is of primary importance. In small doses, alcohol has practically no effect on the content of HDL.
Is it possible to drink alcohol with coronary artery disease?
Previously, numerous studies have been reviewed that confirm the existence of a link between the use of alcoholic beverages and a decrease in the risk of developing an ailment. Thus, CHD and alcohol are compatible. It should be remembered that the use of alcohol is allowed only in moderate doses.
Alcohol abuse can cause serious harm to health, including a negative impact on the cardiovascular system. In addition, it should be remembered and understood that alcohol is not a remedy for recovery. It should not be taken with certain medications as it may cause side effects. Alcohol in moderate doses with coronary artery disease is allowed, but only if there are no contraindications.
Remember that a single large dose of alcohol can cause death or the occurrence of cerebral strokes. Drinking alcohol is not recommended if the patient has elevated blood triglycerides or is on an anti-obesity diet.
What drink do you prefer?
Scientists have not been able to determine whether there is a difference in positive influence certain alcoholic beverages. Data on the greatest benefits of red wine came from studies of mortality rates in different countries. So, in France - the capital of winemakers - the number deaths from coronary artery disease is half as much as in the United States. The benefits of red wine are due to the presence in its composition a large number substances with antioxidant properties. They allow to restrain the development of atherosclerosis.
Scientists - supporters of "small" doses found methodological errors in their own studies on the effects of alcohol. So, Kay Fillmore and her working group in 2009. rechecked 54 out of 56 studies and found that only 2 out of 35 studies on mortality from coronary heart disease contain no errors!
In 2007 completed a study by Australian scientists led by L. Harris "Alcohol consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the light of possible errors classification of subjects. The paper concludes that in men there is no statistically significant "protective" effect of alcohol, while in women it was observed, but only for red wine. In this case, the protective effect of red wine in the women's group was caused not by alcohol, but by the antioxidants contained in red wine.
For preventive purposes, red wine can be replaced with grape juice, wine vinegar, fresh fruits and vegetables. They contain more antioxidants and without the admixture of the poison ethanol.
The following arguments indicate the dangers of "small doses" of alcohol.
1. The use of alcohol by adults with the "therapeutic" purpose of alcohol, even in small doses, is an undesirable provocative example for children. Children do not need alcohol, in any quantities.
2. Regular use of small doses breaks, changes consciousness, the logic of thinking is broken, and thinking should be clear.
3. The "permissible" dose of alcohol varies depending on the study country by 2-3 times. It is difficult to calculate a safe dose for a particular person, it changes in different periods of life, even for one person. People fall asleep gradually and imperceptibly. Drinking alcohol in small doses is the path to drinking alcohol in large doses.
4. If there is benefit from small doses of alcohol, then why is it not possible to teach people to use teaspoons of it? Because main goal drinking alcohol is not to get health benefits, but to become intoxicated, change consciousness, get alcoholic "pleasure".
5. Alcohol consumption tends to increase doses, which means that the threshold for safe drinking is more likely to be crossed.
6. Promotion of the regular use of small doses of alcohol is provocative from the point of view of national security: if this idea is introduced into the minds of the residents of our CIS countries, then the question of “to drink or not to drink” alcohol will be resolved in favor of sobriety.
What regular alcohol consumption leads to is clearly seen in the examples of countries with its traditional use: France, where they drink only dry and high-quality wines, Germany, where they love beer very much, are increasingly filled with people from more sober civilizations: Turks, Arabs, Chinese, people from countries of the Middle East and North Africa.
Thus, recommendations to consume alcohol in small doses, in particular in the form of beer, wine or “energy drinks”, are provocative, have commercial interest and political meaning and are aimed at destroying the health of individuals, families and the state.
"Cultural" drinking
In our time, there is an introduction to the "culture of drinking" with early age in families. Children are connected to home feasts with the use of alcohol. Children are given diluted wine so that they think it is a "seasoning" for dishes. And it is used "culturally". After all, this is what the French and Italians do.
AT modern Russia and other CIS countries, there are too few families where wine is just a seasoning for dishes. Adults in these cases cannot be a positive example for children. Many generations living in the CIS countries did not drink wine and completely managed without instilling a “culture of drinking” in their minor children. AT childhood alcohol is dangerous enough for health. In addition, the earlier a child begins to take alcohol, the more likely he is to become an alcoholic.
Even the great Avicenna allowed the appointment of small doses of red wine for indigestion, but he warned that wine should not be given to children.
In Western countries, medicines for children are not made on an alcohol basis.
In medicinal tinctures, alcohol is strictly dosed, and they are prescribed in limited doses in drops.
Alcohol capital and business want to violate the natural sobriety of children so that children do not create a stereotype that you can just be sober. After all, the earlier the introduction to alcohol is started, the more income from this.
Drunkenness and alcoholism
Domestic drunkenness- this is not yet a disease, it is a tribute to the traditions existing in our society, these are “drinking” attitudes in individual groups, among colleagues, friends or relatives, this is a way of life.
Domestic drunkenness does not require narcological treatment, a person of his own free will can stop alcohol consumption at any time or significantly reduce it, without experiencing any unpleasant sensations from abstinence. Domestic drunkenness can continue throughout a person's life, the amount of alcohol consumed can remain unchanged or increase to certain limits. But everyday drinking can turn into alcoholism.
Many drinkers believe that they are not alcoholics. In their view, an alcoholic is a degraded person, with a blue nose, unwashed, unshaven, uncut, with trembling hands, who has lost his human appearance and dignity, as a rule, has lost his job, often his family, drinking with random drinking companions, lying around anywhere. There are such alcoholics, and they are in the advanced stages of the disease.
But there are other alcoholics who drink and this does not yet affect their health, work, family relationships. While they are all right, there is no hangover, binges, alcoholic personality changes, social degradation, but they already have alcoholism.
Alcoholism This is already a disease that needs treatment. Unlike domestic drunkenness, a patient with alcoholism cannot independently stop drinking alcohol and cannot arbitrarily regulate its amount.
In the body of a patient with alcoholism, such changes occur in which the body rebels, demanding the intake of alcohol. This does not happen with domestic drunkenness.
Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and if its first symptoms appear, it will steadily develop, new clinical manifestations of it, personality degradation and all the consequences of an alcoholic disease will appear.
Stages of alcoholism
Alcoholic disease has 3 stages.
The first stage of alcoholism is preceded by the stage of "cultural" drinking from one to ten years. People who are predisposed to alcoholism go through this stage quite quickly in a few months. Then comes the stage of uncultured drinking, and this is the first stage of alcoholism.
First stage
Second stage
The symptoms of the first stage are joined by the main symptom of alcoholism - withdrawal syndrome. At first, an alcoholic is able to endure until the evening and improves his health only after work. In the future, he can no longer endure until the evening and gets drunk at lunchtime. Further, a hangover can be in the morning and even at night. It's already a boozy period. There are problems in the family, at work, if they are still saved.
Life becomes out of control. Alcohol occupies the main place in consciousness, without alcohol life becomes uninteresting, meaningless. Family, children, work and everything else fade into the background. Some drink almost constantly, others intermittently, but in both cases the disease progresses. Only absolute sobriety can stop the course of alcoholism. At this stage, one stops drinking or tries to quit often, as fatigue sets in and health begins to fail.
Third stage
The third stage of degradation occurs after many years of alcohol abuse. A severe withdrawal syndrome develops, binges, alcoholic liver damage, as a rule, cirrhosis, heart damage - cardiomyopathy, arterial hypertension, often - kidney damage, impotence, epileptic seizures, alcoholic psychoses, encephalopathy, memory disorders, dementia, polyneuritis, high mortality. But even at this stage they stop drinking, often at a respectable age, but too late to live normally and enjoy this life.
There is no clear distinction between domestic drunkenness and alcoholism. The term "domestic drunkenness" gives not a medical, but a social assessment of a person. Recently, the term alcoholism has been replaced by the word "alcohol addiction".
Alcoholic disease is treated exclusively by long-term sobriety and nothing else.
Often, alcohol is absolutely contraindicated for healthy people, who, after small doses of alcohol, become violent, aggressive, insane. They don't remember what they did or what happened to them. This condition qualifies as pathological intoxication. Due to unmotivated aggressiveness and altered consciousness, such people commit illegal acts and criminal offenses. Unlike ordinary intoxication caused by large doses of alcohol, pathological intoxication is caused by a small amount of alcohol. And if it happened once, it can always happen again. These people should always stay sober.
Relationship between drunkenness and blood alcohol content(V.I. Prozorovsky, A.F. Rubtsov, I.S. Karandaev, 1967)
Blood alcohol content Functional evaluation
Less than 0.3 g/l No effect of alcohol
0.3 – 0.5 g/l Negligible effect
0.5 – 1.5 g/l Slight intoxication
1.5 – 2.5 g/l Moderate intoxication
2.5 - 3 g / l Strong intoxication
3.0 – 5.0 g/l Severe poisoning, possible
death
Over 5 g/l Fatal poisoning
Acute ethanol poisoning
The strength of ethanol depends on the dose, tolerance to alcohol (liver function), the degree of individual production of enzymes that neutralize alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase).
As a result of the action on the cerebral cortex, intoxication occurs with characteristic alcoholic excitation. When ethanol poisoning develops nausea, vomiting and dehydration (alcohol dehydrates the body).
In large doses, an anesthetic effect occurs. The inhibitory effect on the central nervous system is caused by stimulation of GABA receptors (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is the main neurotransmitter involved in the processes of central inhibition.
Sensory sensations are difficult, attention decreases, memory weakens. There are defects in thinking, judgments, orientation and self-control are disturbed, a critical attitude towards oneself and surrounding events is lost. Often there is an overestimation of one's own capabilities. Reflex reactions are slow and inaccurate. Often there is talkativeness, euphoria, pain sensitivity decreases (analgesia).
Spinal reflexes are reduced, coordination of movements is disturbed. When taking large doses of alcohol, excitation is replaced by depression and sleep sets in. In severe poisoning, a stuporous or coma is observed: the skin is pale, moist, breathing is rare, the exhaled air has the smell of ethanol, the pulse is frequent, the body temperature is lowered.
Emergency care for acute poisoning alcohol includes the following activities:
1. Gastric lavage to clean washings.
2. Water load with forced diuresis with diuretics.
3. In case of respiratory failure of central origin - artificial ventilation of the lungs.
4. Alkalizing therapy with 4% sodium bicarbonate solution intravenously.
5. Symptomatic therapy according to indications
In the presence of an alcoholic coma, the patient is sequentially injected with naloxone at a dose of 0.01 mg / kg in 10 ml of a 40% glucose solution, and then 1 ml of 6% thiamine bromide is also injected there. There comes an awakening effect in case of poisoning with alcohol, drugs and sleeping pills. Activated charcoal is not effective in ethyl alcohol poisoning, it does not absorb alcohol.
Planned treatment of alcoholism is carried out by psychiatrists - narcologists in drug treatment rooms and hospitals.
Treatment of alcoholism includes two main stages:
1. Relief of acute alcoholic disorders.
2. Anti-relapse therapy.
Relief of acute alcoholic disorders, prevents and eliminates the withdrawal syndrome and its complications - hangover convulsive seizures and alcoholic delirium.
For this, analogues of ethanol are used - benzodiazepines: diazepam, chlordiazepoxide (elenium), lorazepam. Barbiturates and anticonvulsants are also used. These drugs are prescribed by psychiatrists - narcologists to eliminate withdrawal symptoms, prevent seizures and delirium tremens.
Vitamins are also prescribed: thiamine (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) and nicotinic acid (vitamin PP). To restore the electrolyte balance of potassium and magnesium ions and eliminate dehydration, intravenous drip infusions are performed (glucose, gemodez, panangin).
Anti-relapse (maintenance) therapy It is aimed at reducing the severity of alcoholic excesses, preventing binges and mitigating the adverse effects of alcohol abuse.
It is carried out with the following drugs: disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate. These drugs inhibit acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that converts the poisonous acetaldehyde into acetic acid. At the same time, acetaldehyde syndrome or disulfiramalcohol reaction (DAR) develops:
- increased blood pressure;
- tachycardia;
- heartbeat;
- throbbing pain in the head;
- blurred vision;
- nausea and vomiting;
Shortness of breath and feeling short of breath;
- redness of the skin;
- fear of death, prompting an alcoholic to stop drinking alcohol.
A successful and innovative dosage form of disulfiram are water-soluble (effervescent) tablets called Antabuse. The tablets are tasteless and odorless and can be added to food and drink by the patient's relatives. Each intake of a soluble tablet will ensure the supply of the drug to the patient's body and implies the timely development of a therapeutic effect.
The treatment of alcoholism will be effective when the patient has a good motivation for treatment, that is:
-
he must recognize himself as a sick person suffering from alcoholism;
- he must be willing to be treated for alcohol addiction;
- he must have the intention in the future not to drink alcohol at all in any form.
One of the old methods of treating alcoholism is "Hemming". The patient is sutured under the skin or an intravenous drug is administered (Torpedo, Esperal, NIT, SIT, MST, etc.). When alcohol enters the body, these drugs begin to produce toxic substances that cause nausea, vomiting, fear of death and form a negative attitude towards alcohol in a person. At the same time, if a person takes a large dose of alcohol, then heart rhythm disturbances, angina attacks occur, myocardial infarction and cerebral edema may develop.
The preparations used for filing are harmless if the person is in a state of sobriety. But they do not remove the primary craving for alcohol. It turns out that you want to drink, but it's scary - there is a fear of death. This method is painful for many, but for some patients it can be quite effective.
"Coding" This is emotional stress therapy. A “code” is laid in the subconscious mind that prohibits the use of alcohol. This method was developed by the Ukrainian doctor - narcologist A. Dovzhenko, with whom the term "coding from alcoholism" is associated.
Through emotional and stressful influence, a program of the possible occurrence of life-threatening severe health disorders is introduced into the patient's consciousness when even small doses of alcohol are consumed. This method is effective for people susceptible to hypnosis.
In a state of hypnosis, a person is instilled with indifference and aversion to alcohol, the appearance of bad consequences in case of its use. The doctor conducting such treatment necessarily checks the patient for sensitivity to hypnosis. For patients who are not very susceptible to hypnosis, additional techniques are carried out, for example, when pronouncing the hypnosis formula, the phrase “if you drink at least a little, you will die” is said and at the same time the doctor presses on the eyeballs. The same goes for coding.
Hardware treatment is carried out using special medical equipment that affects the human brain. As a result of this effect, healthy brain functions are restored, the activity of the centers of attraction to alcohol is neutralized. This removes the primary craving for alcohol, and a person without
"breaking" enters a sober life. The most well-known method of electrical brain stimulation TES is a therapy developed by scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences under the guidance of Professor V.P. Lebedev, is used in 17 countries of the world.
Psychotherapy- This is a soft psychotherapeutic work to maintain the emotional-volitional sphere of the patient. Psychotherapy can be used as an independent method and in combination with other methods. For effective disposal from alcoholism, the patient's family should be involved in the treatment process. The participation of family members in the treatment process increases the effectiveness of treatment, up to lifelong abstinence from alcohol.
In maintaining resistance to alcohol, group psychotherapy, in particular participation in the work of Alcoholics Anonymous groups, is effective.
Reflexology- can be effectively used in the treatment of alcoholism. Doctors - reflexologists with the help of needles, magnets and other reflexotherapeutic techniques harmonize the energy system of the human body, which is unbalanced in various diseases, including alcoholism. And the elimination of excess desire in alcoholism, as in any other addiction (tobacco, drug, food, gaming), allows you to effectively get rid of alcohol addiction and be completely indifferent to alcohol.
Endorphins are "internal hormones of happiness", the production of which is sharply reduced in a patient with alcoholism. It is because of the deficiency of one's own endorphins that numerous manifestations of alcohol dependence arise: pathological craving for alcohol, depression, guilt, and withdrawal syndrome develops.
Reflexologists successfully treat these conditions by "forcing" the patient's body to produce endorphins in the right quantities. These methods are based on the reaction of the body in response to the corrective, therapeutic effect of needles or magnets received from the external and internal environment, carried out with the participation of the nervous system.
Reflexology can be used as an independent method in the treatment of alcoholism, as well as combined with other therapeutic methods, for example, when withdrawing from hard drinking, you can use points that calm the nervous system and thereby reduce the drug load on the body of a patient with alcoholism, significantly increasing their effectiveness.
The treatment of alcoholism by reflexotherapy is effective and ensures a sober life of a person in the future. According to numerous reviews of patients who have undergone a course of treatment for alcoholism by reflexotherapy, the vast majority of patients have good long-term results in the treatment of alcoholism. Patients who have undergone reflexology treatment like their sober life, they always, even after many years, note the powerful healing effect that they felt on themselves after the treatment. The craving for alcohol disappears, indifference to it appears.
“There is alcohol, but it is not needed, not interesting and even disgusting” - this is how those who had alcohol addiction after the treatment that I conduct treat alcohol. I carry out the treatment with magnets, which I install on certain points on the hands and feet, and fix them with a band-aid for several hours. Already after 1 - 2 sessions, alcohol becomes unnecessary, indifference to alcohol appears, alcohol passes away. The full course of treatment is 8-10 sessions. The efficiency of the method is up to 90%. These people continue to lead a sober healthy lifestyle without alcohol.
In order to recover and get rid of alcohol addiction, one must be willing to recover from alcoholism, and have the intention not to drink alcohol at all in the future. A positive result is a must.
Conclusions about alcohol and the consequences of its use:
1. Alcohol is a poison in any form, including in small doses. Separate useful properties of alcoholic products cannot exceed their harm and recommend their use for medicinal or food purposes.
2. Alcohol causes mental and physical addiction leading to disability and premature death.
3. Alcohol causes moral and mental degradation, destroys families, leads to crimes.
4. Alcohol leads to the birth of defective offspring and the degeneration of individuals, social groups and entire nations.
5. Promotion of drinking regularly "small doses" of alcohol is harmful to people, is not correct in its essence, since alcohol is harmful even in small doses.
6. Promotion of early introduction to the "culture" of drinking in the family is harmful and dangerous for the younger generation, as it helps to educate future alcohol consumers, this is necessary for producers and sellers of alcohol to increase the production and sale of alcohol.
Bibliography:
Mendelson A.L. sobriety textbook- St. Petersburg, Russian Society for the Fight against Alcoholism, 1913;
Permyakov A.V., Viter V.I. Pathomorphology and thanatogenesis of alcohol intoxication- Izhevsk, Expertise, 2002;
Egorov A.Yu., Shaidukova L.K. Modern features of alcoholism in women: age aspect. Narcology. 2005;
Nemtsov A.V. Alcoholism in Russia: history of the issue, current trends. Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry named after S. Korsakov. 2007; Alcoholism (supplement), issue 1:37:
www.lecheniealcogoliizma.ru Article: Clinic for the treatment of alcoholism by Professor V.L. Malygin;
www.president-med.ru Article: A few words about the principles of alcoholism treatment;
www.tes.by Article: Possibilities of medicine in the treatment of alcoholism;
www.medportal.ru Article: Controlled drinking: myth or reality;
www.grinchenko.tveresa.info Article: Alcohol and its properties;
www.likar.info Article: What do you know and what do you not know about alcoholism;
www.alcogolism.ru Article: Stages of alcoholism;
www.mycharm.ru Article: Ten facts about alcohol you need to know
Toxicology of ethanol;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/ Article: Alcoholic drinks;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/ Article: Beer;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/ Article: Wine;
https://ru.wikipedia.org/ Article: Vodka;
http://medi.ru/ Yu.P. Sivolap Article: alcoholism and modern methods his treatment.
They say that to distinguish an alcoholic from a person who does not yet have an alcohol addiction, his recognition will help - if the subject admits that there is such a problem, then all is not lost. And vice versa: the confidence that he is not an alcoholic, but just a difficult period, his wife left, things are not going well with work - the list can be continued endlessly - serves as an alarming sign. Meanwhile, the effect of alcohol on the human body has been studied quite well and its devastating effect on the psyche and health, as well as rapid addiction is beyond doubt.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
The toxic effect of alcohol on the human body has a comprehensive picture - first the body suffers and physical health then there are mental problems and irreversible disturbances in the activity of internal organs, primarily the brain.
To imagine the extent of brain damage after taking even a small amount of alcohol, you need to understand that, getting into the brain cells, alcohol irrevocably destroys them. Dead cells responsible for intelligence enter the bloodstream through the lymph, and then to the kidneys and are removed in the urine, like other obsolete waste products. Therefore, the joke that an alcoholic flushes his brains down the toilet is not a joke at all.
Why is this happening? Toxic substances contained in alcoholic beverages, which give the effect of short-term euphoria, enter the brain most intensively, since this organ is more than others supplied with blood, and, consequently, the process of accumulation of toxins in it is faster. After all, the accumulation is faster than the excretion of toxic substances.
Poisoned brain cells disrupt the functioning of nerve endings, which looks like intoxication. But in fact, such an effect is the most striking consequence of the fact that parts of the brain are intensively dying off at this moment.
First of all, the highest functions of the vital activity of the brain suffer from such a blow, which are responsible for moral character, memory properties, logical thinking, the ability to be critical, that is, degradation affects those brain centers that make individuality out of a person.
Thus, in the scientific world it is known that one hundred grams of vodka kills about 8,000 neurons, which provide this organ with nerve impulses for the thought process. Such lesions do not pass without a trace - "scars" that appear at the site of massive damage lead to wrinkling and literally drying of the brain and, consequently, a decrease in its volume and mass.
The degradation of the personality, arising from such an impact, is inevitable. It is expressed in the loss of adequacy, a decrease in intelligence, a deterioration in memory, attention, and quick wit. The withering away of entire centers responsible for moral character leads to the loss of morality, general degradation, loss of a sense of shame and the ability to self-criticism. In this state, a person begins to perform inadequate, asocial actions, in which he often does not bear an account. The disturbed occipital part of the brain, which is also affected very quickly, leads to gait disturbances, a failure in coordination and motor function in general. Damage to the vessels of the brain leads to changes in the psyche, which over time begin to progress markedly.
The effect of alcohol on blood vessels and the heart
There is a point of view that a moderate amount of alcohol has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels: there is a decrease in blood pressure, vasodilation, and stress goes away. However, this is a wrong position. Scientists have proven that alcohol is a toxic product, a poison that cannot help health in any way. The mechanism of action of alcohol is based precisely on the oppression of health, through which the desired effect of intoxication is obtained.
In addition, one should not forget about the insidiousness of this drink and the reassessment of one's own capabilities and the body's defenses against addiction. A high percentage of alcohol-dependent people is obtained precisely from those who underestimated the ability of alcohol to cause physiological and mental addiction, which immediately develops into addiction.
As for the expansion of blood vessels, this effect lasts for the shortest time, after which they sharply narrow. The result of such a change will be a characteristic red pigment on the face, an “idle” heart palpitation, and, as a result, organ wear. According to statistics, the number of deaths and chronic diseases in the cardiovascular system is most common among those who abuse alcohol.
The mechanism of the effect of alcohol on blood vessels is as follows. Alcohol consists of ethanol, which tends to penetrate into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach in a couple of minutes. The effect of this substance entering the body is accompanied by an increase in blood flow and vasodilation, which leads to an unhindered passage of blood. This leads to a decrease in pressure. However, the ventricles of the heart do not always cope with increased blood flow, and then the blood simply passes through them unhindered. Coupled with low blood pressure, the blood does not reach the limbs, which, in turn, cease to receive oxygen and nutrients.
After a short expansion, the vessels narrow sharply - which is a real shock for the body. Such constriction, which always accompanies the drinking of alcoholic beverages, especially if it is regular, leads to wear and tear of the cardiovascular system and deterioration of its functioning. Violation in its work leads to a deterioration in metabolic processes, as the cells no longer receive proper nutrition. This condition is especially dangerous for people suffering from hypertension - for them the symptoms will be even more pronounced.
The result of regular drinking of alcohol, even for healthy blood vessels, will be chronically high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, increased work of the heart, which supplies blood vessels with excessive blood mass. Wear and tear of the heart muscle in such conditions is inevitable, besides, the adrenaline produced by drinking alcohol only enhances the adverse effect.
The next adverse effect for the heart and blood vessels is the adhesion of erythrocytes (red cells) under the influence of ethyl alcohol. They lose their shell and are partially destroyed, which leads to blockage of the capillaries with clots of red cells. As a result, the systematic intake of alcohol leads to oxygen starvation of tissue cells and an even greater thinning of the capillaries, which are already very fragile in people who drink. And fragile vessels, in turn, are overgrown with a fatty layer, which also complicates their work.
As a result, atherosclerosis develops, leading to heart attacks, strokes and coronary heart disease. As well as arterial hypertension against the background of chronically elevated blood pressure.
The effect of alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract
The poisonous effect of alcohol also has a devastating effect on the stomach, through which most of it is absorbed. Burning the walls of the stomach and esophagus, alcohol injures these organs, which leads to their inflammation, frequent heartburn and the development of chronic diseases. The action of a toxic substance, which is any alcohol, disrupts the production of gastric juice, hydrochloric acid, and disrupts the production of enzymes and beneficial bacteria. Over time, the glands that produce the necessary enzymes for normal digestion atrophy. Digestion worsens because of this, which, in turn, leads to a failure in the process of hematopoiesis. Thus, we see that the harm caused by alcohol to the body is complex.
There are no enzymes in the pancreas to break down alcohol, so an addicted person often suffers from chronic pancreatitis. But alcohol is not only not broken down by this organ, but noticeably harms it, clogging the enzymes that are needed for digestion and leading to a malfunction in its work, can provoke inflammation and serious illnesses.
Generally frequent alcohol consumption from the gastrointestinal tract affects the development of gastritis, peptic ulcer that suffer alcoholics and those who do not consider themselves to be such. Blockage of glands under the influence of ethanol, which produce insulin in the stomach, leads to metabolic disorders and can provoke diabetes. Blockage of enzymes in the pancreas, as well as disorders in the esophagus and changes in the properties of saliva, which loses its disinfecting properties under the influence of alcohol, can lead to cancer.
The effect of alcohol on the reproductive system
Cell death affects reproductive function both in women and in men. In women, damaged cells do not recover, but remain in the system, posing a risk to the fetus. In the case when it is the cell damaged by alcohol that is fertilized, there is a risk that the child will have serious developmental disorders and genetic diseases. Whether a healthy cell or a diseased one is found in this situation is a matter of chance, and no one is immune from the sad consequences.
In a man, the body is arranged differently - its reproductive function can be updated. To completely eliminate the effects of alcohol on sperm quality, about 3-6 months should pass. During this period, the spermatozoa will be completely renewed, and possible damage will not affect the offspring - if alcohol has not been used again during this period of time.
Following the quality of germ cells, the entire reproductive system also suffers. The functioning of organs decreases, indifference appears and libido is depressed.
The influence of alcohol also leads to the mutation of hormones: under the influence of the toxin, they “break down”, starting to be produced incorrectly. Over time, women have an excess of the male hormone testosterone, and men have an excess of female estrogen.. This leads to a change in appearance, character, the psyche is disturbed and impotence occurs.
How to reduce the effect of alcohol on the body
If it was not possible to avoid drinking alcohol, and there is no desire to lose control or feel overwhelmed the next day, then you can use the advice of people who, from their own experience, have revealed rules to reduce the effect of alcohol on the body:
- can't downgrade. If you start drinking wine or beer after vodka, this will lead to rapid intoxication and, possibly, loss of consciousness.
- before taking alcohol, you should take activated charcoal at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. The sorbent will absorb toxins and reduce their impact on the body.
- take breaks in the feast, go out into the fresh air, have an active conversation on topics that make you think a lot - these actions activate the work of the brain and other organs, which will lead to an acceleration of metabolism and accelerated elimination of toxins.
- do not take carbonated drinks, which increase the absorption of alcohol into the blood.
- use a snack that will also take on some of the toxins.
- drink plenty of water to flush alcohol out of your body faster.
- save the liver by not eating fatty foods.
Ethanol is present in a low proportion in human blood and is a natural metabolite. To understand how alcohol affects the human body, it is necessary to imagine the process of its processing. When ethanol enters the body with food, it is oxidized to acetaldehyde, which is 30 times more toxic than alcohols. The processes of splitting occur in the liver. An excess of ethanol inevitably entails the accumulation of acetaldehyde, which in this case does not have time to be processed into acetate. Intoxication, poisoning of the body occurs, which leads to a sharp deterioration in well-being, loss of consciousness, there is a possibility of death.
What organs are affected by alcohol?
Now we will try to study more carefully how alcohol affects the body, which organs it affects. Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the blood and distributed to all nodes. The maximum effect of the action of alcohols occurs after 50 - 70 minutes after ingestion. During this time, ethanol is absorbed into the blood through small intestine and gastric mucosa. There comes a lesion of the central nervous system, the shell of which is destroyed.
At 10%, alcohol is excreted with the help of the kidneys and lungs, through breathing. This is the reason why it is easy to determine the degree of intoxication with a breathalyzer. The remaining 90% is processed by the liver.
According to research, alcohol is the most harmful drug in the world. British pharmacologist and psychotherapist David Nutt puts the dangers of alcohol on a par with heroin. According to his own research, cocaine is two times inferior, LSD ten.
Looking for salvation from alcoholism?
We know what to do with it! Get a free, anonymous consultation:
In some cases, alcohol causes the blood vessels in the esophagus to dilate. The veins become deformed and lose their effectiveness, the walls become thinner. High probability of internal hemorrhage. There is hemorrhagic shock, acute blood loss. Medical attention is urgently needed, the probability of death is high.
Ethanol actively destroys the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. First of all, the microflora suffers, which to a certain extent forms the immune system. The intestinal mucosa is covered with numerous erosions, dying tissues. Subsequently, ulcers and malignant tumors occur.
Ethanol that enters the heart literally corrodes the structure of the muscle, destroying the cells. Micro scars form on the tissues, elasticity is significantly reduced. The heart can't pump blood. The liver does not have time to process glucose. Monosugars remain in the body and are converted into fatty tissues that cover the heart and other organs.
The liver takes over the main dose of ethanol. Healthy cells, hepatocytes die. Replacement occurs with fat and connective tissues leading to hepatosis. The disease is characterized by a serious metabolic disorder in the liver. This is the initial stage of cirrhosis. The latter is one of the six leading causes of death for people aged 30 to 60 years. In some cases, cirrhosis leads to cancer.
Ethanol stimulates the active release of enzymes in the stomach. As a result, the walls begin to digest themselves. The decomposition of internal tissues and food begins. There is a failure of the acid-base balance. There is gastritis, followed by an ulcer and cancer.
Alcohol, once in the pancreas, causes spasm of the ducts. There is an accumulation of enzymes that begin to digest the tissues of the organ from the inside. The gland swells strongly, which characterizes the beginning inflammatory processes. Tissue death begins, followed by decomposition. As a result - pancreatitis, which is a fatal disease.
Which organs are most affected by alcohol? - this question does not cause controversy in circles of doctors. The effect of ethanol on the brain is irreparable when other damage can be repaired to some extent. But, it is impossible to completely or even half rid the body of the consequences.
How alcohol affects the brain
The human nervous system consists mainly of receptors and microcapillaries. When ethanol enters the bloodstream, red blood cells stick together, forming blood clots. Clots block the thinnest blood capillaries. Vessels burst, forming numerous microhemorrhages. Tens of thousands of brain cells are irretrievably destroyed. In the morning, a person feels a characteristic headache.
Violation of the work of the blood vessels of the brain leads to its oxygen starvation. Drowsiness occurs, mental activity decreases. Since alcohol affects the brain and microcapillaries, the risk of stroke increases. Internal hemorrhage often leads to complete or partial paralysis, often to death.
Dead cells are excreted in urine and sweat. There is redness of the eyeballs, swollen vessels. The stronger the pain, the more damage is done to the shell of the brain. The effect of alcohol on the central nervous system causes severe addiction - a neurotransmitter metabolic disorder in the brain. The disorder is accompanied by a satisfaction deficit syndrome. As a result, a person feels a constant or regular need for alcoholic beverages.
How alcohol affects the blood
Ethanol promotes gluing of erythrocytes, blood cells. As a result, blood clots form. Flake-like blood clots are instantly spread throughout the body. Many vessels and capillaries remain clogged, which reduces the nutrition of certain organs. Severe dehydration occurs. Glues cannot function as an oxygen carrier.
Clogged capillaries located in the nasal cavity do not provide the tissues with the proper amount of nutrients. The tissues dying as a result of starvation turn blue, covered with a characteristic purple. As a result, the nose of those who drink alcohol turns blue, the face swells, and the skin loses its elasticity.
As alcohol affects the blood and brain, causing addiction, there is a need for treatment. Timely treatment to the narcological dispensary in most cases helps to exclude oncological diseases and other forms of pathogenesis. In the most advanced cases, a complete cleansing of the blood from toxins and blood clots is necessary.
How hard is it to get rid of alcoholism?
For complex neuropsychiatric disorders, complex drug addiction treatment may be required. Most clients find it difficult to persuade a loved one to seek help. This is due to the peculiarities of the human defense mechanism. A careful approach is needed so as not to run into complete denial or aggression. You shouldn't put pressure on it. Unfortunately, you can persuade a loved one only if he himself wants to fight the disease. Ultimate demands more often lead to the breakup of families than to a positive result.
First of all, you should put yourself in the place of a person who is in trouble. In most cases, the patient is aware of the harm of alcohol on the body and on the social level. The point is to explain how alcohol affects the human brain and body. The patient should be given to understand: how significant is his importance in society and in the family, how strong drinks destroy that very significance. It is important that a person at least partially assess his position with a third-party sober look.
The next step is to prove to the patient that there are effective methods of getting out of alcoholism. To convey to the attention of the severity of the physical and psychological condition of a person suffering alcohol addiction. That the help of specialists will not be a waste of time and effort.
Can't persuade you to stop drinking?
We will help you do it for free! Leave a request.