Short-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption are manifested hangover, long-term - chronic diseases and death.
Currently, scientists isolated more than 60 diseases caused by alcohol abuse. It is estimated that it kills more than 80% of consumers.
Here are 10 of the most common diseases that can result in alcohol.
1. Anemia
Anemia (anemia) - a disease that is associated with a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood plasma. This reduces the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to the tissues of the body, which in the long term can lead to more serious consequences.
Ethanol prevents the absorption and displays the body of valuable minerals, including iron, which is the main component of hemoglobin. Therefore, use it in excess can lead to anemia.
Fortunately, this condition is relatively easy to diagnose and treat - sometimes enough to give up alcohol, change their lifestyle and diet.
2. Cardiovascular diseases
It is known that dry red wine protect against heart disease. For example, people from Mediterranean countries who regularly drink wine in small quantities, are in good health, despite the fact that they eat fatty foods.
However, as the researchers found the University of Toulouse, the use of more than 50 grams of pure alcohol once or twice a week doubles the risk of heart attack and death from cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol abuse leads to the development of hypertension, arrhythmia, and also a reason in 30% of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy - a serious disease that leads to heart failure.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes - one of the biggest nightmares of Western Civilization. In countries such as the US and UK, the disease is reaching epidemic proportions.
The main factors influencing the development of diabetes are obesity and lack of physical activity. Risk of disease also increases, and alcohol. Excessive doses of ethanol increased resistance to insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar levels.
In addition, scientists from the School of Medicine in New York found that alcohol disrupts insulin receptors, causing inflammation in the hypothalamus. It is also known that the abuse of drink can lead to chronic pancreatitis - disease, initiating the development of diabetes.
4. Dementia (dementia)
Scientists at the Australian National University in 2009 published a study, which was attended by 10 thousand people from all over the world. As established scientists, alcohol in small amounts reduces the risk of dementia by 26%. However, do not rejoice.
Dementia can be a late echo of "youth mistakes." So, in 2013, «Jama Internal Medicine» magazine published the results of the study, indicating the existence of links between dementia and alcohol use at a young age. Abuse of ethanol accelerates the natural process of reducing some of the areas of the brain in old age, which leads to memory loss and other typical features characteristic of dementia, namely the difficulties in planning, assessing the situation and taking solutions.
5. Depression
Some people try to "cure" depression by means of alcohol, which, however, not only reinforces, but often it is the cause.
Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages with large doses leads to a decrease in serotonin levels in the brain. In addition to lifting the mood, this hormone has a number of key functions: regulates sleep, appetite, pressure, temperature, and blood clotting, and also affects the sexual needs. Its level is too low leads to aggression.
Attempts to overcome depression by means of alcohol threatened by hitting the "vicious circle" or a deep depression. As a result, long-term use of ethanol increases tolerance to it - you need to drink more to achieve the same effect, and this further increases the side effects of his actions.
6. Gout
The immediate cause of gout is hyperuricemia, then there is a high concentration of uric acid in blood plasma, caused by a decrease in its excretion by the kidneys. Thus, uric acid is deposited in the joints and tendons of crystals mononatriyurata. This results in inflammation, manifested by swelling and pain.
People suffering from hyperuricemia, should avoid foods rich in purines - compounds, which is the final metabolite of uric acid. This is bad news for fans of beer, which contains large amounts of purines. However, other kinds of alcohol are harmful no less - the kidneys, instead of effectively excrete uric acid from the body, are busy removing the alcohol.
7. Impotence
"Alcohol increases the desire, but reduces the performance" - so once remarked Shakespeare in "Macbeth." Since then, nothing has changed. Of course, in such cases it is important to the amount of: a glass of wine or bottle of beer on the contrary - an appetite. However, regular alcohol abuse lead to a weakening not only desire, but also a "driving force". This applies to both men and women.
Drink loads liver, which is responsible for the production of a number of hormones (angiotensin, erythropoietin), regulating, In particular, blood pressure, and her oxygen saturation, as well as the metabolism of hormones produced by other glands. Consequently, the liver damage can lead to hypofunction of the testes, loss of libido, impotence and infertility. In turn, erection problems, which affect more and more Western men are often the result of cardiovascular disease - in many cases the cause is alcohol.
8. Crayfish
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcohol as a carcinogen of Group 1, in addition to substances such as asbestos, formaldehyde or cadmium. This means that there is ample evidence that the abuse of ethanol leads to the development of cancer. The risk increases with the dose consumed beverage, and even more increases through a combination of alcohol with smoking.
Most often, cancer affects the intestines, breast, larynx and esophagus, as well as the liver. Alcohol increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer. Carcinogenic effects associated ethanol, in particular, the toxic effect of a metabolite thereof: acetaldehyde, and also with in that it irritates the mucous membrane of the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation.
In addition, excess alcohol violates the hormonal balance - increases the level of estrogen in the body and increases the body weight, which is an additional risk factor for cancer.
9. Reflux
This is one of the most common stomach ailments Westerners. Almost each of us once felt a sense of heartburn ie a burning sensation in the esophagus caused by the departure of gastric juice. When this occurs frequently and becomes chronic, we are dealing with gastroesophageal reflux.
One of the causes of this disease is a hiatal hernia, which arises as a result of anatomical factors. Another - unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet. And the most "izzhogovym" products is alcohol related. Dry wine is especially dangerous in this respect - a drink with a relatively high acidity, which stimulates the production of gastric juice.
In addition, alcohol causes esophageal sphincter relaxation - a result of stomach acid back into the throat, causing irritation, which can even lead to damage to the mucous shell.
10. liver disease
The liver is the major site of ethanol decomposition. Not surprisingly, the abuse of "interest" may cause damage to the body. Mechanisms of liver disease is not fully understood. It is assumed that they are associated with oxidative process, i.e. the loss of body's ability to remove excess free radicals, which damage the tissue of internal organs. The harmful effects of alcohol on the liver as a consequence of the toxic effect of its metabolite: acetaldehyde.
In 90% of drinking enthusiasts develops alcoholic fatty liver - accumulation of fat droplets in the cells of the body. Although the change process is reversible, it requires a complete renunciation of alcohol.
Another disease - alcoholic hepatitis. In this case, as most changes could be prevented through abstinence.
The extreme case of liver disease is cirrhosis - irreversible fibrosis organ parenchyma, disrupting its structure and disturbing the metabolism.
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