drinking

What Happens to Your Body When You Get Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. You should also know that a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out.

What are the risks of binge drinking?

Binge drinkers claim that they are more likely than nonbinge drinkers to drink and drive, engage in unplanned or unprotected sex, do something they later regretted, miss class or fall behind with class work, argue with friends, get hurt or injured, get in trouble with police

What is classified as binge drinking?

Binge drinking is defined as having more than 5 drinks (men) or 4 drinks (women) over a two hour period. This is usually enough to raise BAC to 0.08 g/dL. Approximately 90% of the alcohol consumed by individuals under age 21 is in the form of binge drinking. Students who live in fraternity and sorority houses, males, and Caucasians are more likely to binge drink.

For women: something to keep in mind

If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. One drink refers to one (12 oz.) bottle of beer, one (5 oz.) glass of wine, or one (1.5 oz.) of 80-proof liquor. Each of these has about 0.6 oz of ethyl alcohol. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day for males or 1 drink per day for females.

Critical Signs for Alcohol Poisoning

Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused Vomiting Seizures Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute) Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths) Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

someone passed out with alc pos

Victim chokes on his or her own vomit Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops Heart beats irregularly or stops Hypothermia (low body temperature) Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damag

How much alcohol can the liver metabolize?

the liver can metabolize about 1 drink per hour. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) increases when the body absorbs alcohol faster than it can eliminate it (>1 drink per hour).