When a large quantity of alcohol is consumed, usually over a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. The human body is capable of processing 1 to 1.5 ounces of alcohol in an hour. This is the amount usually contained in a standard drink ? a 12 ounce bottle of beer, a five ounce glass of wine, or one mixed drink (however, many mixed drinks and punches contain far greater quantities of alcohol).
It is well known that alcohol is a depressant and dulls or weakens functioning abilities of the nerves which control an individual's breathing, heartbeat and gag reflex. The gag reflex is activated when the body cannot process all of the alcohol consumed. What it cannot process, is vomited out, due to the gag reflex. When the gag reflex is weak, the body absorbs even the extra alcohol, which otherwise it would excrete as vomit. In extreme cases, this can cause alcohol poisoning.
The following are the symptoms that indicate possible alcohol poisoning: 1The person is unconscious 2The person is taking in less than 12 breaths per minute, or no breaths at all for up to 10 seconds at a time. 3The skin/lips are cold and turning blue in color If you happen to be with someone displaying the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, you should call for emergency help immediately. In the meanwhile, turn the person over to their side in order to prevent them from choking if they happen to vomit in the state of unconsciousness. Other symptoms to be watched out for in a person who has been drinking too much are:
1Slurred speech 2Difficulty walking or standing up 3Unpredictable behavior 4Inability to make eye contact or continue a conversation 5A lot of vomiting and feeling ill At the hospital, the patient suffering from alcohol poisoning may undergo a stomach wash, where a saline solution is used to wash and pump out its contents. Alcohol poisoning is a serious effect of excessive drinking and can be fatal if not attended to in time.
There is a common understanding that mixing drinks will make you more drunk. For example mixing beer with, say vodka. However, mixing alcoholic drinks will not make one more or less drunk. What is important is the amount of alcohol consumed in a specific amount of time. But, combinations of certain beverages may cause the drinker's stomach to get upset. Each individual should keenly watch their body's own reactions and drink accordingly.
Alcohol poisoning or even unpleasant drunken behavior can be avoided by taking the following simple precautions:
1Take your drink slowly 2Sip your drink, don't swallow big gulps 3Dilute your drinks 4Avoid undiluted shots 5Take alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks alternately 6Be on a full stomach before you begin drinking
For weeks and months we’ve been hearing and reading about the alcohol-related misadventures of famous families and Hollywood celebrities and how, one for one, they are all atoning for their behavior, apologizing (or not) to fans and judges, and checking into alcohol detox and rehab programs to deal with their demons.
But there’s another, deadlier aspect to alcohol abuse that isn’t often mentioned in the news – sudden, unexpected accidental death from alcohol itself. Not a traffic accident and not a falling-drunk-out-a-window type accident. This is sudden, unexpected death from the chemical effects of alcohol on the human body, too much alcohol all at once, called alcohol poisoning.
Such deaths happen to first-time alcohol users as well as long-term habitual abusers. More than 1,400 people a year in the U.S. die from ingesting too much alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). And more than 50 college students a year die from it – that’s nearly one a week. No time for warnings from friends or family, no time for helpful interventions, no time for enrolling in a life-saving alcohol detox.
Alcohol poisoning occurs because alcohol is a poison. We don’t normally associate a legal, edible substance with also being a potential poison, but when the level of alcohol in the blood (called Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC) gets too high, you will die.
Alcohol abuse is is fraught with myths:
Myth: The worst thing that can happen is that I'll pass out and have a hangover tomorrow.
Fact: Death occurs when the level of alcohol in the body acts as a poison, when blood levels start rising above .35.
Myth: People pass out from drinking all the time – it's nothing to worry about.
Fact: When the body cannot tolerate the amount of alcohol you have put into it, you pass out. But it is something to worry about - alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that slows the heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and slows your breathing.
Important fact: The amount of alcohol it takes to make you pass out is dangerously close to the amount of alcohol it takes to make you dead! When one of the aforementioned celebrities was busted for an alcohol-related driving infraction, she had a BAC above .024, according to press reports, and she was nearly unconscious. The legal limit is .01 in most states. We can only hope that her alcohol detox and rehab program will include the above information, and that the information will be meaningful to her.
Myth: The best thing to do for someone who is drunk is to put them to bed and let them sleep it off.
Fact: Partly true, but a drunk person is helpless and must be cared for. Never leave a drunk person alone, especially an unconscious one. Regularly check their breathing; it should be more than 10 breaths a minute. Check that their skin temperature isn’t clammy, their coloring isn’t blue or purple, and frequently try to wake them. If they won’t stir, or any of these other symptoms are present, call 911 immediately. This person could be dying.
Myth: I don’t want to call for help, they’re my friend and I don’t want to get them in trouble.
Fact: When someone has passed out from drinking too much he or she is suffering from alcohol poisoning and needs medical attention. You’ll be a lot sorrier if you don't call for help and your friend dies. That’s a lot worse than catching hell from a wife, husband, parent or the cops.
And if your friend is in any way a habitual or excessive drinker – a few drinks every day or getting drunk once or twice a week – get that person into an alcohol detox and rehab program as soon as possible. They’ll thank you for saving their life – again.
The only way to get down to the bottom of someone’s alcohol abuse so they can quit drinking is through a good alcohol detox program and then into rehab. Don’t take alcohol abuse lightly or laugh it off when someone you care about passes out. The next time they do that could be their last.
Both Jack Smith & Rod Mactaggart are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jack Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, Air Purifier Cleaners and Abdominal. Jack Smith writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intacked, the bio remains in full. Jack Smith's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Rod Mactaggart has sinced written about articles on various topics from Addictions, Alcohol Treatment and Keyboard Synthesizer. Rod is a Florida based freelance writer who contributes articles on health. Rod Mactaggart's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.