What Happens to Your Body When You Get Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
It is common for someone who drank excessive alcohol to vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. There is then the danger of choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not conscious because of intoxication.
You should also know that a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out. Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off.
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A L E R T |
Critical Signs for Alcohol Poisoning -Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused. -Vomiting. -Seizures. -Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute). -Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths). -Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness. |
What Should I Do If I Suspect Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning?
-Know the danger signals.
-Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
-Be aware that a person who has passed out may die.
-If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help. Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness.
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What Can Happen to Someone With Alcohol Poisoning That Goes Untreated? -Victim chokes on his or her own vomit. -Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops. -Heart beats irregularly or stops. -Hypothermia (low body temperature). -Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures. -Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death. |
Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that your friend may become angry or embarrassed-remember, you cared enough to help. Always be safe, not sorry.
If You Just Have a Really Bad Hangover
The key to dealing with a hangover is not getting one in the first place. Next time you drink, make sure your stomach is not empty before you start drinking. You don't necessarily want a very full stomach (since you may compensate by drinking even more), but rather, something in your stomach to soak up some of the alcohol. Be careful though, some foods may actually make your hangover worse. For example, peanuts, hotdogs, pasta, etc. do not soak up alcohol very well, but rather increases the amount of stomach activity that can lead to more irritation by the alcohol. Another rookie mistake is to start eating only after already starting to drink too much. It may help a little, but the process of your stomach being irritated has already begun.
Another key to avoiding a bad hangover is to drink plenty of water while you are drinking alcoholic beverages. A good ratio is one glass of water with every two drinks. This does two things. First of all, it dilutes the negative effects of the alcohol (without taking away much of the enjoyable effects). Second of all, it gives your body a chance to take a break from the steady flow of alcohol and the habit to have something in your hand to drink at all times (regardless of what it is that you are drinking).
The final key to avoiding hangovers is to listen to your body after a bout of drinking. Determine if there are certain drinks or drink combinations that consistently make you have a hangover. Also note which drinks do not tend to give you a hangover. When you start a night of drinking, always start with drinks that do not seem to give you hangovers, even if you feel the need to switch to other drinks later on in the evening. Also, when choosing drinks, always go with the high quality alcohol beverages. Your body will thank you for it the next day.
In spite of your precautions, you still make get the occasional hangover. Here are some steps that you can take if you have a bad hangover:
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S U M M A R Y |
Preventing a Bad Hangover -Drink plenty of water -Eat something with protein when you wake up -Drink enough coffee to prevent a caffeine headache on top of your hangover headache -Do not drive anywhere until your hangover is gone -After you eat and drink something, go back to sleep for another couple of hours -If you need to take a pain killer, verify that it won't hurt your liver or make the hangover worse |
Source: NIAAA