Alcohol poisoning occurs when a high level of alcohol is present in your bloodstream and is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol poisoning, or an alcohol overdose, is a serious health problem that can be deadly in some cases. It can lead to a number of different health problems and those who are dealing with an alcohol overdose will likely need medical attention. Alcohol poisoning is often a result of binge drinking over a few days or in a short period of time. Alcohol poisoning happens when there’s too much alcohol in your blood, and parts of your brain shut down.

Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital if you notice signs of alcohol poisoning. Then, do what you can to keep the person safe until help arrives. Never leave someone who is drunk alone, whether they are asleep or awake. If you are concerned that they could hurt you, maintain a safe distance while waiting for professional help. Alcohol affects many physical functions, including blood pressure, breathing, and a person’s level of awareness. If you’ve drunk a dangerous amount of alcohol, doctors may “pump” your stomach.

What are the risk factors for an alcohol overdose?

Vital measures include heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen level, temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar, and indicate how far from baseline a person may be. The goal is to give supportive care, which could include things like giving fluids through an IV to prevent dehydration. In addition to the serious risk of death, alcohol poisoning can also lead to irreversible brain damage. Other long-term complications of heavy alcohol use include addiction, cancer, cirrhosis, liver disease, vitamin deficiencies, and mental health problems. It also increases the risk of unintentional injuries due to falls, drowning, assault, and car accidents.

The best way to reduce your risk is to keep your alcohol consumption low or consider non-alcoholic beverages as an alternative. If someone experiences alcohol poisoning, they will need time to recover. After receiving medical intervention, they will continue to have severe hangover symptoms until their condition becomes more stable. Consuming too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is marked by symptoms such as poor coordination, hypothermia, irregular heartbeat, slowed breathing, and unconsciousness. BAC and the number of drinks you consume are very rough indicators of impairment. Alcohol intoxication can vary by tolerance (meaning whether your body is accustomed to the presence of alcohol through repeated use), your gender, body weight, body fat percentage, and other factors.

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Even so, there is no standard limit for alcoholic drinks that will cause the intoxication. A person can suffer from alcohol poisoning even if she or he does not consume a large amount of ethanol. You should learn the signs of alcohol poisoning warning signs of alcohol poisoning and what to do if a friend or a loved one exhibits these symptoms. Someone who has drunk too much may not be capable of getting help for themselves, especially when speaking about teen drinking, so your efforts can ultimately save a life.

It may also mess with your sleep, and poor sleep hygiene can lead to further health concerns, like obesity and diabetes. Knowing all the negative effects alcohol has on your physical and mental health can make it easier to understand why you’re better off without it. A person experiencing alcohol poisoning may also have other medical issues, such as a head injury or a drug overdose.

Dangerous myths

However, severe alcohol overdose may cause seizures, resulting in brain damage if oxygen to the brain is cut off. Your height and weight determine how quickly your body absorbs alcohol. Someone with a smaller body may experience the effects of alcohol more rapidly than someone with a larger body. In fact, the smaller-bodied person may experience an alcohol overdose after drinking the same amount that a larger-bodied person can consume safely. Alcohol in the form of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is in alcoholic beverages. It’s also in mouthwash, some cooking extracts, some medicines and certain household products.

This keeps any leftover alcohol from getting into your bloodstream. Your liver usually does a good job of keeping alcohol’s toxins from getting into your bloodstream. But if you drink a lot in a short time, your liver may not be able to keep up. People are at a high risk of alcohol poisoning if they consume 12 or more units of alcohol, especially in a short space of time. This is equivalent to just under 6 medium glasses of wine, or around 7 bottles of 5% beer. When somebody consumes an alcoholic drink, their liver has to filter out the alcohol, a toxin, from their blood.

Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose

Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks (for men) or four or more drinks (for women) within two hours. This is when a male rapidly consumes five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours or a female consumes at least four drinks within two hours. An alcohol binge can occur over hours or last up to several days. Alcohol poisoning occurs when someone drinks so much in a short amount of time that basic body functions (like breathing, heartbeat, and temperature regulation) all begin to shut down. Usually, men can display the effects of alcohol poisoning after five or more drinks, while women display them after four or more if the drinking takes place over atwo hours.

“For psychologists, many of them are addiction-informed, and in their advertisements or on their websites they will mention that specifically,” Dr. Lembke said. To get started, try searching a directory like Psychology https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Today or Inclusive Therapists, both of which have filters you can use to look for specific support around substance use. Goals can help you stay on track, but sometimes one big goal feels too out of reach.

What Is Alcohol Poisoning?

That said, this help will come in the form of medical attention. If you or someone you love is dealing with some type of problem that you believe to be alcohol poisoning, it is best to call emergency services and not leave their side until medical professionals arrive. In fact, excessive alcohol use is responsible for 140,000 deaths each year. Usually, hangover symptoms like vomiting will go away within 24 hours. If you do vomit after drinking, it’s best to let your stomach upset run its course.

• Your health care provider or counselor can suggest a support group.
• It’s not necessary to have all the above symptoms before seeking medical help.
• Even small increases in BAC can decrease motor coordination, make a person feel sick, and cloud judgment.
• “Just get a sparkling water, put a lime in it, and have fun,” he says.
• Survival is possible if immediate medical care is provided, but death or permanent disability can result without treatment.
• But it’s important to know that, at this stage, the situation can progress rapidly.