Author: Gary Jackson

Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes, Complications, and Treatment

Underage drinkers, or even adults who are concerned about their reputations, may avoid seeking medication attention for fear of getting into trouble with authorities, parents, or work colleagues. This often delays the diagnosis of alcohol poisoning, worsening the outcome. Diagnosis of alcohol poisoning is complex, requiring a physical examination, assessment of vital signs, and possibly diagnostic tests. There are a number of issues that interfere with the timely diagnosis of alcohol poisoning, and delays can worsen the consequences.

  • Celebrating at parties, cheering a favorite sports team, and enjoying get-togethers after work are common ways to relax or be with friends.
  • When you have alcohol in your system, you may also experience vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), which decreases blood pressure.
  • You shouldn’t try to treat it at home or “sleep it off.” A major danger of alcohol poisoning is choking on your vomit, which can happen when you’re unconscious or sleeping.
  • Ethyl alcohol poisoning generally results from drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short period of time.
  • If you’ve drunk a dangerous amount of alcohol, doctors may “pump” your stomach.

What tips the balance from drinking that produces impairment to drinking that puts one’s life in jeopardy varies among individuals. Age, sensitivity to alcohol (tolerance), gender, speed of drinking, medications you are taking, and amount of food eaten can all be factors. Unlike food, which can take hours to digest, the body absorbs alcohol quickly — long before most other nutrients. And it takes a lot more time for the body to get rid of alcohol. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alcohol consumption is forbidden,[65] and teetotalism has become a distinguishing feature of its members. Jehovah’s Witnesses allow moderate alcohol consumption among its members.

Management and Treatment

It can be hard to decide if you think someone is drunk enough to need medical help. But it’s best to take action right away rather than be sorry later. You may worry about what will happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if underage.

In some situations, a medical team may order imaging studies such as a brain computerized tomography (CT) scan to see if there is head trauma or bleeding. Blood pressure, breathing rate, pupil size, and responsiveness are all considered in the assessment. Alcohol poisoning can make a person black out, causing loss of consciousness and often an inability to remember many of the events that occurred. If someone near you has these symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency services number) or take them to the nearest emergency room. Don’t assume you can sleep it off or that you’ll be OK in the morning. If you can’t sit up, lie on your side to prevent choking on your vomit.