Dangers of Alcohol Poisoning

Every year in the United States there are 50,000 reported incidences of alcohol poisoning. One person dies each week from alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is brought about by binge drinking, or the consumption of five or more drinks in an hour or less. There are three types of alcohol, and each can contribute to alcohol poisoning: ethanol (the kind of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks), methanol (the kind of alcohol found in paints, solvents, and antifreeze), and isopropyl (the kind of alcohol found in rubbing alcohol, antibacterial gels, and lotions). While binge drinking is usually associated with college students, most deaths from alcohol poisoning occur in people ages 45 to 54.

Symptoms

• Alcohol is a depressant that weakens the body's ability to manage involuntary functions such as respiration, the gag reflex and heartbeat. This is what causes the primary dangers of alcohol poisoning. A person with alcohol poisoning will exhibit the following symptoms: stupor/confusion, vomiting, slowed or irregular breathing, pale or blue-tinged skin, seizures, hypothermia (low body temperature), and unconsciousness (passing out). Each of these conditions individually can cause serious injury to the body and, when left untreated, can be fatal.

Breathing Problems

• The average resting rate of breath for an adult is 15 to 20 breaths per minute. Too much alcohol in a person's bloodstream can slow their breathing down to 8 breaths every minute. This decrease in respiration is incredibly dangerous and can lead to irreversible brain damage or death.

Vomit Aspiration

• People vomit after binge drinking (or overindulging) because alcohol irritates the stomach. This is the body's way of ridding itself of something harmful. If a person is conscious and vomits after binge drinking, their gag reflex is weakened, which can lead to the inhalation of vomit into the lungs. This can cause permanent damage to the lungs as well as death by choking.

Lack of Consciousness

• 'Passing out' or lack of consciousness is a common symptom of overindulging. However, unconsciousness can be extremely dangerous to a person who has alcohol poisoning. Even when a person is unconscious, alcohol is still being released into the bloodstream, increasing the alcohol's weakening effects on the body. This can lead to a coma, brain damage and death. Never assume that someone who has passed out will be able to "sleep off" the effects of alcohol poisoning.

Prevention

• The most effective method of preventing alcohol poisoning is to practice moderation. While age, gender, body type and amount and type of alcohol ingested play a role in the rate of alcohol metabolism, a general rule is to not consume more than one drink per hour. Between drinks, consume plenty of water or sports drinks to keep yourself hydrated and quickly flush the alcohol out of your system. Remember, home remedies like "sleeping it off," black coffee, cold showers and such do not work. Alcohol poisoning can only be effectively treated by hospitalization or the efforts of paramedics and other health professionals.