Why does alcohol damage health? How does alcohol affect the body?

In Poland, an average of 9.7 l 100% of alcohol is consumed per capita. In 2018, the average Pole drank 100.5 l of beer, which amounts to around 200 half-litre cans. The beverage is usually associated with important celebrations, good fun and social gatherings. What is actually hidden under the form of the party liquid and what effects does it have on the human body? We take a closer look in the article.  

Ethyl alcohol - the most widespread psychoactive substance

Ethyl alcohol is one of the most widely used and abused psychoactive substances in Europe. It accompanies us at important events, celebrations or when out on the town with friends. The beverage has seen many variants and versions, so there seems to be something for everyone. Both connoisseurs of wheat flavour and lovers of sweet, fruity notes. Alcohol has quietly made its way into our everyday lives and has become a permanent fixture. The younger generation is increasingly noticing the havoc that alcohol wreaks on us and is putting a limit on alcohol consumption. Which sets a good example and hope for the next young adults. 

What is ethanol?

Ethanol is an organic chemical compound that belongs to the group of alcohols. Its other name is ethyl alcohol. It is a colourless and volatile liquid with a characteristic odour. Ethanol is commonly used as an ingredient in many products and processes.

The most well-known use of ethanol is as a food alcohol, which is found in alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and vodka. In addition, ethanol is used as a fuel in car engines (E10 fuel) to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. It can also be used as a solvent in industry, to produce perfumes, varnishes and medicines.

Despite its widespread use, ethanol is still a psychoactive substance, which means that its abuse can have a negative impact on physical and mental health. How does it affect the various mechanisms of the body?

Alcohol and the immune system - effects on health

The immune system can be imagined as an invisible army in our body, ready to fight against any intruders that have uninvited themselves into the body. When foreign substances or microbes, i.e. our 'enemies', get inside and launch an attack, it is necessary to defend against them effectively. To this end, lymphocytes and antibodies are sent to identify and neutralise the 'intruders'. 

If our immune system is functioning well, we give it the right amount of sleep, a balanced diet and physical activity - it shouldn't have much trouble fighting off viruses. However, what about when we regularly take a poison such as alcohol? Will the body be able to defend itself just as effectively?

Alcohol in this case is extremely insidious. Accompanying us at social gatherings, we treat it like a friend, forgetting that when we pour it into ourselves, it starts to weaken our defences. As a result, it brings chaos, disorganising our immune system.

At first, it begins to launch confused attacks on our lymphocytes. These incredibly important cells, which are normally responsible for identifying and eliminating enemies, become useless. They lose their ability to recognise threats, so that they mistake real hostile microbes for friendly ones, in effect weakening our ability to defend ourselves.

Alcohol also affects communication between our defence cells. It causes confusion in the communication channels, preventing rapid responses to threats. All processes that normally work together in harmony act as a scattered and disorganised group.

Worse still, alcohol distracts our defence functions from their actual task. Instead of defending us against threats, they must now devote their energies to eradicating alcohol's toxins.

Our immune system, which would normally face new intruders and quickly neutralise them, is weakened and defenceless under the influence of alcohol. Therefore, in order to maintain a strong immune system, it is necessary to consume alcoholic beverages as little as possible and preferably not at all. Only then will the immune system be able to protect our health effectively.

How does alcohol consumption damage the liver?

What everyone should know about the organ that is the liver is that it is an irreplaceable helper when it comes to detoxifying the body. It breaks down toxic compounds so that ultimately harmless toxin-free substances are delivered to our blood. 

There is normally harmony and order in the organ, the cells work in harmony, taking care to break down toxic substances. But when we supply alcohol to the organism, chaos begins to reign. The organ is forced to struggle against the onslaught of alcohol, which destroys its ability to function properly.

Every drop of alcohol that reaches our liver can be likened to an exploding bomb that causes serious damage. Despite sincere efforts, it is difficult to neutralise all the toxic substances. Maintaining a high concentration of alcohol in the blood causes a relentless assault on our liver. 

As a result of excessive drinking, the liver becomes weakened and susceptible to various diseases such as cirrhosis, inflammation or steatosis.

In order to keep the liver in good condition, it is essential to avoid alcohol in the first place and to ensure that it is properly supported. Consumption of beer, wine or vodka reduces the level of glutathione in the liver, a substance that has strong antioxidant and detoxifying properties. Its deficiency, in turn, results in an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. 

Taking glutathione 600 is a solution that can minimise the adverse effects of alcohol and provide substances that have been lost through excessive alcohol consumption. People who have used glutathione tad 600 injections recommend this form of administration, due to the best absorption of the substance. For those interested in taking it, they also recommend the use of tad 600 glutathione in the form of an intravenous infusion, which is by far the least painful form of administration and produces rapid results.

Does the effect of alcohol have a negative impact on the cardiovascular system?

We can compare the circulatory system to a river that supplies blood to every nook and cranny of our body. Excessive alcohol intake is the cause that disrupts its calm current. 

Our heart, which normally beats rhythmically and calmly, behaves unnaturally when drinking alcohol, i.e. the heartbeat speeds up, the rhythm is disturbed. The blood, which should flow freely in our vessels, now struggles against obstacles. Alcohol causes our blood vessels to constrict, restricting blood flow. It's like blocking a key channel that prevents water from flowing easily.

As a result, our body does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients that it needs to function properly. One of the main tributaries of the river closes down, which dries out everything around it.

Long-term alcohol abuse has a drastic effect on the body. As a result of the chaos, the heart muscle becomes weakened, the blood vessels damaged and the blood rhythm disrupted, ultimately leading to hypertension, cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

When hormones go crazy

We rarely think about our hormones. However, each of them has an incredibly important task. Each hormone has a role and takes care of the harmony of our body. Alcoholics who are addicted to poison end up deregulating their basic functions.

Our endocrine system should be seen as a communication system by which important information is transmitted. Consuming significant amounts of alcohol is like a noisy mob that drowns out these subtle messages. The hormones can no longer transmit their signals properly, resulting in confusion and disorganisation throughout the system.

Alcohol interferes with the normal functioning of the body. And the hormones responsible for regulating appetite, sleep, mood and fertility can be disrupted. As a result of alcoholism, our body can experience endocrine disruption. Some of the most common include:

• reduced levels of the thyroid hormone T3,
• decrease in testosterone production,
• increase in oestrogen levels.

Do you drink alcohol? You increase your risk of acute renal failure pancreatitis and nervous system disorders

Do you know what the kidneys are used for? On a day-to-day basis, we don't bother with them, but every day they do an important job that allows us to live a peaceful and happy life. The kidneys are the filter that cleanses the blood of toxins; when they stop functioning efficiently, toxins and excess fluids build up in the body. These then accumulate in the blood and other parts of the body. People who consume alcohol in large doses are 10 times more likely to develop acute kidney failure. 

Frequent drinking can produce symptoms in the form of pancreatitis. Severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and diarrhoea are just a few of the symptoms of the disease. The toxic effects of alcohol are a threat to one of the most important organs. Doctors warn - "More than 30% cases of acute pancreatitis are caused by alcohol". By quitting the poison, we are able to reduce the risk of the disease and enjoy good health.