Gastrointestinal tract under the gun

The most common bad habits – addiction to alcohol and Smoking — gradually destroy the entire body. But one of the first to experience the attack of toxic substances is the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The most famous targets of the harmful effects of alcohol are the pancreas and liver. What’s going on in the belly of the drinker and smoker?

Blow to the pancreas.

Alcohol is the main cause of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Alcohol causes up to 75 percent of the cases.

The type of alcoholic beverage is not of particular importance for the occurrence of pancreatitis. Taking more than 100 grams of any alcohol daily for several years can lead to the development of deadly diseases.

A patient with chronic pancreatitis is severe exacerbation of the disease can be triggered by minimal amounts of alcohol.

Pancreatitis manifests itself excruciating pain in the abdomen, sudden weight loss, impaired digestion and even diabetes. Acute pancreatitis affects not only the pancreas, which literally affected, but other organs — lungs, heart and kidneys.

Severe acute pancreatitis can be fatal, despite intensive treatment.

…and liver

Scheme of destruction of the liver by alcohol is quite simple. First manifested chronic inflammation – hepatitis. After a while it ends with cirrhosis – the replacement of liver cells on useless connective tissue.

“The risk of liver injury increases significantly with regular use 40-80 grams of pure alcohol per day. This amount is contained in 100-200 ml of vodka 40 degrees, 400-800 ml of wine about 10 degrees or 800-1600 ml of beer with 5 degrees.

You must also remember that the female body is much more sensitive to alcohol, and the critical dose is twice less.

In far from full list of manifestations of alcoholic liver disease includes these symptoms: fatigue, persistent jaundice, bleeding disorders.

Only 38 percent of patients have a chance to live five years after diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease, if they continue to drink. Only a complete rejection of alcohol intake allows you to change the forecast recovery.

Sick-liver – sick in the head

The liver is one of the leading organs, cleansing the blood of toxins. When its normal function is disrupted, the protein breakdown products and bile are accumulated in the brain and spinal cord that can lead even to mental disorders.

The most common consequence of neurasthenia. This disease is manifested by increased excitability, or, conversely, retardation, sleep disorders, sometimes skin itching. The lack of sleep and change the mood joined by a headache, dizziness and palpitations.

Quite often alcoholic liver disease becomes the cause of problems in the sexual sphere in women disrupted menstrual cycle, and men suffer from impotence.

What in the stomach?

Much less is known about the harmful effects of alcohol on the stomach and intestines, but very often alcohol leads to erosions of the stomach and duodenum.

Erosion is a defect of the mucous membrane of organs. It is life-threatening and rises a possibility of severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Highly undesirable to take alcohol products for patients with peptic ulcer disease: it can cause worsening of the disease or result in complications. The ulcer becomes so deep that at this point the wall of the stomach or duodenum appears defect-perforation, or damaged blood vessel and the bleeding. Complications of peptic ulcer are life-threatening and require emergency surgery.

In addition, while alcohol abuse diarrhea happens more often. Cause violations of deifications and directly damage the cells of the intestinal mucosa. In fact, the heartburn. Also, alcohol impairs the function of the pancreas, resulting in insufficient digestion.

A few words about Smoking

Smoking worsens the course of many gastroenterological diseases. This applies, for example, pancreatitis and peptic ulcer disease. Smokers ulcer popping ulcers and their complications — bleeding or perforation. Yes, and the results of treatment of smokers фку worse, the ulcer heals slowly.

It is widely known that Smoking is closely associated with lung cancer. Unfortunately, much less information is available about the value of Smoking for the occurrence of malignant tumors of the digestive system. Smoking is scientifically proven risk factor for development of esophageal cancer, stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer.

More about harmful influence oof smoking on Gastrointestinal tract watch in the video below:

How Smoking Affects Digestive System

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