Alcohol, a liquid that’s used in drinks and perfumes, can be toxic to people if they drink it in excessive amounts. A person’s body type, weight and health can affect their ability to tolerate alcohol. Those who are larger or have certain health issues may absorb alcohol more slowly than others.
Ethanol is a chemical that’s found in many different substances. It’s also a key ingredient in fermenting yeast bread dough and in some medicines.
It’s not as harmful to people as other alcoholic substances, such as beer or wine. But it can be dangerous for children and the elderly.
Symptoms of ethanol poisoning include vomiting, confusion, sleepiness, and extreme fatigue. If someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency medical attention immediately.
The onset of alcohol poisoning symptoms typically begins within 1 hour after drinking the alcoholic drink. In severe cases, they can last up to 12 hours.
A person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) will rise more quickly as the alcoholic drink is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The amount of alcohol in the drink will also impact how quickly it raises your BAC.
Your body’s reaction to ethanol is known as the “depressant effect.” This means that when a lot of alcohol enters your bloodstream, it causes parts of your brain to slow down vital functions like breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
This depressant effect can lead to death if it’s too serious. The higher the alcohol in your blood, the more dangerous it is to you.
There are four stages of ethanol poisoning: Stages 1-4, which involve a high BAC and symptoms that don’t get worse until the BAC is very high, and stages 5-6, which occur when the BAC is very low.
1. Symptoms begin within an hour of ingestion and last up to 12 hours.
Typical symptoms of alcohol poisoning are vomiting, confusion, sleepiness and extreme fatigue. They may not even remember what happened during the night.
2. The osmol gap of the urine may become large or the patient may have a very high anion gap metabolic acidosis, which can be fatal.
3. A person with alcohol poisoning may have a very low blood sugar, which can lead to seizures.
4. A person with alcohol poisoning may have tachycardia or arrhythmias.
5. A person with alcohol poisoning may have coma or a seizure.
6. A person with alcohol poisoning may be in shock and have difficulty breathing or choking on their vomit.
7. Medications, such as antihistamines, may be given to prevent a seizure or to treat anxiety.
8. Vitamin thiamine is administered to prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can lead to a seizure.
9. In severe cases, naloxone is given to help stop a person’s tremors and seizures.
10) In some cases, the intoxication can result in liver damage. The liver is responsible for processing ethanol and excreting it from the body in the form of acetaldehyde.
In severe cases, ethanol can cause life-threatening conditions, such as cirrhosis or heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that alcohol poisoning kills more than 2,200 people every year in the United States.
