What is Alcohol Poisoning.

Definition: Alcohol poisoning is a condition which develops when a person has consumed excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. As mentioned in alcohol, there is depression of the nervous system, when alcohol consumption is excessive. As a result, certain life saving nerve reflexes are depressed and do not function.

The reflex that controls breathing and the gag reflex which prevents chocking on vomit become functionless. Acute alcohol poisoning also causes irreversible brain damage and should be treated on an emergency basis – else it can result in alcohol poisoning death.

Alcohol Poisoning Statistics.

Alcohol poisoning statistics of  the U.K.

• Alcoholism statistics show an increase of 20% in alcohol poisoning cases every year over the past 8 years.
• Everyday about 23 children are diagnosed with alcohol poisoning.
• Hospital admissions went up from 6288 in 2000 to over 8000 in 2008

Alcohol poisoning statistics of U.S.

• 50,000 people are diagnosed with alcohol poisoning every year.
• That means more than 960 people every week.
• The National Vital Statistics Report indicates that the alcohol induced deaths were 22,073 in 2006.

Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning|Signs of Alcohol Poisoning.

Alcohol Poisoning signs and symptoms include:

• Slow and irregular breathing. (Less than 8 breaths per minute and a gap of about 10 seconds between breaths).
• Vomiting.
• Seizures.
• Confusion.
• Hypothermia or fall in body temperature.
• Passing out or coma. (cannot be aroused).
• Skin becomes pale.
• There is sweating.
• Fall in blood sugar levels leading to hypoglycemia.

On coming across a case of acute alcohol poisoning, seek medical help. Turn him over the side so that he lies down sideways. This is to prevent any vomit from being asphyxiated and causing choking.

Causes of Alcohol Poisoning.

How do you get alcohol poisoning. When you drink alcohol, it reaches the stomach and the intestines from where it is absorbed through the intestinal walls into the blood stream. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for the alcohol to reach the blood. It travels throughout the body via the blood stream. On reaching the brain, it starts causing intoxication. Once the alcohol reaches the liver via the blood, it starts getting metabolized in the liver and gets converted into water, carbon dioxide and energy.

As mentioned in alcohol units, the liver can process or metabolize only one alcohol unit in one hour, which is

• 25 ml of  whiskey or rum or vodka of 40% strength by volume, or
• Half a pint of mild beer of 4% strength, or
• 50 ml of fortified wine or sherry of 20% strength by volume.

Drinking faster than the speed of metabolism results in building up of alcohol in the blood. Excessive drinking as in alcohol binge drinking ( 5 fast drinks in a row) can result in very high levels of alcohol build up in the blood and its depressive action on the brain leads to the signs and symptoms mentioned above. The time required to get alcohol poisoning depends on how fast and how much a person has drunk and it varies from person to person. The faster and more you have consumed alcohol, the more severe the case of alcohol poisoning.

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning causes certain complications which are given below.

• Severe dehydration.
• Choking on one’s own vomit.
• Inhalation of vomit into the lungs leading to severe breathing difficulty.
• Irreversible brain damage due to the depressant action of alcohol on the brain.
• Coma.
• Death can result in unattended cases.

Alcohol Poisoning Deaths.

Alcohol Poisoning deaths can occur after extreme consumption of alcohol. Death by alcohol poisoning occurs due to breathing arrest as a result of depression of the central nervous system caused by excessive levels of alcohol in the blood. It can also occur due to asphyxiation by inhalation of vomit. Death due to alcohol poisoning occurs after blood alcohol concentration or BAC reaches 0.40 grams per 100 milliliters of blood.

Diagnosis of Alcohol Poisoning.

Blood samples taken are tested for alcohol levels in the blood. High blood levels of alcohol will confirm alcohol poisoning. Urine where possible is also tested for levels of alcohol.

Alcohol Poisoning Treatment.

Treatment of alcohol poisoning or alcohol poisoning cure consists of preventing the alcohol poisoning effects from developing and also helping in getting rid of alcohol from the body.

• Admission into intensive care unit.
• Care, watch and monitoring of the patient.
• Intra venous fluids to prevent dehydration and I.V. glucose if blood sugar has fallen low.
• Oxygen therapy.
• Preventing choking.
• Keeping the airway open.
• Administration of thiamin.
• Patients who have consumed methyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol will require kidney dialysis to facilitate faster removal of the toxins from the body.

Our other related posts on Alcohol.

1) What is Alcohol.2) Alcohol Statistics.3) Alcohol units.4) Alcoholic and Alcoholism.5) Effects of alcohol.6) Alcohol Poisoning.7) Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal.9) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.10) Treatment for Alcohol.11)Alcoholism Rehab.

 

Related posts:

1. Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal|Alcohol Detox.
2. Treatment for Alcohol|Detoxing Alcohol.
3. Effects of Alcohol.
4. Alcohol Units|Drinking Alcohol Limits.
5. Alcoholic|Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Causes and Symptoms.
6. Alcohol Withdrawal|Withdrawal Symptoms.
7. Alcohol.
8. Alcohol Statistics.