ALCOHOL & YOUR BODY

You will see the lounge bars, clubs, pubs etc full of young people. Some drink for experimenting for kicks, to release tension, and some to fit into the group. You may be pushed to try one or you may start of your own free will. Alcohol at a young age or excessive intake could make you addicted and affect your health.

ALCOHOL & YOUR BODY

1. Brain: Alcohol breaks through the blood-brain barrier of epithelial cells that line the capillaries, within 30 seconds of entering the bloodstream which results in disruption of nerve-cell communication. It weakens judgment, increases fatigue, lowers resistance to disease, reduces efficiency, shortens the attention span, etc.

2. Stomach: Within 5 minutes it enters stomach’s producing epithelial cells. The fuller your stomach, the slower the squeeze. Alcohol also jumpstarts the production of hydrochloric acid, which can eat through the stomach’s protective mucus. Alcohol intake at the young age could lead to heartburn, inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding 10 years down the line.

3. Small Intestine: Alcohol blocks the absorption of water and sodium here, which is why a binge dehydrates you. Chronic imbibing interferes with enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, thus reducing update of vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids.

4. Heart: Moderate doses of alcohol may help keep the heart and its arteries. Heavier drinking, however, narrows the blood vessels and raises blood pressure, forcing the heart to pump harder. It also can short-circuit the electrical signals, causing an arrhythmia. Alcohol abuse damages heart muscle, causing it to pump less efficiently. This can lead to heart failure.

5. Lungs: Long-term alcohol abuse depletes an important antioxidant in the lungs, leaving them vulnerable to permanent, life-threatening damage from pneumonia, sepsis, and other infections.

6. Kidneys: Alcohol blocks the release of the hormone vasopressin, which normally stimulates the kidneys to conserve fluid and concentrate urine. Your body’s healthy cells get a helping of junk along with every important nutrient. This leads to high blood pressure, liver damage, and kidney failure.

7. Liver: Blood absorbs alcohol much faster than the liver can eliminate it, which is why it takes an hour for the effects of each drink to wear off. Heavy drinking creates excess free radicals and collagen, a building block of scar tissue. Both kill off healthy liver cells.

8. Genitals: Alcohol deadens nerve cells all over the body. 8 of 10 problem drinkers suffer from chronic erectile dysfunction: Heavy drinking cause’s high blood pressure, restricting blood flow to the penis, and chronic boozing reduces testosterone production to smithereens.

Heavy drinking also leads to accidents. Teenage drinking can blow up into dependence in adulthood. What seems to be the hype thing for the teenagers is actually poisonous for their health. Having it occasionally is fine but getting addicted to it could make you unhealthy emotionally and physically.


You have a alcohol problem if:
1. You drink to escape from worries, to relax, lose shyness and build up self confidence.
2. You drink when you get angry with other people.
3. You like to drink alone, in isolation.
4. Your work/grades (in case of students) are suffering.
5. You are missing work, college, etc

FIGHTING THE PROBLEM

You have tried lots to stop but all efforts in vain try the following also, it might work this time.
1. When someone forces you say no that you don’t drink it or it is not your style. It is socially acceptable to refuse a drink no matter whatever others say and do. This requires maturity and self respect and triggers respect in others.
2. Avoid get-togethers that revolve around drinking alcohol. Don’t hang around with friends for whom drinking is the only option. Make new friends.
3. Go and join a cool gym programme near your house. A swimming, salsa, squash class are also good options. Exercise gives the brain the high the same way alcohol does but the difference is it is good for your body.
4. Watch a movie to kill the free time.
5. Hang on to a soda; Sparkling soda or mineral water, garnished with lime and coriander looks and feels good and is a low calorie option. A Virgin Mary (tomato juice, lime and masala), tastes delicious.
6. Bond with your family. Swap jokes and happenings, have dinner together.
7. Go for a drive with the windows open to clear your mind.
8. Never drink from an open bottle of cola or from an anonymous punch, both of which can be spiked with dubious alcohol. Creamy cocktails look innocent but can knock you out cold.
9. Don’t accept that first drink or one for the road. Stop a friend when he or she has had enough.
10. Don’t lie about drinking or how much you have drunk, it can worsen your drinking habit
11. Think of all the ill effects of alcohol in your mind and keep repeating it in your head like alcohol makes you throw up, leaves you with a hangover etc till you refuse on taking some.
12. Master in a skill and let your group look up to you for that. That will boost your confidence and help you in saying no when these friends pressurizing you on having one drink.

Parents also play an important role in this regard. Don’t push your kids to things. Be friends with them. Talk to them now and then about issues, their highs and lows. Chances of turning to alcohol would be lot less in the times of lows. Understand the needs of the children and even if they are wrong doing say it to their face make them understand where it would take them.