How alcohol affects the brain. The dangerous effect of alcohol on the human brain and its irreversible consequences

Article content: classList.toggle()">expand

Alcoholic drinks contain alcohol ethanol, which is the most "universal" poison, its effect is detrimental to the whole organism. And if organ damage remains invisible for the time being, then the effect of alcohol on the brain becomes apparent after the first drink.

But these are only external signs - a change in behavior when a person becomes strange, funny or aggressive. Much more dramatic is how alcohol affects the human brain, and usually this leads to dire consequences.

The effect of alcohol on the human brain

What happens to the brain when drinking alcohol? Everyone knows that with the help of alcohol you can easily remove a grease stain. But the brain is 70% fat (lipids), and only 30% protein. The alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages is absorbed into the blood in unchanged form, enters the brain tissue and, having done its dirty work, decomposes into toxic substances.

Lipids are part of both the nerve cells themselves and their membranes - the myelin substance. As a result of the influence of alcohol, the viability of cells (neurons) is disrupted, and they become unprotected. Connections between neurons are also broken, the transmission of nerve impulses is difficult. This is very clearly seen in the example of memory loss in a drunk person.

Alcohol has a dual effect on brain cells: destroys lipids and has a toxic effect.

Fatty substances are also part of the cell membranes of any tissues, in particular blood vessels and blood cells. As a result of damage and partial paralysis of the vascular wall, blood circulation is disturbed.

Erythrocytes with a broken membrane reduce the ability to carry oxygen to tissues. Both lead to an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain and the development of oxygen starvation of cells - hypoxia.

The youngest and most vulnerable part of the brain, the cerebral cortex, or the so-called gray matter, suffers the most. It is represented by cells that control the processes of movement, sensitivity, emotions, actions. It is precisely because alcohol destroys these brain cells that people who drink in the first place experience changes in behavior, character and motivation of actions.

The intensity of the negative impact on the brain

The influence of alcohol on the human brain has its own characteristics, which are influenced by the following factors:

• Age, gender;
• Physical parameters of the body;
• The strength of the drink;
• The amount of alcohol consumed;
• Calorie intake;
• frequency of use;
• Attitude towards food intake;
• Health status.

The most vulnerable to the influence of alcohol is the brain of children and the elderly. The brain of women suffers to a greater extent due to the peculiarities of the structure of the nervous tissue - it is more sensitive. Height and weight matter: the smaller the mass and height of a person, the more he is exposed to alcohol.

As for the strength of the drunk, it is directly related to its quantity. The value is the total amount based on ethyl alcohol. For example, 100 g of 40% brandy will have the same effect on the brain as 500 ml of 8% beer. Of great importance is the speed of drinking.

The rapid absorption of a large amount of alcohol is more detrimental to the brain than the same amount drunk intermittently over a longer period of time.

Alcohol does not have time to be excreted, and its concentration is higher. For the same reason, frequent drinking is much more harmful than episodic drinking, the body does not have time to recover from the drink, as a new dose arrives. How alcohol affects the human brain, you can learn from the video:

Alcohol is more dangerous on an empty stomach. Before taking it, you need to eat, or immediately after use. Health plays a huge role. For example, in diseases of the liver, kidneys, alcohol is worse excreted from the body. Alcohol is extremely dangerous for people with vascular diseases, the nervous system, the consequences of skull injuries, and also with a concussion of the brain.

Physiological consequences of alcohol consumption

Scientists have found that just 100 grams of vodka, entering the body, leads to the death of 8,000 tissue cells of various organs and systems:

• nervous;
• cardiovascular;
• hematopoietic;
• endocrine;
• digestive.

Nervous system

The most vulnerable to the influence of alcohol is the nervous system, and the brain is the main target of the effects of alcohol. Alcohol kills brain cells. Of the 8,000 cells dying from ethanol, most of them are brain cells. It is well known that nervous tissue has the lowest ability to recover, so regular alcohol consumption causes irreparable harm. How alcohol affects the human nervous system, read more.

The consequences of the influence of alcohol on the human brain and nervous system lead to the development of such chronic diseases as alcoholic encephalopathy - damage to the central nervous system, alcoholic polyneuropathy - damage to the peripheral nerves, in severe cases, paralysis can develop.

it
healthy
know!

The cardiovascular system

The defeat of the vascular wall leads to stagnation of blood, the early development of atherosclerosis against this background. Damaged erythrocytes stick to the affected walls of blood vessels, forming blood clots. As a result of exposure to ethanol, all this leads to circulatory disorders and the creation of conditions for the development of stroke, heart attack, gangrene of the extremities. Myocardial dystrophy develops in the heart muscle, muscle fibers are replaced by connective tissue.

Hematopoietic organs

Alcohol has a toxic effect on the bone marrow and lymphatic system, where the formation of blood elements - erythrocytes, leukocytes. As a result of the influence of alcohol, their number decreases, functional abilities decrease. This leads to anemia, a decrease in the protective properties of the body.

Endocrine system

Sexual glands are most sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Their hormonal function decreases - both in men and women. Against this background, tumors of the genital area develop, the ability to conceive decreases. The thyroid gland suffers from the harmful effects of alcohol, a decrease in its function leads to the development of hypothyroidism with a sharp decrease in metabolism. The function of insular cells of the pancreas is inhibited, which leads to the development of diabetes mellitus.

Digestive organs

The main blow is taken by the liver, being the "beating boy" among all the digestive organs. Under the influence of ethanol, its cells are destroyed, first replaced by adipose tissue, and fatty degeneration of the liver develops.

If alcohol intake continues, fatty degeneration of the liver turns into cirrhosis - the replacement of the parenchyma with scar tissue.

These changes are irreversible. In addition, against the background of cirrhosis, cancer often develops. In addition to these systems, the genitourinary organs are also affected, their function decreases, an inflammatory process, tumors, and impotence develop. Changes also occur in the musculoskeletal system: cartilage nutrition is disturbed, arthrosis develops, tone decreases and muscle atrophy occurs.

Psychological consequences of alcohol abuse

It is no coincidence that there are such expressions: “a drinking person urinates with his brains”, or “drank all his brains away”, and they are close to the truth. Destroyed by alcohol, brain cells begin to decompose, toxins are formed.

To get rid of toxins, the body sends an increased amount of fluid to the brain, it flushes them out, and as a result, all the remnants of the cells are excreted in the urine. This can explain the headache with a hangover, frequent urination, "dry" in the mouth, increased thirst.

But what happens to the cerebral cortex, which regularly loses its cells? It gradually atrophies, decreases in volume. Accordingly, its functions are also lost. At first, this is manifested by psychological disorders, which are gradually replaced by deeper, mental disorders.

Psychological disorders from exposure to alcoholic beverages

There is such an expression: “he is in the subcortex”, so they say about a person who is disinhibited. It is customary to call the subcortex clusters of nerve cells located under the cortex of the hemispheres; they contain centers of natural instincts, emotions, and sensitivity.

The cerebral cortex has a regulatory effect on these centers, inhibits their activity.

When the cells of the cortex die, the subcortex is disinhibited, the behavior of a person changes, his attitude to the world around him and his assessment of himself in it.

These are psychological disorders under the influence of alcohol.

They manifest themselves depending on alcohol, the overwhelming desire to drink in order to have fun, to relax, regardless of the environment. Such people become self-confident, assure everyone that they will “tie up” at any moment. In fact, they are getting more and more addicted.

Further, when they cause problems in the family and at work, there is a feeling of guilt. But instead of correcting the situation, they again resort to alcohol in order to drown out this feeling. Subsequently, it gradually disappears and, on the contrary, the drinking person begins to accuse his loved ones of drinking.

Very quickly there comes a decrease in memory, up to "failures". Drunken "high" and euphoria are replaced by depression, which again prompts them to drink. There is irritability, incontinence, rudeness and often aggressiveness.

A person becomes asocial, ceases to reckon with others, is able to easily offend, steal, just to drink again. This is how psychological dependence and alcohol degradation of the personality is formed.

The effect of alcohol on the human psyche

From the effects of alcohol, mental disorders in drinkers are diverse. It can be a deep depression, often with suicidal attempts, or, conversely, aggressiveness up to the commission of crimes. Most often, the psyche suffers when an alcoholic tries to quit, reduces the dose, or simply cannot find what to drink.

Withdrawal syndrome develops - alcoholic delirium, the so-called "white tremens". Its characteristic manifestations are visual and auditory hallucinations, most often they are zoological in nature.

It is during the "delirium tremens" that drinkers most often die.

The patient sees various animals, insects, there is a feeling of fear, delirium. The effect of alcohol on the autonomic nervous system is expressed by the following disorders: pressure drop, cold sweat, palpitations, indomitable trembling. In severe cases of a hangover, seizures can develop.

Features of influence on adolescents

Teenage alcoholism is an extremely serious problem. A fragile, immature psyche is very susceptible to the effects of alcohol and the formation of dependence. Active metabolism and high hormonal levels in adolescents only create favorable conditions for alcohol intoxication.

The cells of the cerebral cortex that have not yet “grown up” are destroyed very quickly, and the degradation of the personality sets in just as quickly, mental abilities sharply decrease.

Alcohol dependence in adolescents develops very quickly, and all the consequences associated with it are much more severe than in adults.

If qualified assistance is not provided in the first 2 years of alcohol consumption, then in the future the hope for a cure is very doubtful.

Recovery of brain cells after quitting alcohol

Do brain cells recover after quitting alcohol? Nerve cells have the ability to recover, but this process is very slow, and one cannot count on a complete renewal of the cortex. And all narcological practice suggests that a year later, a person who has stopped drinking changes significantly. Improves memory, mental abilities, behavior in the family and society.

In order for the recovery process to be more successful, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the following rules:

Even the most seemingly hopeless drinkers always make sense to stop before a tragedy happens. Specialists will provide psychological and medical assistance, which, coupled with the desire of the patient, will definitely give an effect.

How to reduce the negative effects of alcohol before a feast

Life is life, and there are often situations in it when you have to “sip” at least a little. In order for alcohol not to have such a detrimental effect, it is necessary to prepare in advance. 4-5 hours before the upcoming drink, you need to drink a small amount of alcohol and eat a heavy meal.

This is the so-called alcohol vaccination, it promotes the production of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which destroys alcohol. The body will be prepared for a new dose, and it will not be so dangerous.

"Vaccination" can be done by replacing alcohol with 1 tablespoon of Eleutherococcus (medicinal plant), and if the pressure is high, you need to drink hawthorn tincture.

To reduce the absorption of alcohol before the banquet, you need to eat a hearty sandwich with butter, drink a raw egg, strong coffee or tea with lemon.

If the preparation could not be carried out, then the following rules must be observed:

• Drink in small doses, stretching in time;
• Do not mix different drinks, give preference to one;
• It is good to have a snack, not forgetting about greens, citrus fruits;

Immediately before the feast and immediately after it, it is good to drink nutriklinz, zorex or glutargin, they help to quickly remove alcohol and weaken its toxic effect. Drinking alcohol should be avoided. Temporary "relaxation" can cost the health and even the life of the drinker and his loved ones.

Drinking alcohol, even in small doses, adversely affects the functioning of almost all systems of the human body. Thus, the effect of alcohol-containing drinks on the brain deserves special attention: one of the negative consequences of prolonged intake of strong drinks is blood agglutination (gluing of red blood cells), which leads to a violation of the processes of nutrition and respiration of the cells of the main organ of the nervous system. Find out what else is fraught with regular drinking.

What is alcohol

This term can be used in two senses. First, alcohol is ethyl alcohol, which is a colorless liquid substance with a very specific smell. This substance is actively used in medicine as a disinfectant. Secondly, alcohol is commonly understood as a variety of alcoholic beverages obtained naturally or artificially. The latter are often used systematically by individuals, which entails very unpleasant consequences for human health.

The effect of alcohol on the human nervous system

While taking alcohol, the brain receives signals from the excitatory acid (glutamate) contained in it, which, getting into the receptors of neurons, disrupts speech, coordination, and creates a distorted perception of the existing reality. In addition, the negative effect of alcohol on the human brain causes inhibition of cognitive functions. In the scientific community, this condition is commonly referred to as alcoholic myopia.

An additional aspect of the harmful effects of alcohol on the human nervous system is the narrowing of the focus of perception of information received from outside. The inability to fully analyze any situation makes a drunk person inadequate. So, in a sober state, the subject of public relations can restrain his ardor, being next to an aggressive interlocutor.

A drunk person completely loses the ability to interpret the situation in a broad context, while becoming an asocial person without any moral barriers. On top of that, the situation is complicated by the fact that drunk people tend to perceive the actions of the objects of their dislike as knowingly thought out, intentional. For this reason, noisy feasts often end in a showdown.

How alcohol affects the brain

With prolonged use of alcohol, a violation of the work of the centers responsible for cognitive abilities develops. Answering what happens to the brain when drinking alcohol, experts mention memory and attention disorder syndromes. The toxic effect of 40% ethanol has an overwhelming effect on the cellular structures of the main organ of the central nervous system. At the same time, 100% alcohol affects the brain in a destructive way. In addition, prolonged intake of ethanol leads to a lack of vitamin B1, without which areas of the brain cannot function properly.

The effect of alcohol on blood vessels

It is known that strong drinks tend to thin the blood, which in some situations is even useful. Meanwhile, the effect of alcohol on blood vessels is such that with its prolonged use, the opposite situation occurs. Against the background of regular intake of ethanol into the body, there is a violation of the integrity of the erythrocyte membranes, leading to their gluing. Due to the presence of red cell clots in the blood, areas of thrombosis begin to form in the vessels.

As a result of arterial obstruction (blockage), brain hypoxia occurs, outwardly manifested by sensations of excitement and intoxication. In addition, ethyl alcohol increases the permeability of capillaries, which creates the risk of developing edema of the main organ of the central nervous system. During the autopsy of people who died from alcohol addiction, experts found that ethanol leads to the following changes in the brain:

• the occurrence of multiple hemorrhages (due to obturation of vessels by agglutinated erythrocytes);
• smoothing the convolutions;
• reduction in organ volume.

The effect of alcohol on memory

Drinking alcohol negatively affects the work of the hippocampus. The adverse effect of alcohol on the brain adversely affects memory and attention. It is worth saying that the irregular intake of ethanol into the body gives the body time to eliminate the toxic effects of this substance. With its regular influx, the negative effect of alcohol on memory is aggravated, and the person gradually degrades. Over time, the solution to all the problems of a drinking person moves into a glass of alcohol.

Features of the influence of alcohol on the woman's brain

In the course of clinical studies, it was found that women who drink strong drinks are more susceptible to the occurrence of pathologies of the liver, heart, and other organs. In addition, the peculiarities of the impact on the woman's brain are determined by the increased emotional susceptibility of the weaker sex. Separate consideration requires the intake of alcohol during the period of bearing a child. Such a reckless act of the expectant mother can lead to serious pathologies in the development of the fetus.

What determines the intensity of the negative impact on the brain

Alcohol abuse is the foundation for the development of many pathological processes in the body. The harm of ethyl alcohol can be proven without any medical research. A person under the influence of alcohol is characterized by inappropriate behavior, incoherent speech, and confusion. The focus of perception of such a subject shifts from distant tasks towards closer ones, which often only worsens the situation. The intensity of the impact on the brain depends on the following factors:

• general health;
• the quantity and quality of consumed strong drinks;
• the age of the alcoholic;
• the duration of the period of regular alcohol intake;
• the body's ability to recover.

What brain diseases does alcohol cause?

Alcohol abuse often leads to irreparable impairment of a person's cognitive abilities, which is expressed in the loss of clear thinking, a decrease in the level of mental development, and other negative consequences. It is important to note that the brain suffers from weak alcoholic drinks in the same way as from strong ones, so you should not think that long-term use of wine or beer does not threaten your health. Regular alcohol consumption leads to the following serious diseases:

• dementia;
• Korsakov's disease;
• encephalopathy of alcoholic origin;
• paranoia;
• hallucinosis;
• apathy;
• delirious jealousy.

Everyone knows about the dangers of alcohol. Excessive consumption causes health problems, leads to family discord and moral decay of a person. The problems caused by alcohol are not only physiological, but also psychological in nature - this is the so-called alcohol dependence, leading to encephalopathy and edema. The brain of an alcoholic is very different from that of a sober person.

Harm caused by alcohol

Ethanol causes the greatest harm to the body - a toxic substance that poisons almost all organs, and is the main cause of serious diseases. Ethanol poisoning leads to encephalopathy and permanent edema, and even death, in abusers. Organs affected include:

1. Cardiovascular system: alcohol destroys red blood cells, which leads to toxic hemolytic anemia and cardiac arrest, the development of arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Also, internal hemorrhages occur, the formation of blood clots increases, which can subsequently clog the vessel and cause intracerebral edema, stroke or heart attack.
2. Stomach and gastrointestinal tract: there is damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine, the absorption of water and substances is disturbed, severe edema occurs. Prolonged use can lead to cancer of the esophagus, stomach or rectum, the development of gastritis.
3. Urogenital system: ethanol poisons germ cells, easily penetrates the ovaries, sperm, and also passes through the placenta and enters the milk.
4. Liver: when drinking alcohol, liver poisoning occurs, some of the cells die, and fat cells form in their place. This leads to a decrease in the useful volume of the liver and an increase in the load on the remaining cells, inflammation and the formation of cirrhosis of the liver and its edema.

Also, the effect of alcohol can provoke oncological diseases, diabetes, cerebral encephalopathy, edema, various forms of cancer and diseases associated with the cardiovascular system. The prognosis for the health of abusers is very negative.

The effect of alcohol on the brain

The effect of even small doses of alcohol on the brain is the strongest. Suffice it to say that when the concentration of alcohol in the blood is equal to one part, the liver already contains 1.45 parts, the cerebrospinal fluid - 1.5 parts, the brain - 1.75 parts, that is, almost two times. Immediately after alcohol enters the stomach, it enters the bloodstream and is transferred to the skull, where it begins to poison the cells, leading to encephalopathy and edema.

Harmful properties include:

Studies have also shown that the brain of an alcoholic is significantly different: their nerve cells had altered nuclei and protoplasm, that is, they were no longer able to return to their normal state. Encephalopathy occurs.

A particular danger lies in its narcotic properties: the brain does not die easily, but also begins to demand a second dose. It is not even necessary to talk about the dangers of this.

What happens to the brain when alcohol enters and what is the result

Alcohol acts on the brain in the following ways:

1. The ingestion of ethanol leads to the death of neurons in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum;
2. Then their death occurs, mental activity decreases, brain volume and memory decrease, and the likelihood of edema is high;
3. Dead cells begin to rot inside the brain, leading to headaches and hangovers;
4. To cleanse itself, the brain pumps large amounts of water through itself (hence the morning thirst and frequent trips to the toilet).

The result of regular alcohol consumption is deplorable: if most of the organs are able to recover and revive dead cells, then the brain is incapable of this. His cells die completely along with the information stored inside. This leads to a variety of consequences:

1. The process of personality degradation begins;
2. There is a deterioration of memory and intelligence, especially the impact on short-term memory;
3. The processes of long-term memorization are deformed;
4. The activity of the entire nervous system is disrupted;
5. The brain decreases in volume, "dries out", begins to decompose - this is especially noticeable in alcoholics.

On average, 100 grams of vodka kills 8,000 cells. Poisoned substances are excreted from the body in 20-30 days.

Full recovery of brain cells may take several years, but this probability is extremely small. It is necessary to completely abandon any alcohol so that the cells can return to their usual volume.

The effect of alcohol on memory and mental activity

Drinking alcohol not only interferes with the functioning of the brain, but also reduces mental activity, which leads to personality degradation and encephalopathy. The changes that occur are practically not subject to subsequent adjustment, it can be quite difficult to recover completely, that is, the damage done is stretched over time:

1. There is a slowdown in mental activity, especially complex mental processes;
2. It is worth noting that false "brilliant" conversations and the search for solutions are the result of a deterioration in brain activity: a person does not become smarter, the brain simply suggests a simpler solution, since it is not able to come up with a more difficult one;
3. The process of criticism and judgment weakens, but there is an increase in the feeling of self-confidence and boasting;
4. The above reasons lead to an increase in sensitivity and an emotional component: this includes unexpected confessions and intimate conversations.

Alcohol abuse provokes pathological changes in the brain: smoothing of the convolutions, a decrease in its size, resulting in the development of such dangerous diseases as alcoholic epilepsy and encephalopathy. A scientifically proven fact is the negative effect of alcohol on the human brain, and complications often arise even as a result of taking small doses of alcohol.

How alcohol affects the brain

Alcohol contains substances that poison the entire body and disrupt its functions. Including the brain suffers, in which various cells begin to die. Ethyl alcohol enters here through the vessels from the stomach, instantly attacking the cerebral cortex and upsetting its functions. As a result, a state of alcoholic intoxication develops, accompanied by damage and death of cells in different parts of the brain:

1. In the occipital part with the vestibular zone.
2. In the moral center.
3. in the hippocampus.

Damage to nerve cells in the vestibular apparatus causes a deterioration in coordination, as a result of which a characteristic gait is formed in a drunk person. The death of cells in the moral center leads to emancipation, the loss of such feelings as shame and fear. Under the influence of alcohol, the cells of the hippocampus responsible for memory also die. As a result, a person in the morning cannot restore yesterday's events: what he did, where he managed to visit.

Normally, blood in the brain circulates through very thin vessels and capillaries, due to which a sufficient amount of oxygen is supplied to each department of the organ. However, alcohol creates significant obstacles to normal blood circulation: the ethyl alcohol contained in it constricts blood vessels and sticks together red blood cells, which contributes to the formation of blood clots. Microscopic capillaries become clogged, and cells begin to experience oxygen starvation and die. At the same time, a person feels euphoria and does not even suspect the development of pathological processes.

Effects of drinking alcohol on the brain

If the liver is capable of regeneration after alcohol withdrawal, then the gray matter cells are not restored. How much alcohol affects the human brain always depends on the doses of alcohol: the larger they are, the faster the degradation of the personality occurs. The patient himself does not notice the negative effects of alcohol, since the state of intoxication is accompanied by mild euphoria. However, pathoanatomical studies of dead alcoholics confirm that the systematic abuse of alcohol causes irreversible changes:

1. Reducing the body in size.
2. The formation of voids.
3. Straightening of convolutions.
4. The appearance of microscopic hemorrhages.

Note:

Even a single intake of an alcoholic drink causes damage and death of brain cells. The negative effect on the brain is enhanced in liver diseases, since it is in this organ that the breakdown of ethyl alcohol occurs.

With the help of many years of research, scientists were able to prove that when drinking 100 g of vodka, 8,000 brain cells instantly die. At the same time, the structure of the organ is damaged, which decreases in size, becomes covered with scars, ulcers. Under a magnifying glass, the brain of an alcoholic looks like the surface of the moon with its many craters.

Cognitive impairment

The destructive effect of alcohol on the human brain begins with the first glass, expressed in a decrease in the field of perception and other cognitive impairments. A person loses the ability to objectively evaluate and suffers from hallucinations that do not go away even after sobering up. Ethyl alcohol causes the most severe damage to the cerebral cortex., which is responsible for higher nervous activity. In this case, characteristic symptoms are observed:

• cloudy thoughts;
• decrease in intelligence quotient;
• cheeky behavior, lack of a sense of shame;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• memory impairment and confusion.

Ethyl alcohol also affects the pituitary and hypothalamus, which reduces the production of vital hormones. The body gradually gets used to and adapts to the constant intake of alcohol, slowing down mental activity, "turning off" memory, attention, moral attitudes and creativity.

What brain diseases are caused by alcohol?

Due to the harmful effects of alcohol on the human brain, severe physical and mental illnesses are formed that cause disability. The pathological processes are based on two main factors: the neurotoxic effect of alcohol and vitamin B1 deficiency, without which the normal functioning of the brain is impossible. For these reasons, especially severe and dangerous diseases develop:

1. Alcoholic encephalopathy.
2. Alcoholic epilepsy.
3. Korsakov's disease.

Signs of encephalopathy appear at the last stage of alcoholism: the patient becomes emotionally unstable, indifferent to everything, constantly experiencing weakness. The symptoms of alcohol-induced epilepsy only occur with a hangover, and if they become regular, the person develops dementia. Since the attacks are spontaneous and may be accompanied by fainting, alcoholics are prohibited from climbing to heights, swimming in rivers and driving vehicles.

With Korsakov's disease, there are signs of encephalopathy, dementia and polyneuritis. A person completely ceases to navigate in time, loses the ability to perform any arithmetic operations. Muscle atrophy gradually sets in, leading to severe disability. The patient can no longer take care of himself on his own and requires third-party care.

Note:

With the constant use of alcohol, the structure of neurons is destroyed and the connections between them disappear. As a result, the alcoholic not only loses intelligence, but at some point he completely degrades as a person.

Mental illnesses that occur against the background of alcohol abuse are detected in all alcoholics, although the pathologies themselves are diverse. Starting with insomnia and irritability, mental disorders progress, serious illnesses develop:

1. Delirium tremens.
2. Alcohol paranoia.
3. hallucinations.
4. Brad of jealousy.

Delirium tremens, also known as alcoholic delirium, develops after a long drinking bout and is characterized by a pronounced clouding of consciousness - a person becomes dangerous for himself and for society. Paranoia and hallucinations also occur after a sudden refusal of alcohol: the patient hears certain voices that often threaten him, causing great fear. The delirium of jealousy always proceeds in a chronic form, and only in old age do its manifestations weaken. The patient is jealous of his partner, provokes scandals, uses threats and physical force.

Cerebral edema

The most severe complication after drinking alcohol is cerebral edema, which occurs as a reaction of the body to severe intoxication. Due to the high permeability of the vascular walls through which blood circulates, excess fluid accumulates in the brain tissues. This condition occurs with characteristic symptoms:

• headache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• dyspnea;
• loss of sensation in some parts of the body;
• violations of coordination;
• convulsions;
• fainting;
• memory impairment;
• difficulty speaking;
• high pressure;
• paralysis.

The disease develops even as a result of moderate alcohol consumption. In this case, the provoking factors are the general condition of the body, the stage of alcoholism, and individual characteristics. Depending on the location of the edema, it can affect the vital centers of the brain, which directly threatens a person's life. The only prevention of complications is the complete rejection of alcoholic beverages.

Attention!

The information in the article is for informational purposes only and is not an instruction for use. Consult with your physician.

In Russia alone, about 80,000 people die every year from the consequences of drinking. They get poisoned by a surrogate, get strokes and heart attacks, freeze in cold snowdrifts, die from liver failure. And what about memory lapses and ugly behavior, and the appearance of an alcoholic.

Alcohol destroys not only self-consciousness, ethanol ruthlessly cracks down on the human brain, turning a person into a real faceless animal. The negative, destructive effect of alcohol on the human brain, unfortunately, in most cases is irreversible.

Ethyl alcohol destroys all parts of the brain

The structure of the human brain is extremely complex. The brain consists of five parts, departments, which are interconnected by billions of neurons (nerve cells). Nature has provided natural protection for this sensitive and very fragile system. The medulla is protected from blood flow by some physiological barrier.

The natural blood-brain barrier, which successfully protects the brain from the penetration of viruses, bacteria, toxins, is not able to save it from ethyl alcohol.

Ethanol, being an excellent solvent, penetrates into the medulla without any problems through all available membranes. Once there, ethyl alcohol acquires an extremely low enzymatic capacity. That is, the breakdown of alcohol compounds to acetaldehyde in the medulla is extremely slow.

Ethanrol freely penetrates the protective membrane of the brain

Given the ability of neurons to accumulate (accumulate) ethanol metabolites, the brain will store the remains of alcohol even after a month. Let's look at how alcohol affects the human brain, in particular, its departments.

Cerebellum

This structure is responsible for the sense of balance and coordination of all movements. It is in the cerebellum that alcohol metabolites accumulate the most, causing serious harm to this department. This explains the ridiculous gait of a drunk person and his lack of balance.

The cerebral cortex

This department is responsible for the ability of a person to plan something, to be responsible for their actions, to think and reason. Ethanol, even in a meager amount, is detrimental to this department, causing:

1. Memory disorders.
2. Loss of concentration.
3. Problems in object recognition.
4. Decrease in intellectual abilities.
5. Inability to estimate the distance to objects.

Prolonged action of alcohol on the brain leads to complete degradation of personality. The cerebral cortex, due to the mass death of neurons, ceases to function normally, and the person "loses his face".

All parts of the brain are affected by alcohol.

Medulla

The ability of a person to breathe, regulate temperature and be aware of reality depends on the healthy work of this department. What happens if the neurons in this brain area die? A person's temperature drops, he experiences severe drowsiness and dizziness, and may lose consciousness. It is for this reason that drunk people freeze on the street, falling into snowdrifts.

What happens with a hangover

How do events unfold after the mass death of neurons? The phase of the hangover syndrome comes, accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms. Thirst and headache especially torment a person. These processes occur due to the active attempts of the body to get rid of the accumulation of dead neurons.

With a hangover, intracranial pressure rises, which provokes an influx of fluid and the development of a severe headache. All this is evidence of the body's attempts to remove dead neurons.

Ethanol affects not only parts of the brain, but also its vessels. Under the influence of alcohol metabolites, their sharp expansion occurs, and then narrowing. This dangerous situation can lead to vessel rupture and stroke. A person is threatened with disability, and in severe cases, death.

How alcohol affects the brain

In addition to deadly thrombosis, ethanol metabolites cause a huge number of all kinds of disorders associated with the work of the brain regions. A person who abuses alcohol faces an impressive list of major pathological changes that negatively affect the personal self-consciousness and behavioral reactions of the drunkard:

1. The center responsible for morality is being destroyed. That is, persons addicted to alcohol forget about moral values ​​and culture of behavior. Even a small dose of alcohol dulls a person's sense of shame and completely liberates him. And prolonged drunkenness leads to a complete loss of all moral principles.
2. There is a global violation of the vestibular apparatus. The person loses a sense of reality and a sense of balance.
3. Alcohol kills the brain cells responsible for memory. Often, after especially stormy parties, many individuals cannot remember all the events of the past holiday. These are echoes of the global poisoning of the brain by alcohol metabolites.

Alcoholism and the cerebrovascular system

If a person suffers from chronic alcohol addiction, the activity and functioning of the centers of the brain gradually fades. This immediately affects the ability to remember, think and understand. But this situation is not so bad. Under the influence of ethanol metabolites, irreversible changes also occur in the vascular brain structure.

What does a brain affected by alcohol look like?

What does it threaten? Various mental disorders. Alcohol in different ways, but always has a detrimental effect on the blood vessels of the brain. Decomposition products of ethanol:

• destroy the brain sections that respond to the regulation and stabilization of vascular tone;
• upset endocrine functions, forming obesity or malnutrition, atrophy of the reproductive system, neuropsychiatric disorders;
• disrupt the autonomic system, which leads to allergies, neurosis, problems in the digestive tract, skin diseases, pain in the joints and muscles.

All these changes ultimately lead to the formation of hypertension, hypertensive crisis and various vascular pathologies of the brain regions. Significantly increases the risk of cerebral edema.

Even a small dose of alcohol leads to irreversible consequences in the work of the brain departments.

Pathologists working with chronic alcoholics often note various changes in the brain structure at the autopsy of people who died from drunkenness. Namely:

• numerous hemorrhages;
• a sharp decrease in the volume of the entire brain;
• smoothing and disappearance of cerebral convolutions.

What happens to the brain when drinking alcohol, it literally dries up, significantly decreasing in size. And what happens to the person himself? Complete degradation of the individual without the right to recovery. Moreover, even moderately and light-drinking people ruthlessly destroy their own brains.

Alcohol ruthlessly destroys brain neurons

What diseases come

The negative, destructive effect of alcohol on the brain and nervous system is truly colossal. Ethanol is a powerful toxic compound, it destroys the work of all internal systems and organs, provoking the development of many diseases, mostly fatal.

The mechanics of the development of these pathologies is based on the mass death of neurons, brain cell structures and a capital deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). This vitamin is extremely important for the normal functioning of all brain regions. What pathologies can threaten a lover of alcoholic beverages?

1. Alcoholic encephalopathy. Severe pathology of the brain of an organic nature. This disease, passing against the background of global memory impairment, mental problems, apathy and complete indifference to everything, indicates that the patient has the last stage of alcoholism.
2. Korsakov's disease. A disease that occurs on the basis of the development of dementia, amnesia and the simultaneous addition of polyneuritis. Such patients are not able to answer banal questions about what year it is, what time it is. They cannot solve the simplest problems, they do not remember their name. With this disease, there is a complete depletion of muscle tissue, a person loses the ability to move and turns into a disabled person.
3. Alcoholic epilepsy. An epileptic state in a patient occurs with this disease only against the background of a hangover syndrome. With numerous epiconvulsions, a person gradually develops complete dementia, and personality degradation occurs.
4. Delirium. This disease is better known as "white tremens". As a rule, it develops with a sudden and sharp refusal from alcohol. Being under an attack, an alcoholic poses a great danger both to himself and to the people around him. In this case, the patient needs emergency hospitalization.
5. hallucinosis. A state that comes against the background of alcoholism, in which the alcoholic clearly hears voices, feels hallucinations. This condition usually develops against the background of withdrawal and requires urgent and long-term treatment.
6. Paranoia. It is formed against the background of a sudden refusal of alcohol. But in its manifestations and symptoms, this pathology is more similar to delirium tremens or hallucinosis.

Often, with alcohol addiction, various disorders of a neurotic nature develop. A person is haunted by global problems with sleep, up to complete insomnia and the development of hallucinations based on this. Alcoholism destroys both the physical / mental brain functions and the cognitive capabilities of the individual (problems with the ability to express one's thoughts, the ability to reason, logical perception, etc.).

Does the brain recover after quitting alcohol?

The first to suffer from ethanol metabolites are the brain functions responsible for memory, mental potential and intellectual level. Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely reanimate the neurons that died in these areas. But a partial recovery is quite possible.

Comparison of the brain of a healthy person and an alcoholic

The human brain is a very flexible structure. Brain departments are able to return the work of damaged areas due to the formation of new neural connections.

The first sign that the brain regions began to recover is the disappearance of symptoms of depression. Slowly, memory improves, the mind becomes more plastic, intelligence increases. Recovery of the brain after giving up alcohol on average takes about 1-1.5 years. Of course, subject to the complete cessation of drinking and recovery from alcoholism.

But with the return of the ability to navigate, feel space and have visual recognition (the ability to create a mental image in the mind), things are much worse. The brain areas responsible for such abilities die already in the last stages of alcohol addiction.

It will take 4-5 years to restore these areas of the brain. And that is subject to long-term work on oneself. The best results can be achieved by connecting special brain training exercises to the rehabilitation program. These classes are conducted by a psychotherapist, but they also need to be done at home.

But these improvements are not guaranteed. It all depends on the degree and duration of alcohol abuse, as well as on the initial state of human health. With the ongoing pathological changes in the brain regions (if a person continues to drink), disorders develop in the work of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata. In this case, the result of alcoholism is a coma and subsequent death of a person.