Alcohol poisoning

The Alcohol poisoningwhich is also considered as the hangover after drinking alcohol Alcohol intoxication is a poisoning caused by ethyl alcohol. Depending on how much alcohol the affected person has drunk, the poisoning affects the human organism. In extreme cases, alcohol poisoning can be fatal. Alcohol poisoning must be differentiated from hangover (alcohol intoxication) and alcoholism.

What is alcohol poisoning?

Like all poisoning, alcohol poisoning is caused by the introduction of toxins into the human body. In alcohol poisoning, this poison consists of ethanol, an organic compound that is commonly referred to as "alcohol". Alcohol is a natural product that is easy to manufacture and, in some naturally occurring processes, is formed without human intervention. Alcohol has been used as a luxury food since ancient times.

But alcohol is not just a luxury item, the same applies to alcohol: “The dose makes the poison”. Because alcohol is a poison that affects the central nervous system and the brain directly, which explains its use as a stimulant. Alcohol poisoning results from the fact that the person concerned has consumed too high a dose of this poison and stimulant. Acute alcohol intoxication manifests itself through disorientation up to loss of consciousness and coma. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal.

causes

In the case of poisoning, the cause lies in the intake of harmful amounts of the poison, in the case of alcohol intoxication, in other words, in the intake of too much alcohol. The body has defense mechanisms designed to prevent alcohol poisoning, such as the onset of extreme sleepiness. Before the invention of distillation, with which the production of high-proof alcoholic beverages was made possible, alcohol poisoning was therefore rather rare.

With spirits, which usually contain around 40% alcohol by volume, the body can be supplied with a large amount of alcohol in a short time with a relatively small amount of liquid. The natural defense mechanisms can then no longer work quickly enough and alcohol poisoning can result from excessive alcohol consumption. In the past it was often "drinking games" that led to alcohol poisoning among the participants. Today, parts of the population are also deliberately caused by alcohol poisoning through so-called "binge drinking".

Symptoms, ailments & signs

With alcohol poisoning, nausea and vomiting occur initially. If the person concerned is still conscious, restlessness and confusion also occur. Furthermore, the body temperature drops and the person concerned complains of goose bumps, but without feeling cold. The lack of a sensation of heat or cold is a typical sign - many people with alcohol intoxication expose themselves to extreme cold and are thus in acute danger to their lives.

Externally, alcohol poisoning can be recognized by the typical tremors and symptoms of paralysis. Most of the time, the affected person sweats heavily and suffers from gait disorders. Dilated pupils, speech disorders, motor failures and other signs of excessive alcohol consumption are exacerbated in alcohol intoxication. Alcohol poisoning is also manifested by cravings and a dry mouth.

The reaction time is greatly slowed down and there are usually other behavioral problems that can be used to clearly identify excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol poisoning can also be noticed on the basis of the apathy that occurs, which is usually associated with severe malaise and impaired consciousness.

In many cases, those affected suffer from disorders of perception and memory, which can be associated with excessively aggressive behavior. As the process progresses, the muscles relax and the affected person eventually falls into a coma.

Complications

Alcohol poisoning is relatively difficult for the body to process and often requires hospital treatment. It always occurs when a patient has consumed too much alcohol. The liver cannot process this large amount of alcohol. Typically, alcohol poisoning isn't actually treated unless the person reports to a hospital.

With home treatment, it is normal for the person to feel bad, have a headache, and be plagued by nausea. Vomiting and unusual bowel movements are also quite common symptoms here. As a rule, there are no particular complications here. If the alcohol intoxication is very severe, the patient's stomach must be pumped out. This is done in a hospital.

There are also no complications when pumping out the stomach. After alcohol intoxication, however, the patient feels weak and complains of headaches and a feeling of nausea. If alcohol intoxication occurs frequently, it can damage the liver. Constantly pumping out the stomach is also harmful to the body.

When should you go to the doctor?

Alcohol poisoning is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The first signs are already a warning signal and a clear sign not to touch any more alcohol. It would be best to see a doctor as soon as the first symptoms such as vertigo, nausea with and without vomiting and confusion occur.

If the person concerned is otherwise physically healthy, it may be that, with enough sleep and plenty of water, they can get back on their own in a few hours or days. However, recovery is faster and safer under medical supervision. Severe alcohol poisoning, on the other hand, leaves no choice open, the affected person has to be treated in hospital. At this stage of alcohol intoxication, most people are either passed out or on the verge of passing out.

The latter condition is just as dangerous as they could become aggressive and hurt people who are just trying to help them. Against this background, it is better to call an ambulance immediately in the event of alcohol poisoning, because paramedics are familiar with drunk people and their behavior. In the case of particularly severe alcohol poisoning, there is a risk that the patient will fall into a coma and then need artificial ventilation. This has to happen until the person concerned can safely wake up again and the short-term consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are over.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Since alcohol poisoning poses an acute risk to the person affected by the failure of the cardiovascular system, immediate stabilization is necessary. This usually has to be done in the intensive care unit, where permanent monitoring of body functions is ensured.

The treatment of acute alcohol intoxication is similar to that of shock treatment by adding infusions. Those affected often have a tendency to vomit. Since this can lead to suffocation, the poisoned person's stomach is usually pumped out. The treatment of acute alcohol intoxication is completed after a relatively short time because of the breakdown of alcohol in the body.

Outlook & forecast

The further consequences and symptoms of alcohol intoxication depend in most cases on the amount of alcohol consumed. In the case of very large amounts or a very short period of intake, alcohol poisoning can in the worst case lead to death of the patient. This should therefore be examined and treated by a doctor in any case.

Those affected suffer from the usual disorders of alcohol consumption. This leads to disorders of balance and coordination. Visual disturbances and speech disorders can also occur. The patients can often no longer remember what has happened and not infrequently lose consciousness. This can also lead to injuries if the person concerned falls.

Serious poisoning continues to result in coma or death if circulatory failure occurs. The internal organs are also damaged by alcohol poisoning. With regular poisoning, life expectancy is reduced.

prevention

There is only one effective remedy that can help prevent alcohol poisoning. This is simply to limit the consumption of alcohol to a harmless level. The often recommended intake of fatty and hearty dishes has no influence on alcohol poisoning. Such a meal consumed before drinking can only reduce the rate of absorption of the alcohol for a short time; this does not change the amount and composition of the poison ingested.

Some pills offered to lower alcohol levels are completely unsuitable and ineffective in preventing alcohol poisoning. Drinking strong coffee or chewing bay leaves neither have a preventive effect nor can they reduce alcohol poisoning or change the blood alcohol level. Only a restriction to a tolerable amount of alcohol prevents alcohol poisoning.

Aftercare

If the patient has survived acute alcohol intoxication, the necessary follow-up measures depend on whether and what physical damage the person has suffered. Although acute alcohol intoxication can be life-threatening, this form of intoxication is not necessarily associated with physical or psychological long-term effects. Young patients in particular usually recover very quickly.

However, this can mean that alcohol poisoning is not taken seriously. If a minor patient is suspected of consuming excessive alcohol on a regular basis, the parents should be informed. Young people who are of legal age should in any case be informed about the dangers of "binge drinking", which is cultivated as a kind of hobby in certain social classes.

It is best to give the young people the contact details of a counseling center; it is even more effective if contact can be made with a social worker in the hospital. In addition, alcohol poisoning occurs again and again in people who are dependent on alcohol. In this case, an addiction treatment is one of the necessary aftercare measures.

A rehab treatment without psychological support is only very rarely successful. A central element of aftercare is therefore also psychotherapeutic measures that contribute to a change in behavioral patterns and reduce the risk of relapse.

You can do that yourself

If alcohol poisoning is suspected, the emergency doctor should be informed immediately. If the poisoned person can still be contacted, any information about alcohol consumption and possible allergies or illnesses should be collected until the emergency services arrive. If the poisoned person is unconscious or the pulse can only be felt weakly, the breathing must be checked. Depending on the result, the person affected should either be brought into a stable lateral position or immediately resuscitated.

In any case, the poisoned person must be protected from cooling down, for example with a blanket or by turning on the heating. If vomiting occurs, it must be ensured that the person concerned does not suffocate. Drinks such as water or highly diluted coffee can alleviate the symptoms of intoxication. If you have consumed too much alcohol yourself, you should have a friend accompany you to the emergency room. It is also a good idea to vomit and get rid of alcohol in this way.

In most cases, however, it is necessary to have the stomach pumped out in the event of alcohol poisoning, which is why a doctor must be consulted in any case if excessive alcohol consumption Then the fluid and mineral balance should be balanced again through a balanced diet and water.