Causes of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning can stem from several different sources: both the type of alcohol consumed and the rate of consumption. It can lead to seizures, vomiting, lowered body temperature, and in the worst cases, unconsciousness and death. Alcohol poisoning can set in before the drinker loses consciousness. If you suspect you may be suffering from alcohol poisoning or someone around shows signs of alcohol poisoning, stop drinking and contact a physician immediately.

The Process of Poisoning

When you take a drink of alcohol, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach and intestines. The blood then carries the alcohol to all parts of the body, including the brain, which is why an individual consuming alcohol feels inebriated. When the body takes on too much alcohol, however, the body temperature can drop precipitously, blood sugar levels can fall, and breathing and heartbeat levels are affected as well.

Getting Rid of Alcohol

The liver gets rid of most of the alcohol in a person's system (the rest is handled by the kidneys, which remove it through urine, and the lungs, which expel it in the breath). The liver takes time to process alcohol, however, so if there's more alcohol in the body than it can handle, then the alcohol just sits there, resulting in alcohol poisoning if the levels become toxic enough.

Types of Alcohol

Alcohol poisoning can also result from the specific kind of alcohol consumed. Almost all alcoholic beverages are made with ethanol alcohol, which can be safely ingested. You can also find ethanol alcohol in certain types of mouthwash or cough syrup. Other household products contain methanol alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. The former appears in antifreeze and paint while the latter is used in rubbing alcohol and some kinds of cleanser. Neither is safe for drinking and can result in alcohol poisoning.

Binge Drinking

Even ethanol alcohol can still result in alcohol poisoning. The most common instance entails binge drinking, defined as taking five or more drinks one right after the other. Such habits are often popular at college parties and similar raucous celebrations, where drinkers aren't careful and the prevailing mood throws ordinary inhibitions to the wind.

Rate of Drinking

In order to prevent alcohol poisoning, the drinker must carefully monitor his rate of consumption. Particulars vary based on weight and gender, but it usually takes the liver one hour to absorb a single drink: a bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a shot of hard liquor. Any faster than that, and there's a chance of alcohol poisoning, and that chance increases the faster the alcohol is consumed.