7 facts about the effect of alcohol on the human heart and blood vessels: is it really so harmful?

The cardiovascular system (CVS) performs key functions in the vital activity of the body. Along with the blood pumped by the heart and delivered through blood vessels to organs and tissues, the organs and systems of the human body are nourished with oxygen and necessary substances.

Disorders in the cardiovascular system inevitably affect the condition of the entire body as a whole. The strengthening and preservation of the CCC should occur according to medical indications, with the use of proper nutrition and taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.

At the same time, normalization and strengthening of the human heart and blood vessels are unthinkable without giving up bad habits, smoking and alcohol. It is about the destructive effect of alcohol that we will talk in this article.

7 facts about the harm of algocol for the cardiovascular system

Alcohol has a negative systematic effect on the state of the cardiovascular system. In short, this effect is expressed in the following aspects:

1. Promotes thrombosis &8212; due to the activity of ethyl alcohol, blood clots and vascular blockage occur.
2. Disrupts the heart rate &8212; alcohol breakdown products (toxins) act on cardiological function, disrupting the work of the heart muscle.
3. Increases blood pressure8212; due to the disruption of the endocrine system and the brain, the mechanisms regulating its level are disrupted. Alcohol consumption is officially recognized as a contributing factor to the development of hypertension.
4. Helps accelerate the development of atherosclerosis8212; due to the low level of liver functioning, lipids that are useful for the body are produced worse, and harmful fats are formed better, deposited on vascular walls and forming atherosclerotic plaques.
5. Causes ischemic disease &8212; due to the development of atherosclerotic disease and endothelial damage. The risk of complications associated with coronary artery disease also increases.
6. Increases the risk of occurrence and development of cardiomyopathy 8212; a disease directly caused by alcohol intoxication, characterized by dystrophic changes in the myocardium, fat deposits in the heart tissues, and a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of the heart chambers.
7. Increases the risk of developing other diseases: heart failure, heart attacks, heart attacks and strokes. According to research , excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of premature death in the United States, after smoking and obesity.

Here's what happens to an alcoholic's heart:

Is it useful?

Despite the general detrimental effect that alcohol intake has on the state of the cardiovascular system, some drinks, subject to the conditions of moderate consumption, can also benefit. These include, first of all, cognac and dry red wine.

Dry Red Wine

Research on the beneficial properties of dry red wine is associated with the French. According to official medical statistics, mortality from cardiovascular diseases in France and Mediterranean countries, whose residents regularly drink wine, is lower compared to global statistics.

It is proved that red wine has a beneficial effect on the heart . It was the assumption of the relationship between wine consumption and the state of the CCC that prompted the conducting research , which revealed the following beneficial effects of drinking dry red wine in small quantities (up to 250 ml per day):

• Improvement of the blood circulation process;
• Improved blood flow;
• Cleansing the walls of blood vessels &8212; preventing the development of atherosclerosis.

Cognac

The beneficial effect of cognac on the work of the heart is also expressed in improving blood circulation and blood flow and cleansing the walls of blood vessels , but in addition, due to moderate consumption of cognac, there is an increase in the digestibility of nutrients contained in food.

In addition, due to the effects of cognac, spasm is relieved from the vessels, the work of the central nervous system is gently stimulated. In connection with these facts, it is better to use cognac than vodka, because it is obvious which of them is more useful.

8 rules of use to minimize risk

The harm from alcohol consumption can increase if you do not comply rules designed to reduce the risks of its use to a minimum. First of all, these include the following:

1. Only high-quality drinks are allowed;
2. The maximum permissible dosage must be observed;
3. You can't mix alcohol, obtained from wheat alcohol, with grape alcohol obtained;
4. Alcoholic beverages must be combined with food (not with greasy or over-salted snacks);
5. Observe the consumption regime &8212; no more than 1-2 times during the week, for &171; cores&187; &8212; much less often;
6. It is not allowed to mix alcohol with medical preparations.
7. In no case should you consume alcohol-containing energy drinks. Even by themselves energy is very harmful to the cardiovascular system , and in combination with alcohol, it's just poison.
8. It is proved that beer has a devastating effect on the heart , so avoid it. Replace the beer bottle with a glass of red wine.

Unpleasant sensations after taking alcoholic beverages

In some cases, the negative effects of alcohol can be felt immediately after drinking. Let's analyze the main symptoms.

Chest pain after use

Why is this happening and what should I do? The reason in most cases lies in in coronary vessel spasm. Symptoms most often appear after prolonged alcohol consumption. The pain can be aching or pulling. In addition, they may be accompanied by increased heart rate and lack of oxygen, which makes it difficult to breathe, presses in the temples, aches and aches in the chest. Moreover, the heart may ache the next day after drinking alcohol. Sometimes it happens at night.

What should I take to relieve my symptoms? With these symptoms, nitroglycerin does not help to cope with pain. It is recommended to seek medical help, and to consume clean water moderately during the waiting period , ensure ventilation of the room. A plant-based sedative can be used to reduce the heart rate.

Strong heartbeat

Increased heart rate and rhythm interruptions are most common indicates a tachycardic attack caused by alcohol consumption. It may be accompanied by headache or chest pain, increased blood pressure, redness on the face, &171;midges&187; in front of the eyes.

What should I do if my heart starts pounding? In case of manifestation of these symptoms , alcohol consumption should be stopped and completely refrain from it until consultation with the attending specialist. To normalize the condition, it is recommended to take soothing natural drugs and weak tea with a small amount of sugar.

Heaviness

The feeling of heaviness in the heart area may not be accompanied by pain. This is in most cases indicates an increased but not critical load on the heart. This condition often occurs when consuming beer and fatty foods. Alcohol intake in this situation should be stopped and seek medical help if the condition does not change after one and a half to two hours.

Tingling

This feeling can be caused by various reasons. If the heart &171;stings&187; &8212; this, on the one hand, may indicate intercostal neuralgia or pathology of rib cartilage.

On the other hand, when symptoms appear in direct connection with alcohol consumption, it rather indicates a violation of the cardiovascular system.

Attention should be paid to the presence of signs of diseases such as angina pectoris or neurocirculatory dystonia. If these symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor. In the process of waiting for symptoms to be relieved, you can achieve this by taking painkillers.

Contraindications and peculiarities of consumption in certain diseases

Alcohol is a catalyzing factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. In the same case, if a particular disease already occurs, alcohol consumption should be treated with extreme caution or completely excluded. Consider the following diseases:

1. With arrhythmia &8212; alcohol contributes to the accelerated development of the disease, leading to the development of heart failure, in addition, alcohol is contraindicated in the paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation;
2. With tachycardia &8212; alcoholic beverages should be completely abandoned if the disease has become chronic, in another case alcohol can also cause critical harm and provoke an attack ;
3. For angina pectoris &8212; limited consumption of strong, high-quality alcohol (up to 40 ml) is allowed, especially leading to vasodilation, consultation with the attending physician is necessary;
4. For heart disease &8212; limited consumption of dry red wine or cognac is allowed no more than 2 times a week in a dosage limited to 150 ml (wine) and 40 ml (cognac);
5. In case of heart failure &8212; alcohol is highly undesirable;
6. After surgery &8212; after surgery on the heart during the adaptation period, alcohol must be completely excluded, in the future, only a doctor can recommend an acceptable amount.

Combination with medical preparations

Alcohol should not be mixed with medicines, because in some cases it can reduce the beneficial effect of treatment, and in others lead to unforeseen consequences and results , to the point that the heart may stop.

Some pills and medications can actually cause cardiac arrest in combination with alcohol. Therefore, it is extremely necessary read the instructions carefully and consult with your doctor , for compatibility.

It is also known that the combination of alcohol with drugs whose action is aimed at normalizing vascular function, may cause collapse .

Its combination with sedatives is also not recommended, since these drugs can act in the opposite direction, increase excitability and lead to a sudden increase in blood pressure.

CCC recovery after prolonged use

The possibility of restoring the cardiovascular system depends on the severity of the problem caused by alcoholism. Moderate physical activity contributes to the restoration of the heart, which, however, is prohibited in case of serious damage to the cardiovascular system.

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Thus, not only those suffering from cardiovascular diseases, but also everyone needs to be extremely responsible and careful about alcohol consumption. With a strong desire and the absence of direct contraindications, you can sometimes afford minimal doses of dry red wine or cognac. In addition, you should give preference to restorative physical exercises, outdoor walks, reduce stress if possible and switch to a healthy diet.