Alcohol poisoning: The hard facts

Poisoning caused by binge drinking – drinking excessively within a short period. For men, that’s five standard-sized alcoholic beverages within two hours. For women it’s four or more standard-sized drinks, which is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5- ounce glass of wine or a mixed drink with one shot. With excessive drinking, the liver struggles to process the alcohol and motor functions become impaired. If alcohol starts to surround the brain stem, involuntary actions such as breathing can grow difficult. Heart attack, seizure, coma or death can result if left untreated.

Who’s at risk?

While anyone who engages in binge drinking is at risk of alcohol poisoning, some are in more danger than others.

Women are more susceptible because their bodies produce lower levels of enzymes that delay alcohol from being released into the stomach. There are also fewer places alcohol can go in women’s bodies because they have a higher body fat-to-water ratio than men. As a result, alcohol tends to stay clustered around a woman’s brain stem and other vital organs.
Thinner people and those with petite builds are at greater risk because their bodies absorb alcohol more rapidly because of their size.
People using medications and those with health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes are more prone to alcohol poisoning.
Tips for prevention
Pace drinking by consuming no more than one standard-sized drink per hour.
Alternate alcohol intake with nonalcoholic drinks such as water.
Dilute drinks by adding more ice or mixing them more weakly.
Eat something prior to or during drinking to help slow the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol.
Avoid drinking games or downing shots where the pace or rate of drinking can’t be slowed.
Educate friends and family about the dangers of binge drinking.
At home, keep alcohol stored away from teens and children.

source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More Treatment & Detox Articles

What to Look for in a Treatment Program

If you or a loved one is addicted to drugs then NOW is the time to find help, but how do you choose a treatment program and what should you look for? There are some key questions that you should ask before making a final decision as to the type of treatment that will be….

Outpatient Versus Inpatient Drug Treatment Centers

Are you wondering if you should seek outpatient treatment rather than inpatient treatment? There are many factors that you must consider when you begin searching for treatment centers such as the level of your addiction, the level of support that you have at home, and also the type of addiction that you suffer from. If….

Binge Drinking Not Just a Rite of the Young

Older alcoholics tend to drink heavily more often than younger people, study finds. Older people who are problem drinkers consume more alcohol than their younger counterparts, a new report finds, possibly because they need more alcohol to achieve the same effect. According to a study released this month, people dependent on alcohol who are older….

One for the road? Film forces France to admit its drinking problem

One for the Road, the real-life story of a journalist’s battle with alcohol, sparks debate over the country’s self-image as a nation of moderate wine-lovers The posters, on hoardings across France, show a slightly dishevelled media executive in his 50s, on a jetty, a bag in his hand, a Swiss lake behind, staring with vacant,….

Cold meds may have serious side effects

There are more than 800 over-the-counter cold and cough medications. It is a huge and profitable industry, with an excess of $2 billion spent each year nationwide. Because they are sold without a prescription, many people assume the medications are “safe.” These medications are associated with potentially serious side effects. Many products contain multiple substances….