"Dad, I told you, it's useless for you to drink less, and drinking is worse than excessive. ”
"Then what are you going to do? If you want me to quit drinking at the age of 58, let me tell you, it's impossible. ”
Although he said that he didn't want to quit drinking, Uncle Zhang also had a little drum in his heart, especially recently, he always felt a stomachache, and even woke up at night. These physical reactions are all reminding Uncle Zhang that something is wrong with his body.
After thinking about it, Uncle Zhang still called his son to the hospital for a physical examination. After a doctor's examination, Uncle Zhang was diagnosed with early-stage stomach cancer. The reason may be that he drinks a lot. The son broke down on the side and cried bitterly, "I told you to quit drinking quickly, but I just didn't listen!"
1. Research finds: A small amount of alcohol can also hurt the body!
Many drinking groups think that drinking too much alcohol and drinking small alcohol are not the same for the body, and drinking less can reduce the harm of "alcohol" to the body to a certain extent, is this idea reliable?
In 2021, a study of 740,000 people in The Lancet showed that even small amounts of alcohol were associated with an increased risk of cancer. Using fruit flies and mice as research subjects, the study showed that the harm of drinking alcohol is much more profound than people think.
A 2022 paper by Heidelberg University in Germany in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also verified this result. Studies have also shown that alcohol can also alter brain neurons, even if you don't drink regularly, and alcohol addiction is also associated with this factor.
In addition, alcohol brings both health benefits and risks to the human body. Studies have shown that occasional alcohol consumption can affect the inhibitory effect of the central nervous system, because alcohol will react with the central nervous system after entering the body, making nerve cells less excitable. When nerve cells are in a state of over-inhibition, it can lead to a decline in brain function, causing symptoms such as drowsiness and fatigue.
At the same time, it also increases the metabolic burden on the liver, and since alcohol needs to be metabolized through the liver, drinking alcohol will increase the metabolic load of the liver. Long-term or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver cell damage, which can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis and other diseases, and in severe cases, liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The most noticeable effect is that alcohol can cause insomnia. This is because the alcohol ingested has a sedative-hypnotic effect, but it can also cause frequent awakenings. In the long term, this can lead to chronic insomnia, which in turn affects your mental state and productivity during the day.
2. Pay attention to 3 matters to reduce the harm of drinking
Alcohol is a common central nervous system depressant, and moderate intake can improve blood circulation and relieve stress, but excessive alcohol consumption can cause harm to the body. So, what are the precautions when drinking occasionally?
Note 1: Eat in moderation before drinking
Failure to eat before drinking alcohol will cause alcohol to directly irritate the gastric mucosa, which is so easy to cause gastritis, gastric ulcer and other diseases in the long term. Eating bread, milk and other foods before drinking alcohol can reduce the harm of alcohol to the body to a certain extent.
Item 2: Make sure you get enough rest
Insufficient rest after drinking alcohol will cause the cerebral cortex to be in a state of continuous excitement, affecting the quality of sleep, which may lead to problems such as memory loss and weakened immunity in the long run. Adequate rest time should be ensured after drinking, which helps to promote metabolism in the body and help alcohol be excreted from the body.
Note 3: Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach
Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can cause alcohol to enter the bloodstream quickly, causing drunkenness, and in severe cases, even symptoms of hypoglycemia. Before drinking, you can eat some foods rich in carbohydrates, such as steamed buns, rice, etc., to reduce the speed and amount of alcohol absorption.
3. Please note that these 3 types of people need to be cautious when drinking!
In the fast-paced city life, a glass of mellow red wine is a small blessing in the hearts of many people. However, for some populations, alcohol can pose unexpected health risks. So, who is not suitable for drinking?
1. Pregnant maidens
During pregnancy, a series of physiological changes occur in the pregnant woman's body to ensure the healthy development of the fetus. Alcohol should not be consumed at this time because it can enter the fetus through the placenta and cause harm to it.
3. Patients with liver disease
Alcohol needs to be metabolized in the liver, and the liver function of patients with liver disease has been impaired or abnormal, and it cannot effectively break down alcohol, and if patients with liver disease drink alcohol, it can even cause acute liver failure.
4. People with alcohol allergies
Alcohol allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction of the body's immune system to alcohol, and such people will experience uncomfortable symptoms such as itching, redness, and difficulty breathing after ingesting alcohol.
Resources:
[1] "A man who often drinks alcohol is not far from these more than 60 diseases", Life Times.2023-06-13
[2] "Alcohol dependence is a "heart disease" and needs standardized intervention", Health News.2023-07-25
[3] "Alcohol dependence is a disease related to life and death, don't let it go!", Human Health Health.2023-11-11
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