Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

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Around 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year in the United States.  Knowing what the typical signs of alcohol poisoning are and calling 911 for immediate medical assistance can help avoid a fatal alcohol overdose.

Alcohol Poisoning and Blood Alcohol Level Factors

Alcohol poisoning is a hazardous and potentially fatal consequence of drinking significantly more ethanol alcohol than the body can process.

image: parents suffering loss of child to alcohol poisoning Many people think that the key factor regarding alcohol poisoning is simply the amount of alcohol than an individual drinks.

One of the main issues concerning alcohol poisoning, however, is not necessarily the amount of alcohol a person has ingested but more importantly, the amount of alcohol that an individual can metabolize. 

For instance, an underweight person who does not usually drink alcohol and who hasn't eaten in many hours may be at risk of developing alcohol poisoning after quickly ingesting just two or three drinks.

How alcohol consumption affects an individual's body depends on the amount of alcohol in his or her blood.  This 'level of alcohol" is known as blood alcohol concentration, or BAC.

An individual's blood alcohol concentration is directly related to the following factors:

  • How quickly the person consumes the alcoholic drink
  • How much food is in the individual's stomach at the time he or she drinks
  • How fast the person's body metabolizes the alcohol
  • How strong the alcoholic drink is

Common Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

image: middle age woman distraught over loss of husband to alcohol poisoningOne of the frequent first signs of alcohol poisoning is nausea followed by vomiting.

Essentially, these signs are warning signals from the body informing the individual that he or she has ingested more alcohol than his or her body can metabolize. 

The following list exemplifies some of the common signs of alcohol poisoning:

  • Difficulty awakening the person
  • Inability to make eye contact or sustain a conversation
  • Confusion
  • Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
  • No withdrawal from painful stimuli (for instance from pinching)
  • Feeling very ill, including protracted vomiting
  • Slurred speech
  • Erratic behavior
  • Unconsciousness (passing out)
  • Absent reflexes
  • Seizures
  • Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing  
In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems in the United States cost society almost $200 billion per year.  In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues cannot be calculated: fatalities, injuries, illnesses, broken homes, wife battering, and child abuse, failed health, and destroyed lives.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning: Conclusion

Since almost 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year in the United States and due to the fact that alcohol poisoning can be fatal, it is important to be able to identify the common signs of alcohol poisoning.

Knowledge of these signs and knowing how to quickly and properly react to such signs (for instance by immediately calling 911 and asking for urgent medical assistance) can help avoid a fatal alcohol overdose. 

If you would like to listen to an informative and professionally done "talking eBook" entitled The Truth About Alcohol, please click on this link.

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Research has demonstrated that American children who are raised in single-family households are almost twice as likely to experience an alcohol-related problem such as alcohol abuse as compared with children who are raised by both parents in the same household. 

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Based on your answers to the health care provider's questions and upon the physical exam, it may be concluded that you are indeed, addicted to alcohol, drugs, or both.  At this point, your health care professional will discuss your treatment options.  Keep in mind that chemical dependency experts, like other specialists, will make various suggestions and recommendations regarding your addiction.  You, however, will need to be actively involved in the decision-making process if your treatment is to be successful.

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