Have you ever seen someone at a party or with friends drinking too much and getting out of control? Sometimes it seems like a joke, but it can actually be a more dangerous situation than you think. Today we are going to talk about the most serious thing that can happen at such a time, which is alcohol poisoning .
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
Simply put, alcohol poisoning is when alcohol (i.e. liquor) gets into your blood and when its amount increases significantly, it seriously affects your brain. Think about it, our brain controls the most important things in our lives. That is, things like breathing, heart rate, and body temperature . So, when the amount of alcohol in the blood increases too much, these important parts of the brain start to malfunction and not work properly. This is something that can really be life-threatening , so it is not good to take it lightly.
This condition usually occurs when you drink too much alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor) in a short period of time. However, sometimes it's not just the alcohol we drink, but also things like mouthwash, cologne, and cough medicine that contain ethanol . If you accidentally or intentionally consume too much of these, you can also get alcohol poisoning.
What are the symptoms of this dangerous condition?
Now let's look at the symptoms of alcohol poisoning. If you see one or more of these in someone, it should be taken seriously .
- Inability to concentrate, slow to respond: Difficulty understanding what is being said, and responses are very slow.
- Losing control of the body, not being able to walk properly: like being paralyzed, or more accurately, like being "bottled."
- Difficulty staying awake: Always trying to fall asleep, hard to wake up even if you talk to them.
- Vomiting: Vomiting can occur continuously.
- Loss of the gag reflex: This is a bit dangerous because, if this reflex is lost, if you vomit, the objects can go back into the windpipe and get stuck.
- Slow breathing: We normally breathe 12-20 times per minute. However, here it is possible to breathe less than eight times per minute. Or the breathing pattern may be irregular (like not breathing for a while and then taking a breath again).
- Slowed heart rate: The heart rate can slow down significantly.
- Incontinence.
- Skin becomes cold and clammy: There may be a blue tint around the lips and fingernails. This is called cyanosis . This means that the body is not getting enough oxygen.
- Low body temperature (hypothermia): The body may become cold and shiver.
- Having a fit is a condition similar to having a seizure.
Also, the person may smell strongly of alcohol. If someone near you has these symptoms, immediately call 1990 (Sri Lanka's emergency ambulance service) or take them to the nearest hospital emergency department as soon as possible. Remember, alcohol poisoning can be fatal.
What can you do if you think someone is intoxicated?
Okay, so now you think that a friend or someone you know has alcohol poisoning. You can do these things to help that person without panicking:
- Seek help immediately: This is the most important thing. As mentioned earlier, call 1990 or take the person to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. Don't waste time.
- Try to be mindful: Stay with the person. Talk to them as much as possible. Call them by their name, tap them on the shoulder every now and then. But don't try to shake them.
- If they are conscious, give them some water: If they are only slightly conscious, give them some water. This will help prevent dehydration, which is the loss of water from the body. However, if they are unconscious , do not put anything in their mouth . Doing so can be dangerous as it can cause them to choke.
- Prevent choking (most important!): If the person is unconscious or vomiting, turn the person to one side and place them in the recovery position . Turn the head to the side and keep the mouth slightly downward. This will help the vomit pass through without going into the airway.
- Keep warm: Keep yourself warm by covering yourself with a blanket, bed sheet, or something similar. Alcohol poisoning can cause hypothermia.
- Talk about what you're doing: Talk to the person and tell them what you're doing and why. Say something like, "I'm just trying to help you, don't be scared, let's just stay here until the ambulance comes." Otherwise, they may get upset and act aggressive.
Important: Never leave someone who is intoxicated alone. Don't assume that they will be fine once they fall asleep. That can be dangerous.
When the ambulance arrives, be prepared to tell them everything you know (how much you drank, what you drank, how long you've been like this, any other illnesses, and any medications you're taking). This will be very helpful in the treatment.
Why is this happening? What is happening inside the body?
When we drink alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream from our intestines. This increases the concentration of alcohol in the blood, or Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) . Alcohol is a poison to our bodies. So, our liver works to remove this poison. However, when a lot of alcohol enters the body at once, the liver cannot clean it all at once.
Then, the extra alcohol remaining in the blood goes to the brain, reducing brain function (depressant). As we continue to drink, and drink quickly, this (BAC) increases, and the effect on the brain also increases. Eventually, the parts of the brain that control essential functions such as breathing and consciousness begin to fail, which is when we reach a state called alcohol poisoning.
Everyone is different. So it's impossible to say exactly how much you need to drink to get this condition. It can vary from person to person, even depending on the situation that day. That's why it's always said to know the amount and drink slowly .
Who is more at risk?
Alcohol poisoning can happen to anyone, but some people are at higher risk:
- Binge drinking: Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short period of time is the biggest risk. Think of it like drinking a bunch of shots at a party or finishing a whole bottle of beer in a hurry. Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks for a man and four or more drinks for a woman within a two-hour period.
- Drinking alcohol with medications: It is very dangerous to drink alcohol with some medications (especially painkillers, sleeping pills, opioids or sedative hypnotics). These medications, like alcohol, depress brain function. So when the two are combined, the effects are doubled and can quickly lead to intoxication. Drinking alcohol with some over-the-counter allergy medications (antihistamines) can also be dangerous.
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach: If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach without eating, the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. When there is food in the stomach, the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream slows down.
- Age: Young people, especially those of school or university age, are at higher risk if they drink alcohol, as binge drinking may be more common among them.
- Gender: Statistics show that men are at higher risk of dying from alcohol poisoning.
How do doctors recognize this?
When brought to a hospital, doctors will mainly look at these things to determine if it is alcohol poisoning:
- Receiving information that alcohol was consumed or the patient himself/herself said so.
- Showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning (such as the previously discussed slow reactions, difficulty breathing, and vomiting).
Because this is an emergency, doctors will usually do a few more tests to see if other body systems have been affected:
- Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Test: This can be done with a breathalyzer or a blood sample.
- Electrolyte panel blood test: Checks the body's salt balance.
- Liver function tests.
- Check the heart's function (EKG - Electrocardiogram).
So, what is the treatment for this?
If someone has alcohol poisoning, they may need immediate life-saving treatment . In a hospital, medical staff will provide treatment such as:
- IV fluids: Correct dehydration and low blood sugar levels.
- Oxygen therapy: Oxygen can be given through a nasal cannula. If breathing is very difficult, intubation may be used to help with breathing.
- Stomach pumping: A tube is inserted into the stomach to remove the toxins inside. However, this is not done for everyone, only if necessary.
- Blood filtration - Dialysis: If the kidneys are unable to function properly, alcohol can be removed from the blood by connecting it to a dialysis machine.
Can't this be treated at home?
Absolutely not! A person with alcohol poisoning needs medical help in a hospital. Do not try to do things like "sleeping will be fine" and keep them at home, make them coffee, or take a cold shower. These can make the situation worse. The biggest danger is that if you vomit while you are unconscious or asleep, those things can get stuck in your airway and even cause death. Therefore, do not even think about treating them at home.
How do you avoid alcohol poisoning?
To avoid this dangerous situation, the best thing to do is to limit your alcohol consumption. If you or a friend drinks alcohol, be careful about how much and how quickly you drink. If you see a friend drinking too much or too quickly, intervene and try to stop them. Moderation is always important. Try not to have more than one drink per hour.
In addition, think about these things:
- Avoid drinking games: These types of games can lead to unknowingly binge drinking.
- Stay hydrated: Drink a glass of water between drinks. It's like having a glass of water after one unit of alcohol.
- Do not drink alcohol with medication: Do not drink alcohol while taking any medication. Doing so without consulting a doctor is very dangerous.
- Eat and drink: Don't drink on an empty stomach. Eat something beforehand.
- Be careful: If you don't know what you're drinking and what's in it, don't drink it. Be especially careful with alcohol mixed with energy drinks.
If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, or thinks they may have an alcohol use disorder , don't hesitate to ask for help. Talk to your family doctor, or seek help from a drug addiction counseling service.
What could happen after this situation? (Consequences)
Recovery from alcohol poisoning depends on several factors. The outcome varies depending on the degree of intoxication, whether an alcohol use disorder is present, how long the condition has been present, whether other injuries have occurred, and whether internal organs such as the liver and kidneys have been damaged.
In most cases, people who receive treatment recover well without major complications.
What other complications can occur due to alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning is no joke. It can lead to serious complications:
- Blackouts or amnesia.
- Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia): This can cause seizures.
- Alcohol-induced hepatitis.
- Acute or chronic liver failure.
- Irregular heartbeat: Conditions such as `(Atrial fibrillation)`, `(Supraventricular tachycardia)` or `(Ventricular tachycardia)`.
- Severe vomiting: This can cause dehydration and seizures.
- Permanent brain damage.
- Complete loss of consciousness (coma) or death.
Also, people who are exposed to alcohol poisoning are more likely to have accidents.
Remember the most important thing! (Take-Home Message)
Alcohol poisoning is a serious, life-threatening condition. If someone is showing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Don't waste time thinking, "I'll be fine when I get some sleep."
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If you drink alcohol, know your limits and drink responsibly. Be considerate of others. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, get help. You are not alone.
I hope this information is useful to you. Stay healthy!
` Alcohol poisoning, alcohol intoxication, heavy drinking, drunkenness, emergency treatment, alcohol abuse, BAC
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