Imagine you are at a party with a friend. Everyone is having a great time, and suddenly one of your friends can't get up and falls to the floor, unconscious. Many people might think, "He's too drunk to stay in shape." But is this normal? Or is it something we don't think about? Today we are talking about this dangerous condition that many people don't pay much attention to, but can be fatal, that is, alcohol poisoning .
What exactly is alcohol poisoning?
Simply put, alcohol poisoning is when a person suddenly has too much alcohol in their bloodstream to handle. When this happens, the alcohol starts to disable the parts of our brain that control the most important processes in our lives. Think of our body as a big factory. The brain is its main control room. The most important things like breathing , heart rate , and body temperature are controlled from this control room. In the event of alcohol poisoning, it is as if the power to this control room has suddenly been turned off. This is a life-threatening and potentially fatal condition that requires emergency medical treatment .
This condition is usually caused by drinking too much alcohol (such as beer, wine, or liquor) over a short period of time. However, it can also be caused by accidentally or ingesting other things that contain alcohol, such as mouthwash, cologne, and some cough syrups.
What are the symptoms of alcohol poisoning?
If someone has alcohol poisoning, they may show one or more of the following symptoms. If you see these , never take them lightly.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Disorientation and slowness of response | Not understanding what is being said, taking a long time to answer a question, not knowing where you are. |
| Inability to control the body | I can't walk straight, I can't stay in one place, I'm always falling. |
| Difficulty remembering | Even if you talk to him, he can't be woken up, he always falls asleep, and sometimes he loses consciousness completely. |
| Vomiting | You can vomit nonstop. The most dangerous thing is that if you vomit while unconscious, the vomit can go back into your windpipe and cause suffocation. |
| Irregular breathing | Breathing rate becomes very slow (less than 8 breaths per minute) or breathing pattern becomes irregular. |
| Decreased heart rate | The pulse rate may be much lower than normal . |
| Cold, clammy skin and blueness (cyanosis) | The body feels cold to the touch. The skin is clammy. There may be a bluish tinge, especially around the lips and fingernails. This indicates a lack of oxygen in the blood. |
| Decreased body temperature (Hypothermia) | Body temperature can drop to dangerous levels. |
| Seizures | Some people may experience convulsions, drooling, and even convulsions. |
| Incontinence (inability to control urine or stool) | Things like this can happen because the brain loses control. |
If you see someone with any of these symptoms, don't wait until they're "just a little bit better." Every second can be a life-or-death battle. Take them to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
What should I do if I suspect someone has alcohol poisoning?
There are a few things you can and should do until medical help arrives. These things have a high chance of saving someone's life.
1. Seek help immediately: Call an ambulance without hesitation. Or, if possible, drive to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible.
2. Try to keep the person awake: If possible, try to keep the person awake. Talk to them. But don't try to force them to wake up .
3. Give some water (only if conscious): Give some water to the person only if they are conscious and able to swallow liquids. Never put anything in the mouth of an unconscious person. Doing so can cause objects to become stuck in the windpipe.
4. Prevent choking (this is very important!): Turn an unconscious person onto their side and have them lie down. Just like when they are sleeping. This way, even if they vomit , the vomit will come out without going into their lungs. This is called the 'recovery position' in medical terms. This simple thing can save a life.
5. Keep the body warm: Body temperature can drop dangerously in cases of alcohol poisoning. So, keep the person warm by wrapping them tightly in a cloth or blanket.
6. Explain what you are doing: Since he is unconscious, he may be scared and aggressive even if you try to help him. So, calmly explain things like, "I am trying to help you" or "We are going to the hospital now."
Once the medical team arrives, telling them the details you know (like how much you drank, what you drank, and when your symptoms started) will help a lot with treatment.
Why does alcohol poisoning happen? What happens inside the body?
When we drink alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream from our stomach and small intestine. It then travels throughout the body with the blood. Our body treats alcohol as a poison. The main organ that removes this poison is our liver .
Think of our liver as a water filter. When water comes in at a normal speed, the filter cleans it well. But what happens if you suddenly pour a lot of muddy water at a high speed from a large pipe? The filter gets clogged and it can't clean it. Similarly, when we drink too much alcohol in a short period of time, our liver can't clean that much alcohol. Then the excess alcohol accumulates in the blood and goes to the brain, where it starts to impair brain function. This is called a 'depressant' effect. As this effect increases, the dangerous symptoms of alcohol poisoning appear.
The effect on the body varies depending on the blood alcohol content (BAC).
| Blood alcohol level (BAC) | How the body feels |
|---|---|
| 0.0% | Stay sober. |
| 0.02% | Mood swings, lightheadedness, and slightly reduced decision-making ability. |
| 0.08% | Reduced muscle control, difficulty recognizing hazards, impaired ability to think logically (according to Sri Lankan law, it is driving over the limit). |
| 0.15% | Severe mood swings, nausea and vomiting, loss of balance. |
| 0.15% - 0.30% | Severe confusion, vomiting, drowsiness. |
| 0.30% - 0.40% | Severe risk level. Alcohol poisoning, complete loss of consciousness. |
| Above 0.40% | Fatal level. High risk of coma, death from respiratory arrest. |
What factors increase the risk of alcohol poisoning?
Although anyone can develop alcohol poisoning, certain factors increase the risk.
- Binge drinking: The greatest risk is drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. For example, drinking more than 5 units of alcohol for a man or more than 4 units of alcohol for a woman within a period of about two hours.
- Taking alcohol with other medications: It is very dangerous to take alcohol with things like sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and some painkillers (opioids). These drugs, like alcohol, depress brain function, so when you take them together, the effects are doubled or tripled.
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach: Alcohol is absorbed into the body much faster when there is no food in the stomach. When there is food in the stomach, the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the blood decreases. Therefore, drinking on an empty stomach increases the risk.
- Age: Young people, especially teenagers, are more likely to binge drink, making them more at risk of alcohol poisoning.
- Gender: According to statistics, a higher percentage of people who die from alcohol poisoning are men.
How is this condition diagnosed and treated in a hospital?
When brought to a hospital, doctors diagnose this condition mainly based on symptoms and information about the incident. In addition, they perform several tests to check the internal condition of the body.
- Blood alcohol level (BAC) testing.
- Blood tests to check the body's salt and sugar levels.
- Liver function tests.
- An EKG test to check the functioning of the heart.
Various things are done as treatment depending on the patient's condition.
- Intravenous saline (IV fluids): Saline is given to stop dehydration and to restore blood sugar levels if they are low.
- Oxygen: If you have difficulty breathing, you may be given oxygen through a tube placed in your nose. If breathing is very difficult, you may need to be intubated and given oxygen using a machine.
- Stomach pumping: The stomach is cleaned by inserting a tube to remove toxins that have not been absorbed into the body.
- Blood filtration: If the kidneys are damaged and cannot remove toxins from the blood, the blood is purified by connecting it to a dialysis machine.
Never try to treat this at home. "Home remedies" like giving coffee or bathing in cold water will not do any good. They may even make the situation worse. The only and right thing to do is to take the person to a hospital immediately.
What other complications can occur due to alcohol poisoning?
If not treated promptly, alcohol poisoning can cause serious, long-term complications.
- Forgetting what happened (Blackouts or amnesia).
- A dangerous drop in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), which can cause seizures.
- Liver damage and liver failure.
- Irregular heartbeats.
- Dehydration caused by severe vomiting and resulting seizures.
- Permanent brain damage.
- Coma or death.
How can you avoid this dangerous situation?
The best way to avoid this dangerous situation is to drink responsibly and within limits.
- If you drink alcohol, know your limits: Don't drink more than one unit of alcohol per hour. Drink slowly.
- Avoid drinking contests: These types of events can lead to the temptation to drink excessively in a short period of time.
- Drink water: Drink plenty of water while drinking alcohol. This can help prevent dehydration.
- Don't mix alcohol and medication: If you are taking any medication, be sure to ask your doctor before drinking alcohol.
- Don't drink on an empty stomach: Eat a good meal before drinking alcohol.
- Be aware of what you drink: Avoid mixed drinks (cocktails) that you are not familiar with and are unsure of the contents of.
If alcohol use has become a problem...
If you or someone you know feels like you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol use, don't hesitate to ask for help. It's not a sign of weakness. You can talk to your trusted family doctor about this. He or she can give you the right guidance and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.
Take-Home Message
- Alcohol poisoning is a life-threatening medical emergency that goes far beyond "having a little too much to drink."
- Be aware of symptoms such as confusion, slow breathing, loss of consciousness, and cold, bluish skin.
- If you see any of these symptoms, don't just wait and hope that "it will be okay in a little while", but immediately take the person to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU).
- Until medical help arrives, turning the patient onto their back can prevent death from choking.
- Do not attempt to treat at home for any reason.
- Avoidance is best. If you drink alcohol, always know your limits and act responsibly.
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