Everyone knows that drunkenness does not lead to good. But still strong drinks are consumed with or without reason. But every reception on the chest is a blow to your liver and other internal organs. Of course, a lot depends on the dosage and frequency of drinking strong drinks. If a person has “went through” once, then the body can easily cope with this. But if this happens regularly, the consequences accumulate and multiply. Usually, heaviness in the abdomen soon begins to bother. The effect of alcohol on the liver has been fairly well studied by doctors, but this does not reduce the number of drinkers. Therefore, today we will analyze this issue again.
Alcohol tolerance
This question is often asked to doctors. Why can a neighbor drink almost any amount of alcohol and always feel great in the morning?The fact is that alcohol and the liver can "live in harmony" for a long time. But when the damage to the liver cells becomes critical, all the symptoms will bloom violently. Moreover, the effect of alcohol on the liver cannot be calculated in advance. That is, it will be unambiguously toxic, but when a person crosses that line, then the affected organ will no longer be able to perform the functions assigned to it.
How quickly this happens depends on many factors. This includes the types of alcohol consumed, the frequency of feasts and the amount of daily alcohol consumption. Add to this the age of the person, the presence of concomitant diseases and the initial state of the liver. The effect of alcohol on this organ cannot be positive, because its cells have to process the strongest toxins to their detriment.
Mechanism of action
Any drink that contains ethanol is bad for liver cells. This also applies to medicinal tinctures for alcohol. Another thing is that we consume them in small doses. That is, the body will not notice the effect of ethanol in this case. Moderate alcohol consumption is also not a big tragedy. The liver is prone to regeneration. That is, a small number of its cells will die, but they will be replaced by others. The effect of alcohol on the liver increases as the person drinks more frequently.
Liver damage
Having tried alcohol for the first time, a person will not even notice a morning hangover. The effect of alcohol on the liver increases gradually. Every now and againthere will be more and more serious damage to its cells. Despite their ability to regenerate, the number of functioning ones is getting smaller.
Doctors identify 4 stages of damage:
- Alcohol entering the body is sent to the liver for disposal. At the same time, hepatocytes convert ethanol into acetaldehyde, which the body is able to process at the cellular level and excrete through the kidneys. But the liver cells themselves are exposed to it, which leads to the destruction of their membrane. That is, the effect of alcohol on the human liver is direct, and all other tissues suffer already from its derivative.
- Increasing the dose leads to the following unpleasant consequences. Part of the alcohol the liver is no longer able to block, and it enters directly into the blood. This causes damage to the nervous system.
- When the liver cells are no longer able to regenerate, this large organ undergoes major changes. Metabolic processes are disturbed and fat accumulation begins.
- Cirrhosis of the liver develops. From alcohol, the cells not only lose the ability to function properly, but also die rather quickly.
Danger of alcoholism
All these processes are hidden from the person. The liver is a very "tolerant" organ. To the last, he will diligently dispose of the poison that a person uses completely voluntarily. And only when her strength is running out, you will feel the symptoms of severe intoxication.
Main problemis that the symptoms begin to appear only at the very late stages of the disease. A person does not worry about liver damage and does not go to the doctor. Periodic pain in the right side, belching and other dyspeptic symptoms can be considered as a digestive disorder. Moreover, they often cope with them by taking another dose of alcohol.
Light liquor or worst enemy?
The liver suffers in any case when drinking alcohol. It doesn't matter if you have beer, schnapps or whiskey on your table. Of course, if you compare a drunk bottle of vodka or a glass of beer, then it is obvious which drink will do less harm. But usually it's the other way around. It is customary to drink beer in liters. Of course, this does not apply to everyone. If you buy yourself a bottle of a cold drink once a week after a bath, it is unlikely that this will greatly affect your he alth, as well as your figure.
The pronounced diuretic effect of this drink leads to the fact that all the liquid is replaced by a toxic product. Such a volume is not able to process liver cells, and alcohol enters the bloodstream, affecting all internal organs. Do not forget that non-alcoholic beer is also not safe for humans. In addition, the drink disrupts metabolism and leads to weight gain.
Vodka or beer
What is more harmful? All strong drinks contain alcohol to a greater or lesser extent. But the oppression of consciousness when drinking vodka occurs much faster. That is, it is physically impossible to drink a few liters. ATIn the case of beer, a dosage of 2-3 liters per evening is considered quite normal for many. In addition, beer today is made using preservatives that are quite harmful to the whole organism. Surely you have heard the term "beer alcoholism". A person does not see a day without beer, and he considers this normal. The farther, the greater the number. And when there is not enough for beer, then vodka is also suitable, and bacon as a snack. A double blow to the unfortunate liver, which will be very difficult for her to survive. Don't be surprised by how you feel.
Safe dose
Briefly, the effect of alcohol on the liver can be described as follows. Any amount of ethanol is harmful. But if the liver neutralizes a small dose and then quickly recovers, then a large amount kills it. Cells are reborn and become ordinary connective tissue. Anatomically, the organ is in place, but it can no longer perform its functions. Based on this, the question arises: how much can you drink so as not to jeopardize your body?
Based on numerous studies, experts conclude that a dose of 1 g per 1 kg of body weight is safe for human he alth. It's hard to know how much it will end up being.
- For a woman, this is 150 ml of wine, 330 ml of beer, 30 ml of cognac or vodka.
- For a man - up to 250 ml of wine, up to 500 ml of beer and up to 50 ml of spirits.
Doesn't really resonate with the usual "between the first and second", but this is exactly the framework that allows you to stay he althy and not break away from the team.
Alcohol and gastrointestinal tract
Each person should know the effect of alcohol on the pancreas and liver. This will allow you to consciously say “no” at the right time. The liver is a natural barrier that is designed to neutralize toxins. Other organs of the gastrointestinal tract are much more sensitive to such effects.
Comparing the effect of alcohol on the liver and pancreas, it should be noted that the development of pancreatitis under its influence occurs much faster than cirrhosis. In more than 50% of cases, the development of chronic pancreatitis is caused precisely by alcohol abuse. Alcohol causes a spasm of the sphincter, through which the contents of the gland are released into the duodenum. These enzymes are not involved in digestion, but continue to digest the body from the inside.
Signs of pancreatic damage
Pancreatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Girdle pain that captures the entire hypochondrium.
- Dyspeptic syndrome. This is increased salivation, severe bloating, nausea and belching, sometimes vomiting and aversion to fatty foods.
- Diarrhea with large amounts of mushy stools with an unpleasant odor.
Recovery and treatment
The first task is the treatment of alcoholism. If a person continues to drink, the disease will progress. In the most severe cases, when intoxicationalcohol is very strong, blood purification may be required. For this, the patient is placed in a special facility where special solutions are administered.
If a person is ready to give up drinking himself, then this moment can be skipped. Then you need to help the body cleanse itself. For this you need to drink a lot. Suitable water, weak brines and juices. About a week after drinking alcohol, you can start a course of treatment. It includes adsorbents and drugs to restore liver function. These are Karsil, Essentiale and many other hepaprotectors. Traditional medicine also works very well. In particular, try oatmeal. And of course, you need to follow a strict diet throughout your life. Sweet, fatty, fried - only in minimal quantities, occasionally, during remission.
Instead of a conclusion
He alth and alcohol are poorly compatible concepts. If you use it sometimes and in minimal quantities, then it will not cause much harm. Our biological filter neutralizes ethanol. But, drinking in large doses and regularly, you expose your body to very serious stress. Indigestion, metabolism, dry skin and hair problems, constant fatigue and poor he alth - this is what you have to pay for bad habits. Add to this problems with blood vessels and heart, reproductive functions, disruption of the urinary system, and you will understand that it is much better to give up alcohol completely.
