A person drinks a glass or two - and after a few minutes a pleasant feeling of warmth spreads throughout the body, and the mood rises. The person is lively, talkative, satisfied with himself and those around him. A few more glasses - and the complacent and elated mood gave way to resentment, irritability, and anger. Coordination of movement was noticeably impaired, speech became slurred and slurred.
These external signs of intoxication are the result of brain poisoning by alcohol. The brain is abundantly supplied with blood, alcohol enters here quite quickly and here it lingers and exhibits its toxic effect until it is completely oxidized.
Alcohol is often called a stimulant. This is not true. After all, alcohol is nothing more than a specific poison, and the central nervous system it has a depressant rather than a stimulating effect. As is known, the basis of human higher nervous activity are two opposing processes - excitation and inhibition; in a normal state they are balanced. But even a small dose of alcohol inhibits the processes of active internal inhibition, hence a certain swagger and lack of restraint.
We will not “go down” to the molecular level and touch on those complex processes that occur in nerve cells under the influence of alcohol. Let's turn to the facts lying on the surface.
Alcoholic diplopia (double vision) is a phenomenon well known to everyone. How many jokes and anecdotes exist about this! And the essence of this phenomenon is that as a result of the toxic effect of alcohol, a focus of inhibition is created in the oculomotor center of the brain. The eye muscles contract weaker, and their coordinated work is disrupted. The visual axes shift relative to each other, and the image falls on asymmetrical areas of the retina - a person begins to see double.
The effect of alcohol has a negative effect on auditory perception; taste sensations are distorted; reactions to external stimuli decrease; the number of errors when solving simple arithmetic examples increases. 
When drinking alcohol, there is also a lack of coordination of movements: unsteadiness of gait, dizziness, incoherent speech. The reason for this is the effect of alcohol on the cerebellum of the brain. The cerebellum is a separate structure of the brain that is responsible for the coordination of movements. With its help, we can easily bring our finger to our nose or follow a broken line. When drinking alcohol, the cerebellar cortex begins to “sound the alarm”, the cerebellar cells cannot stand it, and their protective inhibition occurs. This is where the unsteady gait and incoherent speech appear. 
Eventually, after a certain amount of alcohol is consumed, the cerebral cortex simply cannot stand it and shuts down completely. And if the cortex does not function, consciousness also turns off. This is why taking “immodest” doses of alcohol causes complete loss of consciousness and often memory loss.
Alcohol has an extremely adverse effect on the blood vessels of the brain. At the beginning of intoxication, they expand, blood flow in them slows down, which leads to congestion in the brain. Then, when in addition to alcohol, alcohol begins to accumulate in the blood harmful products its incomplete disintegration, a sharp spasm and vasoconstriction occurs. Therefore, in a state of intoxication, dangerous complications such as cerebral strokes often develop, leading to severe disability and even death.
In people who drink blood vessels, especially small arteries and capillaries, tortuous and very fragile. As a result, numerous microhemorrhages occur; the intensity of blood circulation decreases. Such difficult trials befall the nerve cells drinking man, lead to their premature wear and degeneration (degeneration); Their mass death is observed. And if you consider that nerve cells unlike all others, they are incapable of regeneration, and “alcoholic volleys” destroy them in the thousands, then it becomes clear why people who abuse alcoholic beverages experience changes in the structure of the brain. The cerebral hemispheres shrink and decrease in size, and the convolutions of the cortex become thinner.
These phenomena are especially pronounced in the frontal lobes (and as is known, the frontal cortex plays a major role in thinking processes) and the central gyri. Gross organic changes cannot but affect brain function. People who drink experience mental impoverishment. The ability to be creative, interest in work and social life are lost.
If a person cannot stop, then organic and, therefore, mental deviations from the norm increase. Practice shows that alcohol abuse is the source and root cause of many mental disorders.
Think about it!!! Is it really worth getting used to such a bad habit?
Chief specialist neurologist
Department of Health of the Kostroma Region
M.A. Fidarov
A person drinks a glass or two - and after a few minutes a pleasant feeling of warmth spreads throughout the body, and the mood rises. The person is lively, talkative, satisfied with himself and those around him. A few more glasses - and the complacent and elated mood gave way to resentment, irritability, and anger. Coordination of movement was noticeably impaired, speech became slurred and blurred.
These external signs of intoxication- the result of brain poisoning by alcohol. It easily passes through biological membranes and begins to be absorbed into the blood in the mouth, and then in the stomach and intestines; It spreads throughout the body with the blood flow, and the human liver also suffers.
The brain is abundantly supplied with blood, alcohol gets here quite quickly and is greedily absorbed by lipids - fatty substances contained in the nerve cells of the brain - neurons. Here it lingers and exhibits its toxic effect until its complete oxidation occurs.
Alcohol is often called a stimulant. This is not true. After all, alcohol is nothing more than specific poison, and it has a depressant rather than a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. As is known, the basis of human higher nervous activity is based on two opposing processes - excitation and inhibition; in a normal state they are balanced. But even a small dose of alcohol inhibits the processes of active internal inhibition, hence a certain swagger and lack of restraint.
It has been proven that effect of alcohol on the brain is directly dependent on its concentration in the blood.
At the beginning of intoxication, the structures of the cerebral cortex suffer; the activity of the brain centers that control behavior is suppressed: rational control over actions is lost, and the critical attitude towards oneself decreases. As the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases, further inhibition of inhibitory processes in the cerebral cortex occurs. Its centers become chaotic, and the underlying subcortical sections are released from their regulatory influence, which is accompanied by the emancipation of lower forms of behavior and instincts.
At very great content Alcohol in the blood inhibits the activity of the motor centers of the brain, mainly affecting the function of the cerebellum - the person completely loses orientation.
The last to be paralyzed are the centers of the medulla oblongata, which are responsible for vital functions: breathing, blood circulation.
Numerous experiments and observations have shown that even a one-time intake of strong alcoholic drinks causes, although temporary, quite serious disruptions in the functioning of all parts of the brain.
We will not “go down” to the molecular level and touch on those complex processes that occur in nerve cells under the influence of alcohol (although it is pathological changes in metabolism in a neuron that are the root cause of the disorder and its function and the function of the brain as a whole). Let's turn to the facts lying on the surface.
Alcoholic diplopia ( double vision) is a phenomenon well known to everyone. There are so many jokes and anecdotes about this! And the essence of this phenomenon is that as a result of the toxic effect of alcohol, a focus of inhibition is created in the oculomotor center of the brain. The eye muscles contract weaker, and their coordinated work is disrupted. The visual axes shift relative to each other, and the image falls on asymmetrical areas of the retina - a person begins to see double.
After drinking alcohol, visual acuity noticeably decreases, and in order to distinguish small objects, a person needs stronger lighting. Some experts compare the effect of alcohol on vision to the effect of dark glasses at dusk or darkness.
The effect of alcohol has a negative effect on auditory perception; taste sensations are distorted; reactions to external stimuli decrease; the number of errors when solving simple arithmetic examples increases.
Extremely unfavorable alcohol affects blood vessels in the brain. At the beginning of intoxication, they expand, blood flow in them slows down, which leads to congestion in the brain. Then, when in addition to alcohol, harmful products of its incomplete breakdown begin to accumulate in the blood, a sharp spasm and constriction of blood vessels occurs. Therefore, in a state of intoxication, quite often (and especially in older people) dangerous complications such as cerebral strokes develop, leading to severe disability and even death.
People who drink have blood vessels, especially small arteries and capillaries, that are tortuous and very fragile. As a result, numerous microhemorrhages occur; the intensity of blood circulation decreases. Neurons, deprived of an uninterrupted supply of nutrition and oxygen, “starve”, and this manifests itself in general lethargy, inability to concentrate, and headaches.
Such severe trials that befall the nerve cells of a drinker lead to their premature wear and degeneration (degeneration); Their mass death is observed. Nerve fibers disintegrate and disappear: kilometers of nerve communications fail. True, the human brain has more than 10 billion neurons, nerve tissue highly plastic and has a large reserve of compensatory capabilities.
But there is a limit to everything. And if you consider that nerve cells, unlike all others, are incapable of regeneration, and “alcoholic volleys” destroy them in the thousands, then it becomes clear why people who abuse alcoholic beverages experience changes in the structure of the brain. The cerebral hemispheres shrink and decrease in size, and the convolutions of the cortex become thinner.
These phenomena are especially pronounced in the frontal lobes (and as is known, the frontal cortex plays a major role in thinking processes) and the central gyri. Gross organic changes cannot but affect brain function. People who drink experience mental impoverishment. The ability to be creative, interest in work and social life are lost. For some these phenomena are clearly expressed, for others they are not so obvious. This depends on the individual characteristics of the central nervous system, on how well developed the compensatory mechanisms are. For example, in children and adolescents, whose brain is in the developmental stage, all disorders manifest themselves sharply. Increased sensitivity and the insecurity of their brain explains the rapid onset of intoxication in children and adolescents and the development of addiction to alcohol.
Changes in the structure of the brain caused by many years of alcohol intoxication are almost irreversible, and even after long-term abstinence from drinking alcohol, they persist.
If a person cannot stop, then organic and, therefore, mental deviations from the norm increase. Practice shows: alcohol abuse is the source and root cause of many mental disorders.
Alcohol abuse provokes pathological changes in the brain: smoothing out the convolutions, reducing its size, resulting in the development of such dangerous diseases, such as alcoholic epilepsy and encephalopathy. It is a scientifically proven fact that alcohol has a negative effect on the human brain, and complications often arise even as a result of taking small doses of alcohol.
The mechanism of alcohol's effects on the brain
Alcohol contains substances that poison the entire body and disrupt its functions. The brain also suffers, in which various cells begin to die. Ethyl alcohol enters here through the vessels from the stomach, instantly attacking the cerebral cortex and disrupting its functions. As a result, a condition develops alcohol intoxication, accompanied by damage and death of cells in different parts of the brain:
- In the occipital part with the vestibular zone.
- At the moral center.
- In the hippocampus.
Damage to nerve cells in the area of the vestibular apparatus causes deterioration in coordination, as a result of which a drunk person develops a characteristic gait. The death of cells in the moral center leads to emancipation, the loss of feelings such as shame and fear. Under the influence of alcohol, the cells of the hippocampus responsible for memory also die. As a result, the next morning a person cannot reconstruct 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 volume of oxygen is supplied to each part of the organ. However, alcohol creates significant obstacles to normal blood circulation: it contains ethanol constricts blood vessels and sticks red blood cells together, which promotes 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 cells of the gray matter are not restored. How strongly alcohol affects a person’s brain always depends on the doses of alcohol: the larger they are, the faster personality degradation occurs. The patient himself does not notice the negative effects of alcohol, since the state of intoxication is accompanied by mild euphoria. However, pathological studies of deceased alcoholics confirm that systematic alcohol abuse causes irreversible changes:
- Decrease in organ size.
- Formation of voids.
- Straightening the convolutions.
- 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 increases with liver disease, 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 and becomes covered with scars and ulcers. Under 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, resulting in a decrease in the field of perception and other cognitive impairments. The person loses the ability to make an objective assessment 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:
- foggy thoughts;
- decreased IQ;
- cheeky behavior, lack of shame;
- impaired coordination of movements;
- memory impairment and confusion.
Ethyl alcohol also affects the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, which reduces the production of vital essential hormones. The body gradually gets used to and adapts to the constant supply of alcohol, slowing down mental activity, “turning off” memory, attention, moral principles 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, which cause disability. Pathological processes are based on two main factors: the neurotoxic effect of alcohol and vitamin B1 deficiency, without which normal brain functioning is impossible. For these reasons, particularly severe and dangerous diseases develop:
- Alcoholic encephalopathy.
- Alcoholic epilepsy.
- Korsakoff's disease.
Signs of encephalopathy appear at the last stage of alcoholism: the patient becomes emotionally unstable, indifferent to everything, and constantly experiences weakness. Symptoms of alcohol-induced epilepsy only occur during a hangover, and if they become regular, the person develops dementia. Since attacks are spontaneous and may be accompanied by fainting, alcoholics are prohibited from climbing to heights, swimming in rivers and driving vehicles.
With Korsakoff's disease, there are signs of encephalopathy, dementia and polyneuritis. A person completely ceases to navigate in time and loses the ability to perform any arithmetic operations. Muscle atrophy gradually sets in, leading to severe disability. The patient can no longer care for himself and requires outside care.
Note:
With constant consumption of alcohol, the structure of neurons is destroyed and connections between them disappear. As a result, the alcoholic not only has a decrease in intelligence, but at a certain point he completely degrades as a person.
Mental illness, arising from the abuse of alcoholic beverages, are detected in all alcoholics, although the pathologies themselves differ in diversity. Starting with insomnia and irritability, mental disorders progress and serious illnesses develop:
- Delirium tremens.
- Alcohol paranoia.
- Hallucinations.
- Delirium of jealousy.
Delirium tremens, also known as delirium tremens, develops after coming out of a long binge and is characterized by a pronounced clouding of consciousness - a person becomes dangerous to himself and to society. Paranoia and hallucinations also arise after a sudden cessation of alcohol: the patient hears certain voices that often threaten him, causing severe fear. Delusions of jealousy always occur 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.
Brain swelling
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 tissue. This condition occurs with characteristic symptoms:
- headaches;
- nausea and vomiting;
- dyspnea;
- loss of sensation in some areas of the body;
- coordination problems;
- convulsions;
- fainting;
- memory impairment;
- difficulty speaking;
- high blood pressure;
- paralysis.
The disease develops even due to moderate alcohol consumption. The provoking factors in this case are general condition body, stage of alcoholism, individual characteristics. Depending on the location of the edema, it can affect vital centers of the brain, which directly threatens a person’s life. The only prevention of complications is a complete abstinence from alcohol-containing drinks.
Attention!
The information in the article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute instructions for use. Consult your healthcare provider.
Everyone knows about the dangers of alcohol. Excessive use causes health problems, leads to family discord and moral decay of a person. Problems caused by alcohol are not only physiological, but also psychological in nature - this is the so-called alcohol addiction, leading to encephalopathy and edema. The brain of an alcoholic is significantly different from that of a sober person.
Harm caused by alcohol
The greatest harm to the body is caused by ethanol - a toxic substance that poisons almost all organs and is main reason serious illnesses. Ethanol poisoning leads to encephalopathy and permanent swelling, and even death in abusers. Affected organs include:
- Cardiovascular system: Alcohol destroys red blood cells, which leads to toxic hemolytic anemia and cardiac arrest, the development of arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Internal hemorrhages also occur, and the formation of blood clots increases, which can subsequently clog the vessel and cause intracerebral edema, stroke or heart attack.
- Stomach and gastrointestinal tract: damage occurs to the gastric mucosa and small intestine, the absorption of water and substances is impaired, and severe swelling occurs. Long-term use can lead to cancer of the esophagus, stomach or rectum, and the development of gastritis.
- Genitourinary system: ethanol poisons the reproductive cells, easily penetrates the ovaries, sperm, and also passes through the placenta and enters milk.
- Liver: when drinking alcohol, the liver is poisoned, 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 liver cirrhosis and edema.
Also, the effect of alcohol can provoke oncological diseases, diabetes, cerebral encephalopathy, edema, various shapes cancer and diseases associated with cardiovascular system. The health forecasts for abusers are very negative.
The effect of alcohol on the brain
The most powerful effect of even small doses of alcohol is on the brain. It is enough to note that with a concentration of alcohol in the blood equal to one part, the liver already contains 1.45 parts, in cerebrospinal fluid– in 1.5 parts, in the brain – 1.75 parts, that is, almost twice. Immediately after alcohol enters the stomach, it enters the bloodstream and is transferred to the skull, where it begins to poison cells, leading to encephalopathy and edema.
Negative properties that cause harm 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 require a second dose. It’s not even necessary to talk about the dangers of this.
What happens to the brain when alcohol enters it and what is the result?
Alcohol affects the brain in the following ways:
- Ethanol exposure leads to the death of neurons in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum;
- Then they die off, mental activity decreases, brain volume and memory decrease, and there is a high probability of edema;
- Dead cells begin to rot inside the brain, leading to headaches and hangovers;
- To cleanse itself, the brain pumps through itself large number water (hence the morning thirst and frequent trips to the toilet).
The result of regular alcohol consumption is deplorable: while most organs are able to recover and revive dead cells, the brain is incapable of this. Its cells die completely along with the information stored inside. This leads to a variety of consequences:
- The process of personality degradation begins;
- There is a deterioration in memory and intelligence, with a particularly strong impact on short-term memory;
- The processes of long-term memorization are deformed;
- The activity of the entire nervous system is disrupted;
- The brain decreases in volume, “dries out,” and begins to decompose—this is especially noticeable in alcoholics.
On average, 100 grams of vodka kills 8 thousand cells. Poisonous substances are eliminated from the body within 20–30 days.
Complete recovery of brain cells may take several years, but this probability is extremely low. It is necessary to completely give up any alcohol so that the cells can return to their usual volume.
The effect of alcohol on memory and mental activity
Alcohol consumption 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 fully recover, that is, the damage caused turns out to be extended over time:
- Mental activity slows down, especially complex mental processes;
- It is worth noting that false “brilliant” conversations and the search for solutions are a consequence of the deterioration of 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 complex one;
- The process of criticism and judgment weakens, but there is an increase in feelings of self-confidence and boasting;
- The reasons described above lead to increased sensitivity and emotional component: this includes unexpected confessions and intimate conversations.
Have you ever thought about how many people drink alcohol?
According to statistics from the American Institute on Alcoholism, 87% of people 18 years of age and older have consumed alcohol in their lifetime. 71% drank alcohol during last year, 56% - during the last month.
Generalized statistics for the world are not so easy to find, so we will focus on US data.
Every second person drinks alcohol periodically.
If we take into account the harm to the person himself and others, alcohol is the most harmful in the world. More harmful than heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. This is primarily due to the amount of product consumed. Alcohol is more popular than any other drug.
These data were obtained as a result of research by David Nutt, a British psychiatrist and pharmacologist who studies the effects of drugs on our bodies.
We're used to alcohol, and it's scary.
News reports highlight drug-related crimes, but no one pays attention to alcohol-related crimes. This is reminiscent of the situation with accidents. No one cares about car accidents, but as soon as a ship runs aground or a plane crashes, all these events spread across the Internet.
Taking alcohol for granted, we forget that slurred tongue, fun, etc. are not the only effect of alcoholic drinks on our body.
How alcohol affects the body
Approximately 20% of alcohol consumed is absorbed by the stomach. The remaining 80% is sent to small intestine. How quickly alcohol is absorbed depends on its concentration in the drink. The higher it is, the faster intoxication will occur. Vodka, for example, is absorbed much faster than beer. A full stomach also slows down absorption and the onset of the intoxicating effect.
Once alcohol enters the stomach and small intestine, it travels through the bloodstream throughout the body. At this time, our body tries to remove it.
More than 10% of alcohol is excreted by the kidneys and lungs through urine and breathing. That is why breathalyzers can determine whether you have been drinking or not.
The liver handles the rest of the alcohol, which is why it is the organ that receives the most great harm. There are two main reasons why alcohol harms the liver:
- Oxidative (oxidative) stress. As a result chemical reactions, accompanying the withdrawal of alcohol through the liver, its cells may be damaged. The organ will try to heal itself, and this may cause inflammation or scarring.
- Toxins in intestinal bacteria. Alcohol can damage the intestines, causing gut bacteria to enter the liver and lead to inflammation.
The alcohol effect does not occur immediately, but only after several doses. It occurs when the amount of alcohol taken in exceeds the amount excreted by the body.
How alcohol affects the brain
A slurred tongue, unruly body parts and memory loss are all symptoms on the brain. People who frequently drink alcohol begin to experience problems with coordination, balance and common sense. One of the main symptoms is a slow reaction, so drivers are prohibited from driving while intoxicated.
The effect of alcohol on the brain is that it changes the level of neurotransmitters - substances that transmit impulses from neurons to muscle tissue.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for processing external stimuli, emotions and behavior. They can either stimulate electrical activity in the brain or inhibit it.
One of the most important inhibitory neurotransmitters is gamma-aminobutyric acid. Alcohol enhances its effect, thereby making the movements and speech of drunk people slow.
How to reduce the negative effects of alcohol
But you are unlikely to decide to do this.
Therefore, here are some gentler tips that will help reduce the effect of alcohol on the body:
- Drink plenty of water. Alcohol removes fluid from the body. Ideally, you should have one or two if you know you're going to drink alcohol.
- Eat. As already mentioned, a full stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol, thereby giving the body time to gradually eliminate it.
- Don't overeat on fatty foods. Yes, fats create a film that prevents the stomach from absorbing alcohol, but excessive amounts of fatty foods are more likely to do harm than good.
- Avoid carbonated drinks. The carbon dioxide they contain accelerates the absorption of alcohol.
- If you just want to support the company and are not going to get drunk, then the best option is one strong drink per hour. By following this rule, you will give your body time to eliminate alcohol.