Alcohol poisoning, which is also called alcohol intoxication like hangover after drinking alcohol, is poisoning caused by ethyl alcohol. Depending on how much alcohol the person has drunk, the poisoning affects the human organism. In extreme cases, alcohol poisoning can be fatal. Alcohol poisoning should be distinguished from a hangover (alcohol intoxication) and alcoholism.
What is alcohol poisoning?
Acute alcohol intoxication manifests as disorientation to unconsciousness and coma. Alcohol poisoning can lead to death. Like all poisonings, alcohol poisoning is caused by the delivery of toxins to the human body. In alcohol poisoning, this poison consists of ethanol, an organic compound commonly referred to as “alcohol.” Alcohol is a natural product that can be easily produced and is formed in some naturally occurring processes even without human intervention. Alcohol has been in use as a stimulant since ancient times. But alcohol is not only a stimulant, also for alcohol applies: “The dose makes the poison”. Alcohol is a poison that directly affects the central nervous system and the brain, which explains its use as a stimulant. Alcohol poisoning occurs because the person concerned has ingested too high a dose of this poison and stimulant. Acute alcohol poisoning manifests itself through disorientation to unconsciousness and coma. Alcohol poisoning can lead to death.
Causes
In poisoning, the cause is the intake of a harmful amount of the poison, so in alcohol poisoning, the cause is the intake of an excessive amount of alcohol. The body has defense mechanisms to prevent alcohol poisoning, such as the onset of extreme drowsiness. Before the invention of distillation, which made it possible to produce high-proof alcoholic beverages, alcohol poisoning was therefore rather rare. However, spirits, which usually contain around 40% alcohol by volume, can supply the body 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 take effect quickly enough, and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol poisoning. In the past, it was often “drinking games” that led to alcohol poisoning in participants. Today, alcohol poisoning is also intentionally brought about by parts of the population during so-called “coma drinking”.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
In alcohol poisoning, the first symptoms are nausea and vomiting. If the affected person is still conscious, restlessness and confusion also occur. Furthermore, the body temperature drops and the affected person complains of goose bumps, but without feeling cold. The lack of sensation of heat or cold is a typical sign – many people with alcohol intoxication expose themselves to great cold, putting their lives in acute danger. Externally, alcohol poisoning can be recognized by the typical trembling and signs of paralysis. Usually, the affected person sweats profusely and suffers from gait disturbances. Dilated pupils, speech disorders, motor deficits and other signs of excessive alcohol consumption occur in increased form in alcohol poisoning. Alcohol intoxication is also manifested by ravenous hunger and a dry mouth. Reaction time is severely slowed and there are usually other behavioral abnormalities that can be used to clearly identify excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol intoxication can also be noticed by the onset of apathy, which is usually accompanied by a severe malaise and impaired consciousness. In many cases, those affected suffer from disturbances in perception and memory, which can be associated with excessively aggressive behavior. As the disease progresses, the muscles go limp and the affected person eventually falls into a coma.
Complications
Alcohol poisoning is relatively difficult for the body to process and often requires treatment in a hospital. It occurs whenever a patient has consumed too much alcohol. The liver is then unable to process this large amount of alcohol. As a rule, alcohol poisoning is not really treated unless the affected person reports to a hospital.When treated at home, it is normal for the person to feel bad, have a headache and be plagued by nausea. Here, vomiting and unusual bowel movements are also quite common symptoms. Usually, no particular complications occur here. If alcohol intoxication is very severe, the patient’s stomach must be pumped out. This is done in a hospital. Similarly, no complications occur when the stomach is pumped out. However, after alcohol poisoning, the patient feels weak and complains of headache and a feeling of nausea here as well. If alcohol intoxication occurs frequently, it can damage the liver. Constant pumping of the stomach also damages 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 appear, such as spinning dizziness, nausea with or without vomiting, and confusion. If the affected person is otherwise physically healthy, it is possible that he or she will get back on his or her feet on his or her own in a few hours or days with sufficient sleep and plenty of water. However, recovery is faster and safer under medical supervision. Severe alcohol poisoning, on the other hand, leaves no choice, and the person must be treated in the hospital. At this stage of alcohol intoxication, most people have already fainted or are on the verge of losing consciousness. The latter condition is just as dangerous, because they could become aggressive and hurt people who are just trying to help them. With this in mind, too, it is better to call an ambulance right away in the event of alcohol poisoning, because paramedics are familiar with alcoholized people and their behaviors. In the case of particularly severe alcohol poisoning, there is a risk that the patient will fall into a coma and then have to be artificially ventilated. This must be done until the affected person can safely wake up again and the short-term consequences of excessive alcohol consumption have been overcome.
Treatment and therapy
Because alcohol intoxication poses an acute threat to the affected person due to failure of the cardiovascular system, immediate stabilization is required. Such stabilization must usually be performed in the intensive care unit, where permanent monitoring of body functions is ensured. Treatment of acute alcohol intoxication is similar to shock treatment by adding infusions. Frequently, the affected person has a tendency to vomit. Since this can lead to choking, the contents of the poisoned person’s stomach are usually pumped out. Treatment of acute alcohol poisoning is completed after a relatively short time because of the breakdown of alcohol that occurs in the body.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, the further consequences and symptoms of alcohol poisoning depend on the amount of alcohol ingested. In the case of very high amounts or a very short period of ingestion, alcohol poisoning can also lead to the death of the patient in the worst case. This should therefore be examined and also treated by a doctor in any case. The affected person suffers from the usual disorders of alcohol consumption. There are disturbances of the balance and also of the coordination. Likewise, visual disturbances and speech disorders may also occur. Furthermore, the patients often cannot remember what has happened and not infrequently suffer unconsciousness. Injuries may also occur if the affected person should fall. In cases of severe intoxication, coma or death continues to occur if circulatory failure occurs. Internal organs are also damaged during alcohol poisoning. With regular poisonings, life expectancy is reduced.
Prevention
There is only one effective remedy that helps prevent alcohol poisoning. This is simply to limit the consumption of alcohol to harmless levels. The often recommended intake of fatty and hearty foods has no effect on alcohol intoxication. Such a meal consumed before drinking can only reduce the absorption rate of alcohol for a short time, but this does not change the amount and composition of the poison absorbed.Partially offered pills to lower the alcohol level are completely unsuitable and ineffective to prevent alcohol poisoning. Drinking strong coffee or chewing bay leaves also have no preventive effect, nor can they attenuate alcohol poisoning or change the blood alcohol content. The only thing that prevents alcohol intoxication is limiting the amount of alcohol consumed to a tolerable level.
Aftercare
Once the patient has survived acute alcohol intoxication, the follow-up care required depends on whether and what physical damage the individual has sustained. Although acute alcohol intoxication can be life-threatening, this form of intoxication is not necessarily accompanied by late physical or psychological consequences. Young patients in particular usually recover very quickly. However, this can lead to alcohol intoxication not being taken seriously. If there is a suspicion that an underage patient regularly consumes alcohol to excess, the parents should be informed. Adolescents who are already of age should definitely 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 while they are still in the hospital. Alcohol poisoning also occurs repeatedly in alcohol-dependent individuals. In this case, rehab is one of the necessary aftercare measures. However, a rehab without psychological support is only very rarely successful. Central elements of aftercare are therefore also psychotherapeutic measures that contribute to a change in behavioral patterns and reduce the risk of relapse.
What you can do yourself
If alcohol poisoning is suspected, the emergency physician should be called immediately. If the poisoned person is still responsive, any information about alcohol consumption and possible allergies or illnesses should be gathered until emergency services arrive. If the poisoned person is unconscious or the pulse can only be felt weakly, breathing must be checked. Depending on the result, the victim should then either be placed in the recovery position or resuscitated immediately. In any case, the poisoned person must be protected from cooling down, for example with a blanket or by turning up the heating. If vomiting occurs, it must be ensured that the victim does not suffocate. Drinks such as water or strongly diluted coffee can alleviate the symptoms of poisoning. Anyone who has consumed too much alcohol themselves should have a friend accompany them to the emergency room. It is also advisable to vomit and eliminate the alcohol in this way. In most cases of alcohol poisoning, however, it is necessary to have the stomach pumped, which is why a doctor must be consulted in any case of excessive alcohol consumption. Subsequently, the fluid and mineral balance should be rebalanced with a balanced diet and water.
