One of the varieties of drug addiction is dependence on alcohol-containing products. Alcoholism is a factor contributing to a decrease in life expectancy. What is the reason for the rapid increase in the number of people suffering from this disease? Experts explain this phenomenon by the insufficiently effective activity of the health protection system, emotional overloads, as well as a wide selection of alcoholic beverages.
Danger of addiction
The habit of drinking alcohol is a pathology that is characterized by a persistent craving for such products, their regular use. Doctors classify this disease as one of the forms of drug addiction. This statement is absolutely correct. After all, drinks, which include ethanol, have an effect on the central nervous system. As a result of the influence of toxic compounds on the brain and other organs, a person develops a serious illness.
The result of abuse may be the loss of ability to work, physical and mental health. In alcoholism, the symptoms and stages of pathology have been described in documents that date back to ancient times. For example, Chinese doctors created scientific papers on the dangers of drinks containing ethanol. In Peter's Russia, there were punishments for those who abused this product. In the Roman Empire, wine was forbidden to persons under the age of thirty years, as well as to the fairer sex.
Factors contributing to the development of pathology
Experts say that the manifestations of alcoholism and the symptoms of this disease are considered a fairly serious diagnosis. In most cases, the treatment of the disorder is carried out in a clinic. Products containing ethanol affect not only the personality, but also the activity of the organs of the body. Only a specialist is able to choose and carry out competent therapy when this condition occurs. Alcoholism is a pathology that occurs under the influence of various factors. As reasons that may contribute to its appearance, the following can be listed:
- Physiological characteristics of the body.
- Traits inherent in a particular individual.
- The influence of society, the environment.
Body features
It is generally accepted that the symptoms of alcoholism in men and the fairer sex arise as a result of the action of society, habits and traditions. And although it is difficult to argue with this fact, experts talk about the high probability of physical conditions for the development of pathology. For example, excessive enthusiasm for alcohol-containing products may develop as a result of adverse heredity. An important role is played by the features of education. Children who grew up in families of people with alcohol addiction have a risk of becoming victims of this disease.
There are other reasons. For example, the lack of substances with which ethanol is processed, or problems in the operation of certain organs and systems. In people with disorders of the liver, central nervous system, impaired metabolism, the pathology develops rapidly.
The impact of others, the traditions of society
Alcoholism, the symptoms and consequences of which are destructive, is largely due to the influence of society. In some companies, people are sure that you can get rid of fatigue and emotional stress only after a certain amount of a drink containing alcohol. In minors, the craving for products is formed under the influence of addictions of loved ones. Young people are convinced that if one of the parents consumes ethanol, this can be done to any person without fear and doubt.
The first symptoms of alcoholism are most likely to occur in an individual living in a society in which there are no religious prohibitions on drinking alcohol, there are traditions that encourage this phenomenon.
Personal Factors
An excessive attraction to products containing ethanol develops under the influence of emotional overstrain. In chronic alcoholism, the symptoms of this pathology at the very beginning of development are accompanied by a feeling of depression, nervousness. Often, such addiction is faced by people prone to increased anxiety, suffering from loneliness, dissatisfaction with life. Failures in personal relationships, a constant feeling of fatigue, traumatic events, conflicts, financial turmoil - all this pushes a person to use alcohol as a vacation.
Shy, shy, and sensitive people can find it difficult to establish social contacts and advance in service. To enhance their mood and gain confidence in their abilities, such individuals begin to drink. However, these people are unaware of the harm they cause to their physical and mental state. After all, alcohol does not help to overcome difficulties, but only creates new problems, leads an addicted person to illness and degradation. There are several stages in the development of pathology. The stages of this state are discussed in the next section.
How is the disease formed and progressed?
Speaking about alcoholism, symptoms, treatment of such a pathology, it should be noted that experts distinguish several of its steps. The following phases of the disorder are distinguished.
First step. At this stage, a dependent person has a craving for products that have ethanol in their composition. Even if an individual does not consume alcohol too often, increased attraction is considered a bad sign. The patient does not understand the seriousness of his situation, refuses to wage any struggle with addiction. He drinks a large amount of alcohol-containing products and gets intoxicated. A person shows aggression, anxiety. The day after the use of ethanol there are no gagging. The need to take a new dose of the drink is not observed. Gradually, the initial phase of the pathology moves to the next stage.
Second phase. This period is characterized by an increase in the amount of ethanol. Now, in order to achieve the desired effect, a person drinks much more. The individual has a pronounced need for such products and the critical attitude to its volume is lost. In the absence of alcohol, the patient suffers from a range of disorders. He is tormented by sleep problems, pressure surges and heart rhythm failures. There is tremor of the extremities, bouts of vomiting after eating food and liquid that does not contain ethanol. Mental disorders appear, which are accompanied by aggression, visions and delirium. In this condition, the patient is a danger to himself and others. Trying to get rid of these phenomena, he resumes the use of alcohol.
Third phase. It represents the final stage of addiction. The patient shows signs of intoxication after drinking small doses. Severe consequences associated with the cessation of alcohol consumption lead to the fact that a person needs a glass every day. Mental abilities deteriorate, health deteriorates, a person loses social skills. Such individuals do not work, lose contact with loved ones, do not monitor their appearance. Often they are prone to vagrancy, asking for money in the hope of buying another bottle.
Alcoholism: symptoms and developmental mechanisms in men
Traditionally, a man is considered a defender, a reliable support. A drinking relative not only suffers himself, but also provokes negative emotions in relatives. People of a stronger sex who abuse ethanol are quite common. This habit is formed under the influence of many factors. Traditions with abundant feasts, emotional upheavals become the causes that provoke the disease. Gradually, booze becomes regular. The individual is looking for excuses for addiction: you need to raise your mood, support the company, not offend friends, relax after work, deal with the conflict, bereavement. The patient’s social circle is changing. He is friends only with those who have the same addiction. Only in their environment does the patient feel comfortable. The rest avoid the patient or reproach. Symptoms of alcoholism in men develop slowly, but soon disturbances in the stability of the psyche become noticeable. The patient loses interests, does not pay attention to family, work, does not care about relatives. The condition of a person becomes depressed, he shows aggression, commits criminal acts.
In order to get a dose of alcohol, the patient is ready for anything. In alcoholism, symptoms also include a lack of critical attitude towards one's addiction. A man is angry at those who reproach him for lack of will and convince him to be treated. The patient often does not remember the events that occurred during the drink, cannot give an adequate assessment of his behavior. Later severe deviations in the psyche are observed, for example, visions and “voices”.
The effect of ethanol on physical well-being
With alcoholism, the symptoms and consequences apply to all systems of the human body. The fact is that alcohol decay products provoke intoxication. By regularly drinking such drinks, a person enters into a state of chronic poisoning. Ethanol weakens the heart muscle. Alcoholics have problems with blood vessels, the absorption of substances necessary for the normal functioning of the CCC is impaired. In some cases, even a single alcohol poisoning leads to the development of a heart attack. In addition, in patients with alcoholism, jumps in blood pressure, fluid retention in the tissues, and swelling are observed.
Ethanol has a negative effect on the digestive organs. Products corrode the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing inflammatory processes. The natural mechanism for protecting the stomach from harmful substances (including large amounts of alcohol) is vomiting. In addicts, this reaction is absent. Even more damage to the state of the digestive system is caused by the use of salty, smoked snacks.
The main symptoms of alcoholism also include inflammatory processes in the pancreas and liver. These diseases often acquire a severe form. In advanced cases, they lead to death. The death of liver cells provokes a pathology such as cirrhosis.
Unfortunately, often its outcome is fatal. The urinary system also suffers from drinking ethanol. A symptom of poor kidney condition is swelling on the surface of the face and body. Patients have impaired motor function. It is expressed in impaired gait and partial loss of sensation.
Female alcoholism: symptoms and signs. The consequences of pathology
Today, doctors are increasingly talking about the spread of addiction among the fair sex. What reasons can explain this trend? A woman begins to drink as a result of financial difficulties or problems at work. Loneliness, conflicts and setbacks in personal life also contribute to the formation of harmful addictions. Representatives of the weaker sex who survived the death of a loved one, the illness of a daughter or son, divorce and other traumatic situations are susceptible to this pathology.
Sometimes girls from a young age abuse ethanol under the influence of the environment, they tend to be like the rest. Ladies who have deviations in the central nervous system are prone to addiction.
Symptoms of alcoholism in women develop much faster than in the stronger sex. Treatment of pathology is much more difficult. In the early stages of the disease, the patient is attracted to ethanol, finding new reasons for its consumption. The environment of the girl is changing. Only those acquaintances who also have this addiction remain in it. Often a woman, so as not to cause reproaches and disgust from relatives and friends, does not drink alcohol in the company, preferring to drink quietly, alone. The patient loses interest in her family, does not care about the household, children, the only reason for joy is a feast. She seeks excuses for drinking regularly. A girl can say that ethanol helps to relax after a hard day, fall asleep, cope with sadness. However, she does not monitor the amount drunk, sometimes reaching the point of fainting. Any criticism causes aggression. The patient thinks she is healthy, does not recognize the presence of a problem.
With female alcoholism, the symptoms are similar to those of a strong half of humanity. They include the absence of gagging, the requirement of large doses for a feeling of pleasure. The patient begins to drink more often, episodes of use reach two to three times a week.
Often patients are prone to promiscuous intimate contacts, they are diagnosed with STDs. Children of women with addiction suffer from intellectual disabilities, health problems, most of them are mentally disabled.
With alcoholism, signs and symptoms, as well as the consequences, develop more rapidly in the fair sex than in men. For example, there is a rapid death of liver cells, mental disorders (aggressiveness, tendency to depression, tantrums) arise.
Beer addiction
This product is considered not too dangerous. However, addiction to it causes serious health and mental disorders. Reasonable price, wide distribution and advertising make beer attractive, especially for boys and girls.
Ethanol contained in this drink leads to malfunctions of the heart muscle, the occurrence of respiratory disorders, metabolism.
Kidney diseases, hormone production disorders, extra pounds - these are symptoms typical for beer alcoholism. Treatment of pathology is extremely difficult. This fact is explained by the presence of many components in the drink. In addition, patients with this dependence are often immune to drugs. The victims of the disease are young men and women. Some medicines are prohibited for people of puberty. However, beer alcoholism can be cured. The main condition is the patient's desire. It is then that the measures that doctors take to save him are effective.
In general, therapy for any form of this disease involves the following medications:
- Drugs that remove harmful compounds from the body.
- Means for eliminating problems associated with the psyche (insomnia, agitation, aggression).
- Drugs that cause rejection, physical rejection of alcohol-containing products.
- Vitamins
Also, hypnosis, work with a psychotherapist in a group or individually are used to combat the problem.