Description

Alcohol poisoning is a serious-and sometimes deadly — the result of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex. In some cases, this can lead to a coma and death.

Alcohol poisoning can also occur when adults or children accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.

If you believe that someone has alcohol poisoning, seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms

Alcohol poisoning symptoms include:

  • Confusion.
  • Vomiting.
  • Seizures.
  • Slow breathing, which is less than eight times per minute.
  • Breathing is not regular. This is when there is a difference of more than 10 seconds between breaths.
  • Skin that looks blue, grey or pale in color.
  • Low body temperature, also known as hypothermia.
  • The difficulty to remain conscious or awake.

When to see a doctor

It is not necessary to have all the above symptoms before seeking medical help. A person with alcohol poisoning that has happened or not you can awaken it could die.

Alcohol poisoning is an emergency

If you believe that someone has alcohol poisoning, seek immediate medical attention. This is true even if you don't see the usual signs.

Here is what you should do:

  • Call 911 or the local emergency number immediately. Never assume that the person is sleep off alcohol intoxication.
  • Be prepared to give information. If you know the type and amount of alcohol the person drank, and when I tell hospital or emergency personnel.
  • Don't leave an unconscious person alone. Because alcohol poisoning affects the way in which the gag reflex works, someone with alcohol poisoning may vomit and drown and not being able to breathe. While waiting for help, don't try to make the person throw up, because that may cause choking.
  • Help someone who is vomiting. Try to keep the person sitting. If the person should lie down, turn the head to the side to help prevent choking. Try to keep the person awake.

Don't be afraid to get help

It can be difficult to decide if you think someone is drunk enough to need medical help. But it is best to take action immediately, instead of regret later. You can worry about what is going to happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if you are a minor. But the results of not getting help in time can be much more serious.

Causes

The Alcohol in the form of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is in alcoholic beverages. Also in the mouthwash, some extracts of the kitchen, some medications, and certain products for the home. The ethyl alcohol intoxication are usually the result of drinking alcoholic beverages in a short period of time.

Other forms of alcohol may cause toxic poisoning that requires emergency treatment. They include:

  • Isopropyl Alcohol, which is found in rubbing alcohol, lotions, and some cleaning products.
  • Methanol or ethylene glycol, which is a common ingredient in antifreeze, paints and solvents.

Excessive consumption of alcohol

One of the main causes of alcohol poisoning is the consumption of excessive alcohol. This is when a man quickly consumes five or more alcoholic beverages within two hours or a woman consuming at least four drinks within two hours. An excess of alcohol can occur over hours or last up to several days.

A person can consume a fatal dose of alcohol before passing. Even when the person is unconscious or stops to drink, the stomach and intestines and continue for the liberation of alcohol in the bloodstream, and the level of alcohol in the body continues to rise.

How much is too much?

Unlike food, which can take hours to digest, the body absorbs the alcohol quickly — long before most of the other nutrients. And it takes a lot more time for the body to get rid of alcohol. The majority of alcohol is processed by the liver.

The more you drink, especially in a short period of time, the greater the risk of alcohol poisoning.

This is what that one drink means.

  • Beer: 12 oz (360 ml) with about 5% of alcohol.
  • Licor de malta: 8 to 9 fluid ounces (240 to 270 milliliters) with about 7% alcohol.
  • Wine - 5 ounces (150 ml), with about 12% alcohol.
  • Liquor such as gin, rum, vodka or whiskey: 1.5 oz (45 ml) of 80-proof drink that has about 40% of alcohol.

But the amount of alcohol in a drink can be much higher than those of the previous list. For example, some craft beers can have four times the amount of alcohol that of a regular beer. The Alcohol content displayed on the label. Or you can ask the server about the alcohol content. Be aware that the alcohol content of what you are drinking, and adjust the amount you drink based on this knowledge.

Mixed drinks may contain more than one serving of alcohol.

Risk factors

There are several factors that can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, including:

  • Your height and weight.
  • Health conditions that affect how your body processes alcohol.
  • If you have eaten recently.
  • If you have had alcohol along with other drugs, including drugs that are taken for health reasons.
  • The percentage of alcohol in the drinks.
  • How to fast and the amount of alcohol you drink.
  • How the body processes alcohol.

Complications

Serious complications can result from alcohol poisoning, including:

  • Suffocation. Alcohol can cause vomiting. Because it suppresses the gag reflex, this increases the risk of choking on vomit if the person is faint.
  • Stop breathing. The accidental inhalation of vomit into the lungs can lead to a dangerous or fatal interruption of breathing, also known as the choking.
  • The severe loss of fluids. The vomiting can result in severe dehydration, which occurs when the body does not have enough water and other liquids. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
  • Seizures. The level of blood sugar can drop low enough to cause seizures.
  • Hypothermia. The body temperature can drop so low that leads to a cardiac arrest.
  • Unusual heart beat. Alcohol poisoning can lead to a heartbeat that is not normal. You can even cause the heart to stop.
  • The brain damage. Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause brain damage that can not be reversed.
  • Death. Any of the above problems can lead to death.

Prevention

To avoid poisoning by alcohol:

  • Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. When you drink, enjoy your drink slowly.
  • Do not drink alcohol with certain medications. Some medications can cause harmful effects when taken with small amounts of alcohol. And certain health conditions can mean it takes less amount of alcohol is expected to reach the level of alcohol intoxication. Ask your health care provider if these risks apply to you.
  • Do not drink on an empty stomach. Have some food in the stomach can slow down the process of absorption of alcohol something. But it's not going to prevent the alcohol poisoning during the binge.
  • Communicate with their adolescent children. Talk with your children about the dangers of alcohol, including excessive consumption of alcohol. The evidence suggests that children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and report close relationships with their parents are less likely to start drinking.
  • Store products safely. If you have small children, store alcohol-containing products, including cosmetics, mouthwashes and medications outside of their scope. Use child-proof bathroom and kitchen cabinets, to prevent access to household cleaning products. Keeping toxic items in your garage or storage area safely out of their reach. Consider the possibility of bringing alcoholic beverages and low-key.
  • Get follow-up care. Ask about follow-up care for alcohol intoxication. Meeting with a health care provider, in particular, experience with chemical dependency counselor, can help prevent future excessive consumption of alcohol.

Diagnosis

In addition to checking for visible signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, your doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to check the level of blood alcohol levels and identify other signs of alcohol toxicity, such as low blood sugar.

Treatment

Alcohol poisoning treatment usually involves supportive care while the body rids itself of the alcohol. Typically, this includes:

  • Control to avoid breathing or choking problems.
  • Oxygen therapy.
  • Intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.
  • The use of vitamins and glucose to help prevent serious complications.

People who accidentally consume methanol or isopropyl alcohol hemodialysis may be needed. This is a mechanical way to filter waste and toxins from the blood. It may accelerate the elimination of alcohol from the blood.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Home remedies for alcohol intoxication does not work. Alcohol poisoning is an emergency situation.

Dangerous myths

You may not reverse the effects of the alcohol intoxication, and that could make things worse through some actions. Here is what does not work:

  • Sleep outside. A person can lose consciousness during sleep.
  • Black coffee or caffeine. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages will not stop or reduce the effects of alcohol intoxication.
  • A shower of cold water. The shock of cold can cause a person to faint.
  • Walk. This doesn't do the alcohol to leave the body faster.
Symptoms and treatment of poisoning by Alcohol