Alcohol Intoxication Facts Symptoms and Treatment
Alcohol intoxication is a harmful physical condition caused when you drink more alcohol than your body can handle. It is also called ethanol poisoning, or being drunk. Alcohol Intoxication Facts Symptoms Causes are follows.
Alcohol Intoxication Causes
Alcohol in the form of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is found in alcoholic beverages, mouthwash, cooking extracts, some medications and certain household products. Ethyl alcohol poisoning generally results from drinking too many alcoholic beverages, especially in a short period of time. Other forms of alcohol — including isopropyl alcohol (found in rubbing alcohol, lotions and some cleaning products) and methanol or ethylene glycol (a common ingredient in antifreeze, paints and solvents) — can cause other types of toxic poisoning that require emergency treatment.
Alcohol Intoxication Facts
A person is said to suffer from alcohol intoxication when the quantity of alcohol the person consumes produces behavioral or physical abnormalities.
In other words, the person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired.
In addition to the signs of physical and mental impairment, alcohol levels can also be measured in the blood.
Most states have specific levels at which the driving of a motor vehicle is forbidden.
What behaviors are common with alcohol intoxication?
Quick mood changes: You feel happy and quickly become angry, or you easily become sad. You may act out violently.
Risky sexual behavior: You have sex that is not protected, or you have sex with many people.
Work or school trouble: You have many absences or do not finish your work.
How is alcohol intoxication diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will examine you. He will ask about your signs and symptoms and use of alcohol. These questions may include how much, how often, and what kind of alcohol you drink. He may ask you questions to test your memory and judgment. He may also send blood or urine samples to a lab. The samples are tested for alcohol and for signs of liver, kidney, or heart damage caused by alcohol. You may need to have these tests more than once.
Alcohol poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect your breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex and potentially lead to a coma and death. Alcohol poisoning can also occur when adults or children accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.
Alcohol Intoxication treatment
Alcohol intoxication treatment usually involves supportive care while your body rids itself of the alcohol. This typically includes:
- Careful monitoring: Emergency treatment for acute alcohol poisoning strives to stabilize the patient and maintain a patent airway and respiration, while waiting for the alcohol to metabolize.
- Prevention of breathing or choking problems: This can be done by removal of any vomitus or, if patient is unconscious or has impaired gag reflex, intubation of the trachea using an endotracheal tube to maintain adequate airway.
- Oxygen therapy: Provide oxygen therapy as needed via nasal cannula or non-rebreather mask.
- Fluids given through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration: Treat hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) with 50 ml of 50% dextrose solution and saline flush, as ethanol induced hypoglycaemia is unresponsive to glucagon.
