Any adherent of a healthy lifestyle will tell you about the dangers of alcohol. Indeed, alcoholic and theraflu forte beverages have a detrimental effect on the human body, while avoiding alcohol helps to maintain health, feel better and live longer. In support of this, information appeared that reducing the amount of alcohol consumed will help increase life expectancy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3 million people worldwide die each year from excessive alcohol consumption. That is, just over 5% of all deaths are associated with alcohol abuse.
Such sad statistics are easily explainable, because there are about 200 diseases and dysfunctions of organs and tissues of the human body caused by the influence of ethanol. Being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, a person has poor control over his actions, can get into a life-threatening situation (fights, traffic accidents, accidents, etc.).
There are about 200 diseases and dysfunctions of organs and tissues of the human body caused by the influence of ethanol.
At the same time, the highest mortality rate from alcohol falls on the working age: in almost 14% of cases, people aged 20–39 become “victims” of alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol and our body
Alcohol affects the health of the entire body. Most of all suffer from its use:
The cardiovascular system. From alcohol, the vessels first expand, then sharply narrow. This helps to reduce their elasticity and atherosclerotic plaques form on them over time. A “blow” to the vessels leads to an increased load on the heart, the organs do not receive a sufficient amount of oxygen and nutrients. With systematic alcohol abuse, the heart undergoes abnormal changes, as a result of which the heart muscle atrophies. As a result, those who drink frequently are diagnosed with diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction.
With systematic alcohol abuse, the heart undergoes abnormal changes, as a result of which the heart muscle atrophies.
Brain and Central Nervous System. Only at the first stages, the drinker feels euphoria, relaxation, he is in high spirits. However, then there is a depletion of the nervous system. Irreversible changes occur in the tissues of the brain, the convolutions are smoothed out, and scars appear. Decreased intellectual abilities, which affects the quality of life. As a result, this leads to both mental (depression, personality disorder, panic attacks, etc.) and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Joints. As a result of alcohol consumption in the human body, inflammatory processes are activated, which are among the first to affect the articular cartilage. Deformation of the joints occurs, eventually becoming chronic. So, drinkers often suffer from arthrosis and arthritis.
Kidneys and liver. These organs suffer from alcohol more than others, since it is through the tissues of the liver and kidneys that all drunk alcohol is filtered. As a result – obesity of the liver and kidneys, cirrhosis, hepatitis, urolithiasis, renal failure.
In the absence of proper treatment, all these diseases will inevitably lead to death.
Alcohol and social environment
In addition to the negative impact on human organs and tissues, alcohol greatly changes the environment and social conditions of life. The social circle is changing, “like-minded people” appear – people who prefer to drink, instead of doing other things (to devote time to family, work, hobbies). All interests begin to revolve around one topic – alcohol. Because of this, there is a discord in the family, a drinker may lose his job, friends. There is a so-called fall on the social ladder, and a person becomes an outcast in his once familiar environment.
This situation inevitably leads to a deterioration in the state of mind. An alcoholic develops anger, irritation, and antisocial behavior, which further pushes people away from him. Against this background, accidents can occur, for example, fights with family, friends or drinking companions, which usually end in failure.
A person in a state of alcoholic intoxication is not able to control his actions and can accidentally cause irreparable harm to himself and those around him. There are frequent accidents caused by drunk drivers.
And if you give up alcohol?
It is logical to assume that if alcohol has a detrimental effect on the entire body, then refusal to drink, on the contrary, will contribute to the preservation of all vital functions. It is for this purpose that most countries, including Russia, are implementing an active anti-alcohol policy.
Guided by the European Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol 2012–2020, adopted by WHO, our country is systematically working to create a negative image of a drinking person, to regulate prices for alcoholic beverages, to limit the possibility of buying alcoholic beverages, to increase the literacy of the population relatively healthy lifestyle, screening for diseases associated with alcohol.
The result of the measures taken is presented in the WHO report Alcohol Policy Impact Case Study: The effects of alcohol control measures on mortality and life expectancy in the Russian Federation.
According to the WHO, by 2018, alcohol consumption in our country has decreased significantly (by 43%). The result was an overall decrease in mortality from alcohol abuse. So, compared to 2003, in 2018, male mortality decreased by 39%, and female – by 36%. Life expectancy has also increased: for men it was 68 years, for women – 78 years, which is a historical maximum in Russia.
By 2018, the level of alcohol consumption in our country decreased significantly (by 43%).
A significant role in achieving such high results is played by people themselves, who consciously make a choice in favor of a healthy lifestyle. A WHO study has clearly demonstrated how alcohol restriction affects life expectancy. And with a complete rejection of alcohol, you can achieve even more impressive results.
It must be remembered that behind the generalized figures are the lives of each individual person, and therefore the struggle for life expectancy begins with one small “no” to the offer to drink.