alcohol poisoning

I realized something today after reading some article about alcohol poisoning. Well, not that I am a drinker but I do get drunk a few times with friends. Last Christmas Eve after having some shots of alcohol, for the second time I experienced having difficulty in breathing but not as bad as the first time I experienced it. The first time I had it was really worst, I really can’t breathe that time, chest pain was really unbearable, my friends told me the morning after that I look so pale and I realized it might be an alcohol poisoning. It’s kinda scary after learning about it and I think from now on I should drink responsibly.

According to http://www.ehow.com/about_5589142_alcohol_related-breathing-problems.html

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it will slow down your nervous system. Depending on the amount of alcohol you consume, you may experience a variety of emotional and physical changes. For example, when alcohol is absorbed in your bloodstream, it is then dispersed to other organs. The liver is responsible for dispelling the alcohol from your body. However, if the liver cannot keep up with your alcohol consumption, then the alcohol will build up and lead to you becoming intoxicated, which cause certain functions controlled by your nerves to be impaired. Breathing is one of them.

According to http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215627.php

When a person has alcohol poisoning they have consumed a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short period. Their blood alcohol level is so high it is considered toxic (poisonous). The patient can become extremely confused, unresponsive, disoriented, have shallow breathing, and can even pass out or go into a coma. Alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening and usually requires urgent medical treatment.

Binge drinking is a common cause of alcohol poisoning. However, it can also occur accidentally, as when somebody unintentionally drinks alcohol-containing products (much less common).

When somebody consumes an alcohol drink, their liver has to filter out the alcohol, a toxin from their blood. We absorb alcohol much more quickly than food - alcohol gets to our bloodstream much faster. However, the liver can only process a limited amount of alcohol; approximately one unit of alcohol every hour.

If you drink two units in one hour, there will be an extra unit in your bloodstream. If during the next hour you drink another two units, you will have two units floating around in your bloodstream at the end of two hours after your drinking session. The faster you drink, the higher your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) becomes. If you drink too fast, your BAC can spike dangerously high.

According to http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/acute-alcohol-poisoning

1. Alcohol is a poison

Agatha Christie doesn’t write about it as a murder weapon and it doesn’t feature in Cluedo. But alcohol is a poison and can sometimes have lethal consequences. 

Your body can only process one unit of alcohol an hour. Drink a lot in a short space of time and the amount of alcohol in the blood can stop the body from working properly.

It can:

·         slow down your brain functions so you lose your sense of balance.

·         irritate the stomach which causes vomiting and it stops your gag reflex from working properly – you can choke on, or inhale, your own vomit into your lungs. 

·         affect the nerves that control your breathing and heartbeat, it can stop both.

·         dehydrate you, which can cause permanent brain damage.

·         lower the body’s temperature, which can lead to hypothermia.

·         lower your blood sugar levels, so you could suffer seizures.

2. Look out for the signs

It can be a very fine line. One minute your house guest is stupidly drunk, the next they’ve become dangerously intoxicated. 

Being aware of the signs of alcohol poisoning is crucial, because if a person you care about is suffering from acute alcohol poisoning, they will be in no state to help themselves. 

Look out for:

·         Confusion

·         Loss of coordination

·         Vomiting

·         Seizures

·         Irregular or slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)

·         Blue-tinged or pale skin

·         Low body temperature (hypothermia)

·         Stupor – when someone’s conscious but unresponsive

·         Unconsciousness – passing out

3. Know what NOT to do

Acute alcohol poisoning can be extremely dangerous. Your best intentions could make it worse. There are so many myths around about how to deal with people who’ve drunk to excess, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re aware of what NOT to do. 

NEVER:

• Leave someone to sleep it off. The amount of alcohol in someone’s blood continues to rise even when they’re not drinking. That’s because alcohol in the digestive system carries on being absorbed into the bloodstream. Too much alcohol in the blood stops the body working properly.
• Give them a coffee. Alcohol dehydrates the body. Coffee will make someone who is already dehydrated even more so. Severe dehydration can cause permanent brain damage.
• Make them sick. Their gag reflex won’t be working properly which means they could choke on their vomit.
• Walk them around. Alcohol is a depressant which slows down your brain’s functions and affects your sense of balance. Walking them around might cause accidents.
• Put them under a cold shower. Alcohol lowers your body temperature, which could lead to hypothermia. A cold shower could make them colder than they already are.
• Let them drink any more alcohol. The amount of alcohol in their bloodstream could become dangerously high.