AlcoholIt is a depressant, that is, a substance that slows down all processes in the body. Small doses of alcohol provide a feeling of relaxation and self-confidence. In large doses, it slows down the reaction and negatively affects, for example, vision and coordination. Driving without being sober is extremely dangerous. A person in a state of severe intoxication feels nausea, dizziness and may lose consciousness and, above all, there is a danger of choking on their own vomit.
The level of alcohol concentration in the blood depends on several factors.
- If you eat fatty foods, poisoning will not come as quickly.
- The high content of animal and vegetable fats slows down the absorption of alcohol and the digestion of food itself.
- The fuller the stomach, the longer it will take for alcohol to reach the circulatory system.
- The thicker your body fat, the slower alcohol will be digested and absorbed into your blood.
- Body weight: the heavier you are, the lesser the effects of alcohol on you.
- Your reaction to drinking 80 mg of alcohol may be completely different from someone else's. Typically, young people and women are more susceptible to alcohol.
The ability to consume alcohol and the effect it has on different people varies; however, it is believed that a safe dose (from a health point of view) is somewhere around 5 liters of medium-strength BEER or 10 large glasses of wine per week for men and 2/3 of this dose for women, since Of course, this amount is lost evenly over the course of a week, and not in 1-2 times. If you can, try not to drink on an empty stomach.
Alcoholism – what is it?
Alcoholism– regular and compulsive consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time. It is the most serious form of drug addiction in modern times, affecting between 1 and 5% of the population in most countries. An alcoholic drinks compulsively in response to a psychological or physical dependence on alcohol.
Anyone can become an alcoholic. However, studies have shown that for children of alcoholics, the risk of becoming alcohol dependent is 4 to 6 times greater than for children of non-alcoholics.
The study of alcohol consumption among young people in our country is largely based on the experience of similar studies abroad, which at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries were widely carried out in Western Europe and North America and were conducted in several directions:
- The prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption among students were studied.
- The effect of alcohol on the bodies of children and adolescents was studied.
- The relationship between academic performance and alcohol consumption was determined.
- Anti-alcohol education programs have been developed and tested.
A significant place among studies of this period was occupied by works illustrating the prevalence and nature of drinking customs, when children were given alcoholic beverages to:
- "health promotion"
- "appetite"
- "better growth"
- "to ease teething"
- "warming up"
- "satiate hunger"
- "calm"
Six stages of alcoholism
Casual drunkenness can lead to alcoholism: because the drinker begins to turn to alcohol to relieve stress, or because it is so strong that the initial stages of addiction go unnoticed.
Early alcoholism is marked by the appearance of memory lapses. Alcoholization of the younger generation is considered by most researchers to be a significant indicator of dysfunction of the microsocial environment. This determines the constant interest in studying the problem of the prevalence and nature of early alcoholism.
Boys drink the main types of alcoholic beverages more often than girls, and as their strength increases, this difference becomes significant. Among urban schoolchildren, the predominant consumption of weak alcoholic beverages is common - beer, wine, while students in rural schools are more familiar with the tastes of strong alcoholic beverages. In the 1920s and 1920s, it was possible to find a fairly widespread use of alcoholic beverages by school-age children: 1. 0–32. 0% among boys and 0. 9–12% among girls. The frequency of vodka consumption increased with age.
Almost all socio-hygienic and clinical-social studies of youth alcoholism used the survey method in various modifications - from correspondence questionnaires to telephone and clinical interviews.
Basic alcoholism– the drinker cannot stop until he reaches the poisoning stage. He encourages himself with self-justifications and pompous promises, but all his promises and intentions remain unfulfilled. He begins to avoid family and friends and neglect food, past interests, work, and money. Physical deterioration of health occurs. Alcohol resistance decreases.
Chronic alcoholism is characterized by greater moral decline, irrational thinking, vague fears, fantasies, and psychopathic behavior. Physical damage is increasing. The drinker no longer has an alibi and can no longer take steps to get out of the current situation. A person can reach this stage in 5 to 25 years.
Treatment is usually carried out through special programs for alcoholics. Psychologically, the desire to get help is revived in the alcoholic and he begins to think more rationally. Ideally, it also develops hope, moral responsibility, outside interests, self-esteem, and satisfaction with abstinence from alcohol.
The final stage of alcoholism occurs if the alcoholic refuses treatment or breaks down again after treatment. Irreversible mental and physical damage often ends in death.
If you write all this briefly, you will get the following:
- Domestic drunkenness
- Early alcoholism
- Basic alcoholism
- Chronic alcoholism
- Cure
- The final stage of alcoholism
What determines a person's degree of intoxication?
The effect of alcohol on behavior depends on the amount of alcohol that reaches the brain through the blood. This "blood alcohol level" is determined by several other factors besides how much you drink.
The size of the liver determines the rate of alcohol oxidation and elimination.
The person's own weight determines the amount of blood in the body, as the volume of blood is proportional to it. The larger the person, the more the blood is diluted by the alcohol consumed and more is needed to have the same effect.
The speed and form of alcohol consumption are also important. The slower a person drinks a certain amount of alcohol, the weaker its effects.
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach has a stronger and faster effect than drinking it during or after a meal. Food acts as a buffer during absorption.
The intoxication process.
When drinking alcohol, the transmission of impulses in the nervous system slows down. The highest levels of the brain are the first to be affected – inhibitions, excitement and anxiety disappear, giving way to a feeling of contentment and euphoria. As lower levels of the brain are affected, coordination, vision and speech deteriorate. Small blood vessels in the skin dilate. Heat is radiated and the person becomes warm. This means that blood has been diverted away from the body's internal organs, where blood vessels have already narrowed due to the effects of alcohol on the nervous system. Therefore, the temperature of the internal organs drops at the same time. A possible increase in sexual desire is associated with the suppression of common prohibitions. As blood alcohol levels increase, physical sexual performance becomes increasingly impaired. Eventually, the toxic effects of alcohol cause nausea and possibly vomiting.
Hangover
Hangovers are bad. . . And now in more detail:
Hangoveris the physical discomfort after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Symptoms may include headache, stomach pain, thirst, dizziness and irritability. A hangover occurs as a result of three processes. Firstly, the gastric mucosa becomes irritated by excess alcohol and the functioning of the stomach is impaired. Secondly, cellular dehydration occurs if the amount of alcohol consumed exceeds the capacity of the liver, resulting in alcohol remaining in the blood for a long time. Thirdly, the level of alcohol has a "shock" effect on the nervous system, from which it needs time to recover.
The best way to avoid a hangover is to not drink too much (or better yet, not drink at all). But the likelihood of a hangover is reduced if alcohol is mixed with a snack (Havka): the intake and absorption of alcohol is prolonged over a long period of time and food serves as a barrier. Non-alcoholic drinks taken at the same time or later will dilute the alcohol. Harmful effects are also generally reduced if alcohol is consumed in a relaxed environment and smoking is kept to a minimum.
The effect of alcohol on the body
Blood.Alcohol inhibits the production of platelets, as well as white and red blood cells. Result: anemia, infections, bleeding
Brain. Alcohol slows down blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, leading to a constant lack of oxygen in its cells, resulting in a weakening of memory and slow mental degradation (or simply dullness). Early sclerotic changes develop in the vessels and the risk of cerebral hemorrhage increases. Alcohol destroys the connections between the nerve cells of the brain, developing the need for alcohol and alcohol dependence in them. Destruction of brain cells and degeneration of the nervous system sometimes leads to pneumonia, heart and kidney failure, or organic psychosis. Delirium tremens is a condition accompanied by extreme agitation, mental insanity, restlessness, fever, tremors, rapid and irregular pulse and hallucinations, which usually occurs when drinking large quantities of alcohol after several days of abstinence.
Heart.Alcohol abuse causes increased blood cholesterol levels, persistent hypertension and myocardial dystrophy. Cardiovascular failure puts the patient on the brink of the grave. Alcoholic myopathy: muscle degeneration resulting from alcoholism. The reasons for this are lack of use of muscles, poor diet and alcohol damage to the nervous system. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle.
Intestines.The constant effect of alcohol on the wall of the small intestine leads to a change in the structure of cells, and they lose the ability to fully absorb nutrients and mineral components, which ends in depletion of the alcoholic's body.
Diseases associated with poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency, such as scurvy, pellagra, and beriberi, caused by food neglect to drink. Persistent inflammation of the stomach and hind intestines with increased risk of ulcers.
Liver.Considering that 95% of all alcohol that enters the body is neutralized in the liver, it is clear that this organ suffers most from alcohol: an inflammatory process occurs (hepatitis) and then scarring (cirrhosis). The liver ceases to fulfill its function of disinfecting toxic metabolic products, producing blood proteins and other important functions, which leads to the inevitable death of the patient. Cirrhosis is an insidious disease: it slowly approaches a person, attacks and immediately leads to death. Ten percent of chronic alcoholics have liver cirrhosis and 75% of people with cirrhosis are or were alcoholics. Until cirrhosis has developed sufficiently, there are almost no symptoms, then the alcoholic begins to complain of general deterioration in health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and digestive problems. The cause of the disease is the toxic effects of alcohol.
Pancreas.Patients who suffer from alcoholism are 10 times more likely to develop diabetes than those who don't drink: alcohol destroys the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin, and profoundly distorts metabolism.
Leather.People who drink almost always look older than they actually are: their skin soon loses its elasticity and ages prematurely.
Stomach. Alcohol suppresses the production of mucin, which performs a protective function in relation to the gastric mucosa, which leads to the appearance of peptic ulcers.
A characteristic manifestation of alcohol poisoning is repeated vomiting. Even a single consumption of small doses of alcoholic beverages is accompanied in adolescents by pronounced manifestations of intoxication, especially in the nervous system. The most severe poisonings are observed in people with a complicated medical history, against the background of organic cerebral insufficiency or concomitant somatic pathology.
It is much less clear to describe the nature of alcohol's influence on a teenager's psyche. In general, the clinical picture of severe intoxication of a teenager in most cases looks like this: short-term excitement is then replaced by general depression, stupor, increasing drowsiness, lethargy, slow and incoherent speech and loss of orientation.
When consuming alcohol for the first time, 53% of teenagers felt disgusted. Over time, with the increase in the "experience" of alcohol consumption, the objective picture, however, changes drastically. More than 90% of adolescents surveyed with two years or more of "experience" of alcohol consumption believe that intoxication is accompanied by a feeling of a surge of energy, a feeling of contentment, comfort and an increase in mood, that is, these attributes of a mental state that common consciousness often attributes to action begin to appear in his statements.
Diseases or simply PSYCHOSIS
Delirium tremens usually occurs against the background of a hangover, with a sudden cessation of alcohol consumption or during a period of abstinence, in cases of addition of somatic diseases, injuries (especially fractures). The initial symptoms of psychosis are worsening of nighttime sleep, the appearance of vegetative symptoms and tremors, as well as the patient's general vivacity, noted in their movements, speech, facial expressions and especially mood. In a short period of time, various tones of mood can be noticed, while during the hangover period the mood is monotonous, characterized by depression and anxiety. Unusual changes in mood and general vivacity intensify in the afternoon and evening, while during the day these disturbances decrease sharply and may even disappear completely, which allows the patient to perform his professional duties. As the symptoms of psychosis increase, complete insomnia appears, against which first visual illusions appear, and then various hallucinations and delusions.
Delirium tremens is characterized by the predominance of true visual hallucinations. They are characterized by a multiplicity of images and mobility. Most often these are insects (bugs, cockroaches, beetles, flies) and small animals (cats, rats, mice). Less often, patients see large animals and people, in some cases with a fantastic appearance. Visions of snakes, demons, as well as deceased relatives, the so-called wandering dead, are very typical. In some cases, visual illusions and hallucinations are single, in others they are multiple and similar to scenes, that is, the patient sees complex images. Often there are auditory, tactile and olfactory hallucinations, sensations of disturbance of the position of the body in space. The mood of patients is extremely changeable. In a short time, one notices fear, complacency, perplexity, surprise and despair. Patients usually move continuously, their facial expressions are expressive. Motor reactions correspond to the hallucinations and affects prevailing at the moment - with fear and frightening visions, the patient hides, defends himself, becomes excited; during periods of complacency - passive.
Patients are characterized by extreme distraction from external events; everything around you attracts your attention. The delirium in alcoholic delirium is fragmentary and reflects hallucinatory disorders. In terms of content, most of the time it is a delusion of persecution. Patients are often falsely oriented on the spot (while in the hospital, they say they are at home, in the restaurant, at work), but they are oriented in their own personality. Alcoholic delirium is characterized by the periodic and temporary disappearance of a significant part of mental disorders, the so-called lucid - mild intervals, as well as a naturally pronounced increase in symptoms of psychosis in the afternoon and evening.
Delirium tremens is constantly accompanied by a variety of somatic disorders - tremors, sudden sweating, hyperemia of the skin, especially the face. The temperature is generally low. The pulse is increased. Protein often appears in urine; in the blood - increased bilirubin content, shift in the leukocyte formula to the left, acceleration of ROE. The course of the disease is usually short-term. Even without treatment, symptoms of psychosis disappear within 3–5 days. Less commonly, the disease drags on for 1–1. 5 weeks. Recovery is most often observed in the form of a crisis - after a sound sleep. Sometimes recovery is gradual, getting worse at night and improving during the day. Signs that indicate an unfavorable prognosis for delirium tremens are the development of symptoms of occupational delirium and delirium, high fever and collapse states.
Alcoholic hallucinations develop during a hangover or at the height of excessive alcohol consumption. The main disorder is abundant auditory hallucinations combined with delusions of persecution. Verbal auditory hallucinations predominate, and the patient often hears words "uttered" by a large number of people - a "choir of voices", as patients often define it. Most often, "voices" talk to each other about the patient, less often they are addressed to the patient himself. The content of verbal hallucinations are threats, accusatory discussions about the patient's past actions, cynical abuse, insults. Often hallucinations are mocking and provocative in nature. Voices intensify to a scream or weaken to a whisper. Delusional ideas in content are closely related to auditory hallucinations - the so-called. hallucinatory delirium. They are fragmentary and unsystematic. The predominant affect is intense anxiety and fear. At the beginning of psychosis, patients are motorically excited, but soon some delay appears or very orderly behavior is observed, masking the psychosis. The latter creates a false and dangerous idea of improvement. As a rule, the symptoms of psychosis intensify in the afternoon and evening. Somatic disorders, common in hangover syndrome, are constant. The duration of alcoholic hallucinosis is from 2-3 days to several weeks; In rare cases, the illness lasts for several months.
Alcoholic depression always appears against the background of a hangover syndrome. Characterized by depressed-anxious mood, ideas of self-deprecation, crying, as well as individual ideas of relationships and persecution. Duration – from several days to 1–2 weeks. It is in the state of alcoholic depression that alcoholics most often commit suicide.
Alcoholic epilepsy is symptomatic and is associated with intoxication. Seizures most often occur at the height of intoxication during a hangover or during alcoholic delirium. As a rule, epileptiform seizures are observed. Minor convulsions, twilight stupefaction, and auras do not occur in alcoholic epilepsy. With the cessation of alcohol abuse, convulsions disappear.
Alcoholic paranoid is an alcoholic psychosis whose main symptom is delirium. It occurs in a state of hangover syndrome and at the height of excessive alcohol consumption. The content of delusional ideas is limited to persecution or jealousy (ideas of adultery). In the first case, patients believe that there is a group of people who want to rob or kill them. They see confirmation of their thoughts in the gestures, actions and words of others. Characterized by confusion, intense anxiety, often giving way to fear. Patients' actions are impulsive - they jump from moving vehicles, run away suddenly, turn to government authorities for help, and sometimes attack imaginary enemies. In some cases, delirium is accompanied by mild verbal delusions and hallucinations and individual delusional symptoms that occur at night. The course of this form of paranoia is usually short-term - from several days to several weeks. Occasionally, psychosis lasts for months.
Alcoholic encephalopathies– alcoholic psychoses, which develop in connection with metabolic disorders and, first of all, vitamins B and PP. Alcoholic encephalopathy occurs as a result of many years of alcoholism, accompanied by gastritis or chronic enteritis and, as a consequence of the latter, impaired absorption in the intestine. Alcoholic encephalopathies develop mainly in those individuals who drink a lot but eat very little. Most often, alcoholic encephalopathies occur in the spring and early summer months. Autonomic symptoms often include heart rhythm disturbances, fever of central origin, respiratory problems, and sphincter weakness. You may constantly notice an increase in muscle tone. The general physical condition of patients is characterized by progressive weight loss up to severe cachexia. The skin is pale or dark brown.
Chronic forms of alcoholic encephalopathy include Korsakoff's psychosis and alcoholic pseudoparalysis. In some cases, they develop gradually, over several months, and then the nature of the onset corresponds to Gaye-Vorik encephalopathy, in others - acutely, after alcoholic psychoses, usually after delirium tremens.
Treatment of alcoholic psychoses. Patients with alcoholic psychosis must be urgently admitted to a special hospital. Some patients with hangover syndrome are also subject to hospitalization in cases where mental disorders, especially mood changes, are intense. Treatment of alcoholic psychosis in the hospital should be comprehensive - the use of multivitamins (B1, C, PP), cardiac and hypnotics with hypoglycemic and comatose doses of insulin or psychotronic drugs. The only effective treatment for alcoholic encephalonitis, especially acute, is therapy with large doses of vitamins: B1 - up to 600 mg, C - up to 1000 mg, PP - up to 300-400 mg per day for 2-4 weeks.
Alcohol poisoning.
People who abuse alcohol sometimes fall into a stupor, leading to a coma. In extremely severe cases, breathing may stop.
However, do not assume that a person who appears intoxicated has necessarily consumed alcohol. Similar symptoms are seen in other conditions (head injuries, stroke and diabetes, as well as overdose of certain medications).
First aid.
If the victim is unconscious but still breathing, remove anything obstructing breathing (pieces of snack, breakfast) from the mouth and pharynx with your finger; do not attempt to induce vomiting. Place the victim in the resuscitation position, free the neck and waist from tight clothing, and ensure that the airway remains clear.
If the victim does not regain consciousness, call an ambulance.
Conclusion
Alcoholism is a serious illness that, in some cases, develops over many years. So it's better not to drink too much or too often! And if you drink, then drink BEER! ! ! : )