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Alcohol poisoning is a significant — and occasionally fatal — side effect of consuming high quantities of alcohol in a short period of time. Too much alcohol consumed in a short period of time might impair your breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and gag reflex, potentially leading to coma and death.
Alcohol poisoning can also occur when adults or children inadvertently or purposely consume alcohol-containing household goods.
A person who has been poisoned by alcohol need rapid medical assistance. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL POISONING?
Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Pale or blue-tinged skin
- Low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Breathing slowly (less than eight breaths a minute)
- Breathing irregularities (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
- Passing out (being unconscious) and unable to be awakened
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?
It is not required to have all of the above indications or symptoms before seeking medical attention. A person suffering from alcohol poisoning who is unconscious or unable to be woken faces death.
Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency
Even if you don't observe the traditional signs and symptoms, seek quick medical attention if you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning. Here's what you should do:
- Immediately dial 911 or your local emergency number. Never presume that the person will sleep off the effects of alcohol poisoning.
- Prepare to share knowledge. If you know, inform hospital or emergency personnel of the type and amount of alcohol consumed, as well as the time.
- Don't leave a person who is unconscious alone. Because alcohol poisoning alters the way the gag reflex functions, a person suffering from alcohol poisoning may choke on his or her own vomit and become unable to breathe. Don't try to make the victim vomit while waiting for aid since he or she may choke.
- Assist someone who is vomiting. Try to keep him or her upright. If the person must lie down, ensure that his or her head is turned to the side to avoid choking. To avoid losing consciousness, try to keep the person alert.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALCOHOL POISONING?
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is found in alcoholic beverages, mouthwash, culinary extracts, several pharmaceuticals, and certain home goods. Ethyl alcohol poisoning is usually caused by drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short period of time.
Other types of alcohol, such as isopropyl alcohol (found in rubbing alcohol, lotions, and some cleaning products) and methanol or ethylene glycol (a frequent element in antifreeze, paints, and solvents), can produce severe poisoning that necessitates immediate medical attention.
Binge drinking
Binge drinking is a primary cause of alcohol poisoning. It is a pattern of heavy drinking in which a male consumes five or more alcoholic beverages in two hours or a female consumes at least four drinks in two hours. An alcohol binge can last several hours or several days.
You can take a deadly dose before passing out. Even if you're unconscious or have stopped drinking, alcohol continues to be released from your stomach and intestines into your bloodstream, and your blood alcohol level rises.
What is the limit?
Unlike food, which can take hours to digest, alcohol is swiftly absorbed by the body - far faster than most other nutrients. And it takes far longer for your body to eliminate the alcohol you've consumed. Your liver processes (metabolizes) the majority of alcohol.
The more you drink, especially in a short period of time, the more likely you are to become ill from alcohol poisoning.
A single drink is defined as:
- 12 ounces (355 mL) of standard beer (about 5 percent alcohol)
- 8–9 ounces (237–266 milliliters) malt liquor (about 7 percent alcohol)
- 5 ounces (148 milliliters) wine (about 12 percent alcohol)
- 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) 80-proof hard liquor (about 40 percent alcohol)
Mixed drinks can have more than one serving of alcohol and take longer to digest.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR ALCOHOL POISONING?
Alcohol poisoning can be caused by a number of circumstances, including:
Your size and weight
Your general health
Whether you've recently eaten
Whether you combine booze with other drugs or not
The alcohol content in your beverages
The amount and rate of alcohol consumption
Your level of tolerance
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL POISONING?
Alcohol intoxication can lead to serious problems such as:
- Choking: Alcohol can make you vomit. Because it suppresses your gag reflex, you are more likely to choke on vomit if you pass out.
- Seizures: Seizures may occur if your blood sugar drops too low.
- Hypothermia: Your body temperature may drop to the point of cardiac arrest.
- Heartbeat irregularity: Alcohol poisoning can cause the heart to beat erratically or possibly cease beating altogether.
- Stopping breathing: Inadvertently inhaling vomit into your lungs can result in a serious or fatal breathing interruption (asphyxiation).
- Severe dehydration: Vomiting can cause severe dehydration, which can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
- Damage to the brain: Heavy drinking has been linked to irreversible brain damage.
- Death: Any of the concerns listed above can result in death.
HOW IS ALCOHOL POISONING DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to evaluate blood alcohol levels and find additional markers of alcohol toxicity, such as low blood sugar, in addition to checking for visual signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR ALCOHOL POISONING?
The therapy for alcohol poisoning mainly consists of supportive care while your body rids itself of the alcohol. This usually includes:
- Close supervision
- Preventing breathing or choking issues
- Oxygen therapy
- Fluids administered intravenously (through a vein) to prevent dehydration
- Vitamins and carbohydrates are used to assist prevent major complications from alcohol poisoning.
Adults and children who have inadvertently consumed methanol or isopropyl alcohol may require hemodialysis — a mechanical method of filtering waste and toxins from your system — to accelerate the clearance of alcohol from their bloodstream.
HOME REMEDIES FOR ALCOHOL POISONING?
Home cures for alcohol poisoning are ineffective. This is a true emergency.
Myths that are dangerous
You cannot reverse the consequences of alcohol poisoning, and some activities may potentially worsen the situation. What doesn't work is as follows:
- Sleeping it off – it is possible to lose awareness while sleeping.
- Black coffee or caffeine has no effect on the effects of alcohol poisoning.
- A chilly shower might trigger a loss of consciousness due to the shock of cold.
- Walking it off has no effect on the rate at which alcohol leaves your body.
HOW CAN ALCOHOL POISONING BE PREVENTED?
To prevent alcohol poisoning:
- Drink alcohol sparingly, if at all: If you must consume alcohol, do it in moderation. For healthy individuals, that means no more than one drink per day for women of all ages and men over the age of 65, and no more than two drinks per day for men 65 and younger. When you do drink, take your time with it.
- Do not consume alcohol on an empty stomach: Having some food in your stomach may reduce alcohol absorption slightly, but it won't prevent alcohol poisoning if you're binge drinking, for example.
- Talk to your teenagers: Discuss the dangers of alcohol, including excessive drinking, with your teenagers. Children who are warned about alcohol by their parents and who report close relationships with their parents are less likely to start drinking, according to the evidence.
- Safely store your products: If you have little children, keep alcohol-containing products out of their reach, such as cosmetics, mouthwashes, and prescriptions. To limit access to household cleansers, utilize child-proof bathroom and kitchen cupboards. Keep dangerous goods out of reach in your garage or storage area. Consider keeping alcoholic beverages behind closed doors.
- Obtain follow-up care: If you or your teen has been treated for alcohol poisoning, make sure to inquire about any necessary follow-up care. Meeting with a health professional, particularly one with experience in chemical dependency, can help you avoid future binge drinking.