Alcohol has been used as a stimulant, sedative, narcotic and medicine since ancient times. The term "alcoholism" was first used by Swiss public health expert Magnus Huss in 1849. Alcoholism has been accepted as a disease since the early 1900s.
The World Health Organization defines alcohol addiction as "those who drink alcohol for a long time and in an unusual way, whose mental, physical and social health deteriorates due to alcohol, but who cannot evaluate their situation; He defines it as "a patient in need of treatment who cannot stop his desire to drink alcohol, even if he evaluates it." Alcohol addiction is not about drinking constantly, but about not being able to stop drinking once you start drinking.
The fact that alcohol is a legal and socially accepted substance causes individuals who have problems with alcohol use to evaluate their situation only after they begin to harm themselves and their environment biologically, psychologically and socially. opens. Most of the time, they agree to seek treatment as a result of the reactions they receive from the environment and their relatives.
When we drink alcohol, 20% of it passes into the bloodstream from the stomach wall. 80% of it mixes with the blood from the small intestine. Our body can eliminate 45 grams of beer or a glass of wine per hour. When we drink more and continuously, the alcohol content in the blood increases and the toxic effects of the substance are experienced (we become drunk).
Once alcohol enters the circulatory system, it reaches all organs within minutes. Since its molecular structure is simple and small, it easily penetrates the cell wall and affects all systems in the body.
Alcohol affects the central nervous system. Depending on the amount and frequency of use, it creates temporary or permanent trauma in our brain. Memory, analysis, judgment, understanding, pain and pleasure perception and coordination areas are affected and damaged.
Alcohol-related damage occurs in the liver. It causes obesity, jaundice and cirrhosis. When you increase the amount, the work of the liver increases and it becomes fatty. It cannot function and dies over time. The most common way of death in alcoholics is liver failure.
The heart, lungs, pancreas and reproductive system are also affected by alcohol. The number of accidents and injuries that occur while under the influence of alcohol is very high, and most of them result in death.
If alcohol use does not harm the person's work and family harmony, the environment and physical health, it is not considered alcohol addiction. However, sometimes it is not easy to draw the line where normal drinking ends and addiction begins. For men, more than 14 standard drinks per week or 4 standard drinks at a time; For women, if there is a habit of drinking more than 7 standard drinks a week or 3 standard drinks at a time, it should be considered that there is a problem with alcohol use and should be questioned more deeply.
Have you thought that you should cut down or cut down on alcohol?
Did people around you criticize you for your alcohol use?
Have you ever felt bad or guilty about drinking?
Have you ever woken up in the morning and tried to relieve the symptoms of a hangover? Have you ever consumed alcohol?
If you answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, you may have problems with alcohol use. It is important to evaluate your situation in detail by consulting an expert so that you can prevent negative situations that may occur in the long term.
Read: 0
