Category Archives: Alcohol

Best Hangover Foods

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Best Hangover Foods

Best Hangover Foods

Hangovers are the worst! Waking up with a dry mouth, pounding headache, and aching muscles can ruin anyone’s day. And while the only “cure” for a hangover is prevention, there are some things you can do to feel better. Here is a list of the best hangover foods:

Best Hangover Foods: Soup or broth

Let’s face it, when you have a hangover, sometimes you don’t feel like eating ANYTHING. Just the mention of food will make your stomach turn. So you don’t eat, and you end up feeling worse! This is because a drop in blood sugar will exacerbate the symptoms of a hangover. You end up feeling more tired and even more nauseous. It helps to get something on your stomach, even if you can’t handle a whole meal. This is why soup is one of the best hangover foods. It’s easy on the stomach and it contains a lot of water which will help rehydrate you after a night of drinking. Plus, chicken and some vegetables contain cysteine, which give the liver a much-needed boost.

Best Hangover Foods: Bacon Sandwich

If your stomach is feeling a little better, you may be able to handle the classic hangover remedy: the bacon sandwich. Bacon contains a lot of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. One particular type of amino acid, amine, has been shown to be effective in clearing your head after a night of partying.  Binging on alcohol depletes your store of amino acids, so the bacon in the bacon sandwich is a big part of what makes it one of the best hangover remedies.

Bread is great because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. It not only can absorb some of the acid in your stomach when you wake up with a hangover, it also gives you a boost of energy.

Best Hangover Foods: Smoothies

Smoothies, like soup, are one of the best hangover foods if you have an upset stomach. They are sweet and filling and go down very easily. The fruit in the smoothie will provide a bunch of vitamins and a much needed surge in blood sugar. Vitamins are important because often alcohol has a diuretic effect on the body and we lose many essential vitamins during a night of hard drinking. A smoothie will also help coat the stomach and hopefully reduce any nausea or acid reflux you may be feeling.

Best Hangover Foods: Oatmeal

Oats are also easy to digest. Plus, a hot bowl of oatmeal has plenty of essential nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Oats can help neutralize acids in the body and raise blood sugar levels, giving you an instant energy boost.

Whatever you end up eating to treat a hangover, be sure that you are also drinking plenty of fluids. Some of the worst hangover symptoms come as a result of dehydration. If you remember, drink a full glass before you even fall asleep the night before, and you’ll find out that your hangovers are much more manageable.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover Movie: Old School

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Hangover Movie - Will Ferrell

Hangover Movie: Old School

Parties, drinking, and college life is the back drop for the Hangover Movie, “Old School”. Only difference between this college life and reality is that the main characters are well out of college and much older. Old school stars Luke Wilson as Mitch Martin, Juliette Lewis as Heidi, Vince Vaughn as Bernard and Will Ferrell as Franks.

The movie begins with Mitch, Luke Wilson, breaking up with his girlfriend. In the midst of this breakup he goes house hunting and finds a house located near the campus of the fictional school Harrison University. The first big party of scene of this hangover movie is thrown by Mitch’s friends Bernard and Frank (Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell). Frank ends up streaking through the neighborhood and Mitch ends up making a fool of himself in front of an old friend Nicole (Ellen Pompeo).

When Mitch wakes up from this party he realizes that he slept with an underage girl who is played by Elisha Cuthbert. Soon after Mitch gets himself together he meets the dean of students at the college who is onto Mitch and his friend’s antics. So Mitch makes the house he is living in a fraternity for the college. From this point forward it is just a mess of drunken parties, failing marriages, and hilarious jokes. Eventually the dean tries to revoke the fraternity’s charter. Towards the end of the movie the dean’s attempt to get rid of Mitch and his friends fails because he ends up getting fired due to a bribery scandal.

In the end everything works out and Mitch ends up with the girl from the very beginning, Nicole. Mitch and Bernard leave the fraternity they started and Frank who has now lost his marriage due to his incessant drinking decides to stay on as an authority figure for the fraternity.

College is the place for parties and this is one of the classic stories of college binge drinking. It is almost socially acceptable to be binge drinking in college and this is a perfect example of it. Except the men in this movie are older, are married, and have kids. It shows the consequences due to drinking but it also is one of the slapstick funny comedies that only Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughan, and Luke Wilson could do. This is the perfect example of drunken nights, crazy antics, and their consequences.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover Movie: Dazed and Confused

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Hangover Movie Dazed and Confused

Hangover Movie: Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused premiered in theaters on 1993. The film features a large ensemble cast of actors including Matthew McConaughey, Jason London, Ben Affleck, Mila Jovovich, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Adam Goldberg, Joey Lauren Adams, Nicky Katt, and Rory Cochrane.

Dazed and Confused opens at a Texas suburban high school in 1976 on the last day of school. The future seniors are getting ready to haze the incoming freshmen. Also, the star of the football team, Randall Floyd, is asked to sign a pledge not to take drugs over the summer or do anything that would look bad for the school.

The seniors haze the freshman boys by catching them and spanking them with wooden paddles that are made especially for the occasion.  Freshman Mitch Kramer escapes the hazing when Carl’s mom pulls a shotgun on senior Fred O’Bannion (played by Ben Affleck), but he is later cornered at his baseball game, and violently paddled.

The freshman girls are hazed too, but their hazing consists more of humiliation than physical punishment. They are rounded up in the school parking lot by the senior girls, who cover them in flour, ketchup and raw eggs. The girls then are put in dog collars and are led over to senior boys and told to propose to them.

Later, everyone starts gearing up for a big party at senior Kevin Pickford’s house. Plans are foiled when Kevin gets a keg delivered before his parents are even at the door. Instead, students loiter around the Emporium, listen to rock music, cruise the neighborhood and stop at the hamburger drive-in. Eventually, they all meet up at an impromptu keg party at in a field under the moon tower. Mitch Kramer smokes pot and drinks for the first time.

Towards the end of the night, Floyd goes to the football field with a bunch of friends to smoke pot on the fifty yard line. They are caught by local police and the football coach who lectures Floyd about hanging out with losers. The coach again pressures Floyd to sign the pledge. Floyd says he may play football, but again refuses to sign the pledge. Mitch Kramer stumbles into his house at dawn, and his mother warns him against coming home that late again.

Dazed and Confused was well received by critics, but its original earnings at the box office were somewhat disappointing. However, the movie later became a cult movie classic and made a lot of money through the sale of DVDs.

Dazed and Confused isn’t really about anything. There’s no serious plot line. It’s basically just a comedy; a coming of age film. It’s more like a party movie, and there isn’t much structure. It’s more like an anthropological look at these uniquely American rites of passage. The movie has been praised for its reflection of American culture and its eclectic soundtrack. If you haven’t seen Dazed and Confused, I would highly recommend it. This is one of the funniest movies to come out in the last 20 years.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Kids and Alcohol

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Kids and Alcohol

Kids and Alcohol

Kids and alcohol

Parents may not want to think about it but the reality is that many kids and teens try alcohol during their high school and college years and this is way before it is legal for them to drink. Research shows that around 80% of high school kids have tried alcohol. Perfect example is to ask yourself, when did you have your first taste of alcohol? Experimentation among kids and teens is common but it isn’t always safe or legal.

Kids and alcohol: The effects

Alcohol interferes with a person’s perception of reality and their ability to make good decisions. This is especially dangerous for kids and teens that have less problem-solving, coping mechanisms, and decision-making experiences.

Short term effects of kids and alcohol are:

  • Distorted vision, hearing and coordination
  • Altered perceptions and emotions
  • Impaired judgment which can lead to accidents such as broken bones, drowning and other risky behaviors such as unsafe sex and drug use
  • Bad breath
  • Hangovers

Long-term effects include:

  • Cirrhosis and cancer of the liver
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Stomach problems
  • Heart and central nervous system damage
  • High risk of overdosing
  • Physical dependence

Kids and alcohol is a dangerous mix. During times of transition which most kids are going through, during the onset of puberty or a parent’s divorce can lead to alcohol use. So it is important that kids are taught that even when life is upsetting or stressful, drinking alcohol can make the bad even worse. They can be taught healthier and better coping mechanisms.

Kids who have problems with self-control and have low self-esteem are more likely to abuse alcohol. They feel as if they can’t handle their problems and frustrations without using something to make them feel better. This is also where talking to kids about healthier coping mechanisms would be a good way to cut back kids drinking alcohol.

Also, kids without a sense of connectedness with their families or who feel different in some way, either in appearance, economic circumstances etc. may be at risk. Those kids who have trouble believing in themselves desperately need the love and support of parents and other family members.

Believe it or not the most common reason that kids don’t use alcohol or other drugs is because they don’t want to harm the relationship between themselves and the adults in their life who care about them.

Kids and alcohol: Signs of drinking

Regardless of trying to do the right thing there is a chance a kid may still end up drinking. Here are the warning signs that a kid has been drinking:

  • The odor of alcohol
  • Sudden change in mood or attitude
  • Change in attendance or performance at school
  • Loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities
  • Discipline problems at school
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Secrecy
  • Association with a new group of friends and reluctance to introduce them to you
  • Alcohol disappearing from your home
  • Depression and developmental difficulties

Here are some great ways to help kids with alcohol:

  • Be a good role model. Watch how you drink and how it may influence your kids with alcohol.
  • Educate yourself about alcohol so you can educate kids better
  • Try to be conscious of how you can help build a kid’s self-esteem.
  • Teach kid’s to manage stress in healthy ways such as seeking help from a trusted adult or engaging in productive activities.

Sources:

http://www.talkaboutalcohol.com/uploads/parentsguide.pdf

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Does Alcohol Affect Muscle Growth?

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Does Alcohol Affect Muscle Growth?

Does Alcohol Affect Muscle Growth?

While it’s true that moderate drinking can have a positive effect on some aspects of overall health, muscle growth is not one of them. Alcohol is far more damaging than some people think, especially if you drink too much. Alcoholic beverages usually contain ethanol. Unlike protein, carbs, or fat, it does not provide any function in the body. Many people would rather have a few drinks on the weekend than cheat with foods that are not on their diet plan. For some, cutting out drinking can be tougher than cutting out unhealthy food. But if you’re looking to build muscle, alcohol can be a real problem.  Here are some of the ways that alcohol can affect muscle growth:

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by Inhibiting Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is the main way that the body builds muscle. It is the growth process within muscle cells. Drinking alcohol can inhibit this process. Excessive alcohol consumption slows the growth process down by up to 20%.

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by its Effects on Growth Hormones

One major way that alcohol affects muscle growth is that it affects the release growth hormone. Growth hormone plays a role in building muscle, stimulating cell growth, and promoting bone growth. When this hormone is low, it’s going to affect muscle growth.

Growth hormone is usually secreted during sleep, and since alcohol can disrupt natural sleep, growth hormone production can be inhibited up to 70%.

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by Inhibiting Testosterone

Alcohol affects muscle growth by inhibiting testosterone. Testosterone is an important factor in muscle growth. This is why men carry more muscle than women (because they have more testosterone.)

When you drink alcohol, the liver produces a substance that is toxic to the release of testosterone. This lowers the concentration of testosterone in the body.

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by Affecting Recovery

Another effect of alcohol is that it affects your recovery. Alcohol is a toxin to the body. Your body’s first priority is to remove it, so naturally some of your energy is expended break down alcohol and remove it and then recover from any negative effects it had on the tissue. This takes both time and energy. Thus, you won’t have as much energy to recover from your workouts.

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by Causing Dehydration

Alcohol is known as a diuretic. This means that it increases urine output, which can cause dehydration. Alcohol can disrupt your natural water balance, even the day after you drink. Dehydration can be very dangerous if you are working out, since your body is already losing water to sweating. It can cause low physical performance as well as fatigue. It can also make you feel hungrier. Not to mention, your muscles need water. Dehydration can disrupt the ability of muscle cells to produce ATP. ATP is your primary source of muscular energy.

Alcohol Affects Muscle Growth by Affecting Glycogen Synthesis

Muscle glycogen stores energy for the muscle cells. However, when you drink, alcohol synthesis takes precedence over glycogen synthesis. This results in decreased stores of glycogen in the muscle cells. You will have less energy to work out, so you will build less muscle.

Sources:

http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_200/218b_fitness_tip.html

http://www.squidoo.com/Alcohol-Will-Destroy-Your-Muscle-Gains

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover Movie: Bad Santa

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Hangover Movie: Bad Santa

 

Hangover Movie: Bad Santa

Bad Santa is an American Christmas crime comedy. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham.

The movie starts off with the main character Willie Stokes, played by Thornton. Every year Willie Stokes finds a different job at shopping malls to dress up as Santa. Supposedly Willie Stokes is a jolly old man whom all the kids love. This isn’t the case though. On Christmas Eve, Willie and his friend Marcus the ‘elf’ will disarm the alarms in the shopping mall and then rob the store blind. Willie then spends the rest of his year getting drunk and committing other crimes waiting for next Christmas where he will find a shopping mall where he can dress up as Santa and then rob them again. The following Christmas Willie and Marcus meet up once again to rob a mall in Phoenix, Arizona and during that time Willie meets a bartender named Sue.

Meant to be funny and full of insult and Christmas humor, Bad Santa really is bad. During Willie’s shift work as Santa, Willie finds a quiet, fat boy named Thurman. One night when Willie is getting off work he gets attacked by a strange man and Thurman ends up helping Willie. Willie drives Thurman home and then realizes that Thurman lives in an expensive house with only his grandmother so Willie manages to talk Thurman into letting him rob the house and take the expensive car in the driveway.

Eventually at his job at the mall as Santa a security guard starts to pick up on Willie’s antics. The security guard, Gin Slagel played by Bernie Mac then decides to break into Willie’s house to search for any evidence he can find to get Willie fired.  The movie continues on with Willie and Sue’s relationship and Willie is now living with Thurman. The security guard eventually figures out that Thurman’s father is actually in prison for embezzlement and decides to pay him a visit. When he goes to visit Thurman’s father he realizes that Willie should not be staying at Thurman’s house and from that point on it is the end of Willie’s robbery days.

On Christmas Eve, Willie, Marcus and Lois break into the mall and disarm the alarms. It takes Willie longer than usual to crack open the safe; Marcus notices this and after successfully opening it, Marcus reveals to Willie that he is becoming too unreliable and was planning on killing him. Before Marcus could take his shot, a police squad appears and starts shooting at all three of them. Willie makes an escape, but manages to snag a pink stuffed elephant as Thurman’s Christmas present. He escapes and drives back to Thurman’s house with a convoy of policeman behind him. However, while trying to get to the front door, the police shoot him down.

The epilogue of the movies is told from a letter Willie wrote to Thurman from the hospital explaining his innocence. In the end Marcus and Lois are arrested and Sue gets custody of Thurman and Willie ends up being a sensitivity security guard.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Binge Drinking Facts

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Binge Drinking

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is also known as heavy episodic drinking. Binge drinking usually serves the sole purpose of becoming increasingly intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. Binge drinking rapidly brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. The definition of binge drinking for women is when they consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours and for men it is 5 drinks in about 2 hours. People who engage in binge drinking are not usually alcohol dependent but it can quickly turn into alcohol dependence if it is done on a regular basis.

Here are some binge drinking facts according to different national surveys:

  • Around 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the last 30 days.
  • It may seem like binge drinking would be more common in college students and while it is true they commonly binge drink, 70% of binge drinking episodes actually involved adults age 26 years or older.
  • Binge drinking is also more common in men with it being twice more prevalent in them than in women.
  • Binge drinking is fairly common among all people. One in six U.S. adults binge drink about four times a month. Not just that but they also drink eight drinks per binge.
  • Over half of all the alcohol being consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
  • Binge drinking is more common in households that have incomes of 75,000 dollars or more a year.
  • Nearly all, 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.

One of the biggest facts about binge drinking is that it can severely and negatively affect those who engage in it. Binge drinking comes hand in hand with many health problems such as:

  • Binge drinking because of the level of intoxication in individuals can cause unintentional injuries. These unintentional injuries include car crashes, falls, burns, drowning.
  • Binge drinking can also cause intentional injuries such as firearm injuries, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
  • Binge drinking can quickly and easily lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal.
  • Binge drinking can also lead to a lack of inhibition and risk taking behavior which can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.
  • Binge drinking for those who are already pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome in the unborn child.
  • Binge drinking can also cause high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Binge drinking just as any drinking, can cause liver disease, neurological damage, sexual dysfunction and poor control for those who have diabetes.

Believe it or not but the negative effects of binge drinking don’t just affect the people who are drinking. Binge drinking costs everyone money.

  • Binge drinking and drinking too much, costs the United States a whopping 223.5 billion in 2006.
    That is $1.90 a drink from losses in productivity, health care, crime and other expenses.
  • Binge drinking also cost federal, state, and local governments about 62 cents per drink in 2006 while the federal and state income from taxes on alcohol only totaled 12 cents per drink.

Binge drinking is very harmful not only to the individual and those who know the individual but it is harmful to the community. The bad things we hear about that happen when someone is drinking are usually due to some form of binge drinking. Not only that but the facts about binge drinking can easily lead to a larger and more serious alcohol dependency which will require outside help to overcome.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm 

 

 

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Alcohol’s Effect on Cholesterol Levels

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Alcohol's effect on Cholesterol Levels

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels

Drinking alcohol is common in the United States. Almost half the population drinks regularly. Drinking moderately can actually be good for your health, especially for your cholesterol. In some respects, moderate drinkers are actually healthier than people who don’t drink and people who drink excessively.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Types of Cholesterol

Alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels is beneficial if alcohol is consumed in moderation.  There are two types of cholesterol-HDL and LDL. HDL cholesterol is known as the “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol in the blood. The higher the level of HDL cholesterol, the better. If levels of HDL are low, the risk of heart disease increases. HDL travels to the liver, which processes the cholesterol and rids it from the body. LDL, on the other hand, tends to build up in deposits around the body. It causes a buildup of plaque on the walls of arteries. When there is a buildup of plaque, the blood cannot flow as freely, and the risk of heart disease increases.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: HDL Cholesterol

Alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels is that it actually raises the level of HDL cholesterol in the blood. So it promotes the removal of excess cholesterol in the body. Consuming two drinks a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 16.8 percent.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Triglycerides

It is important to note that although alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels can be beneficial, cholesterol is not the only factor in determining overall heart health. Another factor is triglycerides. Alcohol is the major source of excess calories which get turned into fat, so the triglyceride level in the blood increases. Alcohol also slows down fat metabolism. When alcohol is present in the blood, the liver prioritizes removing alcohol in the blood over other metabolic processes, including sugar. While the liver is breaking down the alcohol, glucose gets further processed into triglycerides instead of being broken down and removed from the body. The same two glasses of alcohol that will reduce HDL cholesterol will raise triglycerides and the risk of stroke and heart disease by 4.6 percent.

Alcohol’s effect on Cholesterol Levels: Moderation

To reap the benefits of alcohol’s effect on cholesterol levels, alcohol must be consumed in moderation. Anything beyond the standard definition of “moderation,” however, is considered detrimental to heart health, and alcoholic beverages are usually high in calories, which can lead to unwanted weight gain. Those extra pounds can increase your risk of diabetes and stroke. In addition, overconsumption has been connected to liver disease and even damaged heart muscle. Moderation is considered one to two drinks a day. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, one and a half ounces of 80 proof liquor, one ounce of 100 proof liquor, or four ounces of wine. You do not increase your heart health by increasing consumption. Binge drinking one night is not healthy and will not benefit the heart, even if

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Hangover First Aid

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hangover first aid

Hangovers are nasty business. Whether we want to or not, we all end up having a little too much to drink sometimes. We wake up in the morning with a pounding head, parched mouth and upset stomach-the price we pay for overindulging. While nothing can cure a hangover besides time, there is some hangover first aid you can do to treat the symptoms.

Hangover First Aid: Food

Eating something as soon as you wake up can help with your stomach upset and overall lack of energy. Foods that contains fat and protein seems to help the most, so make yourself a plate of bacon, eggs and toast. Bacon contains a lot of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. One particular type of amino acid, amine has been shown to be effective in clearing your head after a night of partying.  Binging on alcohol depletes your store of amino acids, and eating bacon can replenish some of what you lost. Eggs are also a good source of protein. Bread is great because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. It not only can absorb some of the acid in your stomach when you wake up with a hangover, it also gives you a boost of energy.

Hangover First Aid: Liquids

If your stomach can’t handle food, drink a glass or two of juice or a sports drink. Follow it up with a couple glasses of water. Many hangover symptoms are caused by dehydration. You’re body loses a lot of fluids and other nutrients during a night of drinking. Drinking a lot of water, juice, or other sports drinks can help you replenish some of what you lost. Steer clear of acidic juices, like orange, as acidic juices can sometimes exacerbate a sour stomach. Sports drinks can help replenish electrolytes, as well as hydrating your body.

Hangover First Aid: Rest

Many of the hangover symptoms you experience are made worse by lack of rest. Usually when you overindulge, you also stay out much later than you normally do. Rest is an integral part of hangover first aid. Rest gives your body the time it needs to restore itself. After you eat and drink, pull the blinds and climb back into bed. By the time you wake up, you should be feeling much better. For an added benefit-take an OTC pain killer like Tylenol or Advil. It will help with any aches and pains you may be feeling. Putting an icepack on your aching head can help with a wicked hangover as well. If you don’t have an icepack, a package of frozen vegetables works too. Or just rinse a washcloth in cold water and apply it to your forehead.

Hangover First Aid: Time

Time is really the only cure for a hangover. Try to take it easy and deal with your symptoms until nature takes its course. If you have consumed a large measure of alcohol your hangover probably is severe and more time will need to elapse before you begin to feel better. The fewer drinks you consume — the less time it’ll take you to recover.

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.

Facts About Alcohol Poisoning

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Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

What is alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning is the result of drinking copious amounts of alcohol in a short period time. Alcohol poisoning is very serious and can sometimes be deadly. Binge drinking or drinking too much too quickly can affect your heart rate, your breathing, and your gag reflex. This can potentially lead to coma and death.

Binge drinking is rapidly consuming five or more drinks in a short span of time. Binge drinking is the main culprit of alcohol poisoning.  But alcohol poisoning can also happen when you accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.

Someone who has alcohol poisoning requires immediate medical attention. If you think someone may have alcohol poisoning, call 911 or for emergency help immediately. The treatment for alcohol poisoning will include breathing support, intravenous fluids, and vitamins until all of the alcohol is out of the body.

What causes alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol comes in different forms. The three most common forms of alcohol are Isopropyl alcohol which you find in rubbing alcohol, lotions and cleaning products, Methanol which is common in antifreeze, paints and solvents, and Ethanol which is found in alcoholic drinks, mouthwash and some medications.

Alcohol poisoning can occur from drinking household products accidentally or purposely but usually alcohol poisoning is due to drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time.

Alcohol is not like food. Alcohol is absorbed into the body very quickly where as food takes hours to digest. It also takes your body a long time to get rid of the alcohol you have consumed. So it hits you faster and lasts longer. Alcohol is processed by the liver and it takes about an hour for your liver to metabolize the alcohol in one drink. The rate which alcohol is metabolized varies depending on the person.  But the more alcohol you give your body the more alcohol your liver has to handle and drowning it in alcohol is dangerous. Binge drinking is what usually causes your liver to become overworked.

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system. This means that alcohol affects the nerves that control your involuntary actions such as breathing, regulating body temperature, your heartbeat, and your gag reflex. Drinking too much can cause these functions to stop working properly or cause them to shut down all together which can lead to cardiac arrest or even seizures. In worst case scenarios this can lead to death.

What are the symptoms of alcohol poisoning?

Some of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning are:

  • Confusion
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Slow breathing-this means less than eight breaths a minute
  • Irregular breathing-this means there is a space of more than 10 seconds between breaths
  • Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
  • Low body temperature
  • Unconsciousness or passing out
  • Inability to wake the person

Not all of the symptoms need to present for someone to have alcohol poisoning. A person who has alcohol poisoning and cannot be woken up or is unconscious is at risk of dying so it is important to call 911 immediately.

Some factors can put at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning. For instance your age, your sex, your size and weight, and your overall health can all determine if you are at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning. This is because all of these qualities have to do with how your body processes alcohol. There are other things that can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning such as what you eat, your drug use if any, the type of alcohol you’re drinking, your tolerance level, and the rate at which you are drinking. These are quite apparent.

Alcohol poisoning is very dangerous and should be taken very seriously. No one has to die due to alcohol poisoning if everyone takes the right action and drinks responsibly. If not and you see someone who you think may have alcohol poisoning call 911 immediately.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/alcohol-poisoning-the-hard-facts-364840/

If you need help with your addiction give us a call now at 1-800-984-4003.