The alcohol damages for the organism can range from disorders of conduct to diseases of various organs, leading to coma and death. They are caused by excessive or regular consumption of alcohol. Some of these harm:
- Pancreatitis - a severe inflammatory process of the pancreas;
- Hepatitis - inflammatory process of the liver;
- Cancer of the mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, liver and gallbladder;
- Liver cirrhosis - a chronic liver disease that causes a scarring of the liver, preventing its proper functioning;
- Fatty liver;
- Loss of memory and difficulty concentrating;
- Ulcer, gastritis;
- Heart problems;
- Apathy, depression;
- Death.
In addition, alcohol is associated with cases of violence, family, social and occupational disorders, occupational and traffic accidents.
It is known that the consumption of 10 to 20 g of alcohol per day can be beneficial to the heart, provided that the amount ingested is within those limits. To get an idea:
- 1 can (350 ml) of beer = 13 g of alcohol;
- 1 dose (50 ml) of distilled beverage = 14 g of alcohol;
- 1 glass of wine (120 ml) = 11 g of alcohol.
Therefore, the theoretically tolerable limit of alcohol would be approximately a dose and a half a day. However, these limits do not take into account the individual particularities of the person and what is tolerable for some may be too much for others.
Alcoholic Illnesses in Pregnancy
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the major cause of changes in fetal development and birth defects.
The alcohol ingested by the pregnant woman crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus with the same concentrations of the drink.
However, exposure of the fetus to alcohol is greater and more harmful because it lacks enzymes and mechanisms capable of degrading the substance.
