Efectos del alcohol en la fisiología humana

Autores/as

  • Ramón Estruch Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital Clinic. Barcelona. Enviar correspondencia: Ramón Estruch. Servei de Medicina Interna. Hospital Clinic. Villarroel 170. 08036 Barcelona. Tel. +34932275400.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.519

Palabras clave:

Alcohol, Fisiología humana, Aparato Digestivo, Sistema Cardiovascular, Presión Arterial, Sistema Nervioso

Resumen

El alcohol etílico es tóxico para el organismo, pero consumido de forma esporádica y a dosis bajas, sus efectos son rápidamente reversibles. Dosis elevadas sobre el tubo digestivo dan lugar a trastornos de la motilidad esofágica, aparición de reflujo gastroesofágico con todas sus posibles consecuencias, gastritis, trastornos del vaciado gástrico y diarreas. A nivel cardiovascular el consumo agudo da lugar a una reducción aguda de la función contráctil del corazón y a la aparición de arritmias cardíacas. Las alteraciones agudas de la función contráctil del corazón se deben a un efecto inotrópico negativo del etanol sobre el músculo cardíaco, pero este efecto suele quedar enmascarado por un efecto indirecto cronotrópico e inotrópico positivo secundario a la liberación de catecolaminas. Más importancia tiene la relación entre consumo de alcohol y arritmias cardíacas, conocido bajo el término de “corazón del fin de semana” (holiday heart), que debe considerarse como una forma preclínica de miocardiopatía alcohólica. Además de la embriaguez deben destacarse otros efectos sobre el sistema nervioso central como sus efectos sobre la electrofisiología cerebral (potenciales evocados visuales y auditivos), el metabolismo cerebral y la circulación cerebral. Existen posibles efectos beneficiosos del consumo de cantidades moderadas como antiséptico gástrico e intestinal, sobre el sistema cardiovascular (reducción de la mortalidad global y de la mortalidad coronaria) y sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer.

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Publicado

2002-12-15

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