Regular consumption of any alcoholic beverage can not last long without consequences. The so-called beer alcoholism develops much more slowly than a strong dependence on alcohol, and this is its particular danger.
What is the danger of beer?
For the development of alcoholism, the type of alcohol does not matter. The disease is formed by drinking wine, vodka, moonshine, alcoholic cocktails and beer. The only thing that low-alcohol content drinks affect is the rate of addiction formation. In this sense, beer is considered one of the most dangerous drinks. And that's why.
- The alcohol in it contains from 4 to 14%, which does not worry most. Indeed, in such harmless drinks as kvass or kefir, there is also alcohol.
- The beer is delicious. Unlike vodka or moonshine, which you have to "push" in, the intoxicating liquid can be savored as much as you like, and you often want to repeat the pleasure.
- In terms of popularity, beer ranks first in almost all segments of the population: men, women and teenagers drink it. In obsessive advertising, it is presented as an ordinary soft drink.
- In addition to alcohol, most varieties contain a number of substances that negatively affect the endocrine and cardiovascular systems.
If we consider the above facts in more detail, it becomes clear that there is nothing safe in this drink. Frequent consumption of beer is not condemned by society. On the contrary, there are arguments in its favor. It is recommended to compensate for vitamin deficiencies or to improve digestion. For this reason, many do not have a psychological stop sign, which is, for example, at the beginning of heavy alcohol abuse. Drinking vodka is considered shameful and unhealthy, and drinking beer every day is just a form of relaxation. Some do not consider it dangerous to give it even to children "to promote health".
Signs and characteristics of beer addiction.
The usual arithmetic calculation allows you to determine what threatens a binge on beer with regular libations. In 1 liter of weak beer, 40 ml of pure ethanol, in strong varieties - 120-140 ml. In the latter case, the permitted daily dose of alcohol for men was doubled. And if you consider that 1 liter is drunk only "for overclocking", and then the amount is not counted, it becomes clear that the consequences of drinking beer cannot be avoided.
From an ordinary hobby, the addiction smoothly flows into psychological dependence, while the abuser is quite confident in his own well-being and does not put himself on the same level as alcoholics, but continues to drink beer every day. You can understand that the disease is developing when the following situations appear:
- upcoming meetings with beer cause impatience and joyful anticipation, for the sake of them you can postpone less important things;
- drunkenness comes on quickly and lasts a long time;
- at least 1. 5 liters are drunk per day, the maximum is not exactly known;
- days when the usual beer is impossible for some reason, they are experienced with irritation, the mood deteriorates, only a few new cans or bottles can bring it back;
- weak beer looks like water, you want to drink the strongest;
- those around and in the mirror begin to notice changes in appearance: swelling of the face, puffy body, bags under the eyes, pale earth-colored skin;
- more often than usual there is shortness of breath, chest pain, fast pulse;
- The next morning after beer, my head hurts, I want to drink some more to "get better".
The appearance of even one of the signs in the context of a daily "hobby" indicates an addiction to beer, the symptoms of which will be felt more strongly in the future.
Narcologists do not recognize any specificity of alcohol disease depending on the type of drink they prefer, but agree that beer addiction is very insidious. It is very difficult to identify it at the first stage, since there are no pronounced changes in lifestyle and human health. For example, a wife in a situation where her husband drinks beer every day may not notice any signs of dependency on the outside.
Beer alcoholism in men is often disguised as somatic disorders. Heart problems, headaches, and irritability are often mistaken for pent-up fatigue.
Health effects of beer abuse
The consequences of beer alcoholism affect intellectual, moral and personal aspects to a lesser extent. People who are addicted to drinking lose their professional abilities less often, maintain adequacy of behavior and judgments, unlike those who drink strong alcohol every day. This is a feature of weak alcoholic beverages - personality degradation develops, but very slowly.
Another danger that awaits beer lovers is the destruction of physical health. As a result of daily excessive consumption of alcohol, serious chronic diseases develop:
- myocardial dystrophy;
- angina pectoris;
- coronary artery disease;
- gastritis;
- jade;
- fatty hepatosis;
- liver cirrhosis;
- neurological disorders.
A foamy drink puts a lot of pressure on the kidneys, it binds and removes minerals and vitamins necessary for the body: potassium, calcium, ascorbic acid, riboflavin. As a result, the work of all internal organs is disrupted. The constant presence of acetaldehyde in the blood causes swelling, combined with dehydration, and poisons the liver and brain.
It is important that beer contains many so-called phytoestrogens. Taken unchecked, these substances contribute to hormonal imbalance in both men and women, leading to failure of the reproductive system, increased risk of blood clots, and increased cholesterol levels.
But the main thing for which beer alcoholism is dangerous is uncontrolled intoxication. The pleasure of the taste of the drink overshadows the effects of ethanol, the emerging feeling of euphoria disinhibits, retouches the problems, prompting a few more cups or bottles. When drinking beer, it rarely occurs to someone that they overdid it. Also, addicts often switch from weak alcohol to the abuse of vodka or other "fuel".
The fight against beer alcoholism
How to deal with beer alcoholism depends on the degree of the disease and the situation as a whole. Since such abuse is not always accompanied by a loss of volitional qualities and mental disorders, it makes sense for the addict to do all the work on his own. The coding of alcoholism to beer as a separate specific pathology does not exist. Sewing drug torpedoes under the skin or hypnosis may not work.
As in cases with other types of addiction, the patient needs to recognize the existing situation and the need to change it. Some can do it themselves, others will need a signal from outside. If there is no physical dependence on ethanol (the absence of beer does not lead to a deterioration in well-being, heart attacks), then you can do without the help of a narcologist.
Approximate program of action.
- Medicine does not recognize "small dose" methods of treating alcoholism. There is no point in recommending people who have a painful addiction to beer to drink 1 bottle a day. This is self-delusion, after a while the problem will come back. Only complete denial can help. You must act according to the principle "the last time was yesterday. "This is the most difficult step, but it is necessary.
- After the rejection, you should analyze what bothers you the most. Boredom, lots of free time, uninteresting TV, stress at work, a fight with a friend. Problems that were fixed by drinking beer are usually resolved immediately. They need to be identified and begin to be addressed without delay: instead of watching TV, repair something, go for a walk, start communicating with a forgotten friend, spend more time on work, children, help around the house.
- Boredom and irritability can be alleviated by finding something you love and can do with pleasure. Hobbies, a new pet, playing sports, music, learning a foreign language, mastering a new profession. Anything that sparks genuine interest, requires effort, but doesn't leave a feeling of inner compulsion will do. This is the most powerful way to deal with psychological addiction.
- With an irresistible desire to drink beer, you can give the body a replacement - prepare juice, green tea, lemonade. At first, a non-alcoholic version of beer is suitable. At the same time, after drinking 2-3 glasses of the drink, it is urgent to switch attention to some urgent matter. The brain will receive the necessary discharge, psychological stress will disappear. If we are not talking about alcoholism, but just a bad habit, then you can sharply reduce the amount of beer: drink no more than 0. 5 liters 1-2 times a week, ideally even less.
The lack of good mood and interest in life and the presence of frequent dizziness, weakness in self-treatment of beer alcoholism is a reason to visit a neurologist or endocrinologist, since there is a possibility of developing metabolic disorders or damage to the central system. nervous system. In this case, the doctor may prescribe a laboratory blood test, dopplerography, MRI of the brain. If signs of diseases are detected, it will be necessary to undergo a course of therapy with hormonal drugs or nootropics.
Prevention of beer alcoholism is to exclude the substitution of entertainment for a drink, fight boredom, relax and solve problems. Like other alcoholic beverages, beer is acceptable on the festive table, but you cannot make it a constant companion of life or quench your thirst with it.