What are the dangers (bad effects) of alcohol?

The dangers of alcohol

What are the dangers (bad effects) of alcohol?

Alcohol is a depressant substance of the central nervous system. In addition to having an effect on the brain and changing some of its functions (coordination, attention, memory…), its continued use also affects other organs such as the kidney, liver, or circulatory system. Initially, the effects of alcohol are subtle, but they can be dangerous because a person under its influence is not a good judge of their behavior.

The ABUSE of Alcohol

Bad affects of alcohol

Alcohol abuse is one of the main causes of health, family, work, and social relationship problems.

The morbidity associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages is very high:

14% of Catalans between the ages of 13 and 18 get drunk frequently.

Does Alcohol Affect MEN And WOMEN In The Same Way?

The minimum common criteria allow grams to be considered as the unit of measurement for alcohol consumption, and the convenience of differentiating consumption based on sex is established.

Science confirms that alcohol harms women more.

Science has devoted a good deal of interest to this issue and has sometimes attributed this disease to men, but statistics show that alcohol consumption among women increases and even exceeds that of men.

From the first investigations, it was known that women and men do not metabolize alcohol in the same way and that it damages the liver and heart of women. Research from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York confirms that one of the three enzymes that break down alcohol is twice as effective in men as in women. It is also important to note that women’s tolerance for alcohol is lower than that of men.

The difference in sex determines many differences in the effects of alcohol and is directly related to brain damage, which in women is higher in the case of a high concentration of alcohol in the blood.

Studies based on magnetic resonance imaging have shown that excessive alcohol consumption shrinks the brain, especially the white matter, and increases the cerebrospinal fluid in it. Two years ago it was found that something similar happens in the case of women, but that women lost 11% of gray matter, compared to 5.6% lost by men.

What Are The RISKS Of Alcohol Consumption?

On a psychological level:

  • memory loss
  • cognitive difficulties
  • alcoholic dementia

At the organic level:

  • Gastritis
  • Gastroduodenal ulcer
  • Hepatic cirrhosis
  • heart diseases
  • Tolerance and physical dependence, are expressed in anxiety, tremor, insomnia, tachycardia, hypertension, and which can lead to delirium tremens if not treated properly.

How Does Alcohol Affect DRIVING?

Safe driving requires complete mental control, complete physical control, and a good ear.

There are many factors that can mentally and physically influence and result in dangerous driving; among others, the various effects of medications and the consumption of drugs such as alcohol.

After drinking alcohol, it is rapidly absorbed by the stomach and small intestine, so that five minutes later its presence is already detected in the blood.

30 minutes later he has already achieved maximum concentration.

The speed of absorption depends on gastric emptying, which depends on the type of food that is eaten (fats slow down said emptying).

According to a study by the National Institute of Toxicology of Barcelona, ​​​​31% of drivers who died on Catalan roads in 2000 had traces of alcohol that exceeded the maximum rate allowed by law (0.5 g per liter of blood). . And of the 41% of the dead, two out of five had consumed alcohol.

What Relationship Does Alcohol Have With The Heart?

There are many changes that can lower your risk of having a heart attack. Heart health can be maintained by playing sports regularly, following a healthy diet, maintaining weight, and reducing stress.

Moderate alcohol consumption can also reduce the risk of having a heart attack or complication. Be that as it may, you have to weigh the risks and benefits of consuming alcohol. Consulting your doctor or pharmacist is a good way to find a recommended measure that does not harm your health. Scientists still don’t fully understand why alcohol lowers the risk of heart attack, but some possible reasons include:

  • You reduce atherosclerosis.
  • Increases blood levels of molecules such as cholesterol.
  • Reduces the risk of blood clots.

How Much Do You Drink? Equivalent Measures Of Alcohol

Doctors measure the amount of alcohol a person can ingest in standard units of measure ( SBU ).

  • One UBE is equivalent to about 10 g of alcohol, and it is the amount that is in a beer, a glass of wine, a carajillo, or a shot.
  • Two UBE is the amount that is in a glass of cognac, a whiskey, or a mixed drink.
  • Although the same amount of alcohol has different effects on different people, experts place the limit of risky consumption at 4 SDUs per day for men and 2 SDUs for women.

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