For healthy adults, that means up to two drinks a day for males and one drink a day for females. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.Any of the issues above can lead to death. Heavy drinking may cause brain damage that can't be reversed. Alcohol poisoning can cause a heartbeat that is not regular. The body temperature may drop so low that it leads to cardiac arrest. The blood sugar level may drop low enough to cause seizures. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and a fast heart rate. Vomiting can result in severe dehydration, which happens when the body doesn't have enough water and other fluids. Accidentally inhaling vomit into the lungs can lead to a dangerous or fatal interruption of breathing, also known as asphyxiation. Because it depresses the gag reflex, this increases the risk of choking on vomit if a person passes out. Severe complications can result from alcohol poisoning, including: How fast and how much alcohol you drink.The percentage of alcohol in your drinks.Whether you've had alcohol along with other drugs, including medicines you take for health reasons.Health conditions that affect how your body processes alcohol.Several factors can increase your risk of alcohol poisoning, including: Mixed drinks may contain more than one serving of alcohol. Be aware of the alcohol content of what you're drinking and adjust how much you drink based on this knowledge. Or you can ask the server about alcohol content. Alcohol content is displayed on the label. For example, some craft beers may have four times the amount of alcohol that's in a regular beer. Liquor such as gin, rum, vodka or whiskey: 1.5 fluid ounces (45 milliliters) of an 80-proof drink, which has about 40% alcohol.īut the amount of alcohol in one drink may be much higher than those in the list above.Wine: 5 fluid ounces (150 milliliters) with about 12% alcohol.

Malt liquor: 8 to 9 fluid ounces (240 to 270 milliliters) with about 7% alcohol.

Beer: 12 fluid ounces (360 milliliters) with about 5% alcohol.

The more you drink, especially in a short period of time, the greater your risk of alcohol poisoning. And it takes a lot more time for the body to get rid of alcohol. Unlike food, which can take hours to digest, the body absorbs alcohol quickly - long before most other nutrients. Even when the person is unconscious or stops drinking, the stomach and intestines continue to release alcohol into the bloodstream, and the level of alcohol in the body continues to rise. An alcohol binge can occur over hours or last up to several days.Ī person can consume a fatal dose of alcohol before passing out.

This is when a male rapidly consumes five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours or a female consumes at least four drinks within two hours. Methanol or ethylene glycol, which is a common ingredient in antifreeze, paints and solvents.Ī major cause of alcohol poisoning is binge drinking.Isopropyl alcohol, which is found in rubbing alcohol, lotions and some cleaning products.Other forms of alcohol can cause toxic poisoning that requires emergency treatment. Ethyl alcohol poisoning generally results from drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short period of time. It's also in mouthwash, some cooking extracts, some medicines and certain household products. But the results of not getting help in time can be far more serious.Īlcohol in the form of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is in alcoholic beverages. You may worry about what will happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if underage. But it's best to take action right away rather than be sorry later. It can be hard to decide if you think someone is drunk enough to need medical help. If the person must lie down, turn the head to the side to help prevent choking. While waiting for help, don't try to make the person vomit because that could cause choking. Because alcohol poisoning affects the way the gag reflex works, someone with alcohol poisoning may vomit and choke and not be able to breathe. Don't leave an unconscious person alone.If you know the kind and amount of alcohol the person drank, and when, tell hospital or emergency staff. Never assume the person will sleep off alcohol poisoning. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away.This is true even if you don't see the usual signs. If you think that someone has alcohol poisoning, seek medical care right away. A person with alcohol poisoning who has passed out or can't wake up could die. It's not necessary to have all the above symptoms before seeking medical help. Low body temperature, also known as hypothermia.This is when there is a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths. Slow breathing, which is fewer than eight breaths a minute.

Day after seizure symptoms