Alcohol poisoning: What is it and why it can cause permanent brain damage or death

Because alcohol has a calming impact and can be a positive social experience, many individuals drink. However, excessive alcohol use, even on a single occasion, can result in major health issues.

Alcohol abuse can lead to several health issues, one of which is alcohol toxicity or overconsumption.

It is important to note that although alcohol poisoning and intoxication have the same similarities, they are the same.

One can experience alcohol intoxication without experiencing poisoning. Alcohol intoxication refers to the effects of consuming excess alcohol, characterized by impaired judgement and coordination.

Alcohol poisoning on the other hand is characterized by the same effects but potentially fatal, this occurs when a person consumes a dangerous amount of alcohol within a short period.

When a person drinks alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and affects the central nervous system. Consuming alcohol in large amounts or rapidly can overwhelm the body’s ability to process and eliminate it, resulting in high levels of alcohol in the body.

The amount of alcohol required to cause alcohol poisoning varies depending on several factors, including the person’s body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and individual susceptibility.

Additionally combining alcohol with other substances, having a pre-existing health condition, or ingestion of certain medications can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning even with lower amounts of alcohol.

Fortunately, some bodies can rapidly break down alcohol easily while others can’t do it quite so quickly. It all comes down to genes.

The liver eliminates around one unit of alcohol an hour but can sometimes be overwhelmed. Individuals who can regulate and break down alcohol fast are more likely to get addicted because they drink alcohol without negative implications.

So, what happens to the brain and body when you have alcohol poisoning?

People experience alcohol poisoning because the body’s usual process of breaking down and expelling alcohol cannot contain the high level of consumption leading to dangerously high build-up of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Since alcohol attacks the nervous system, one may experience serious complications if one drinks at a rate that is much faster than the liver can process the alcohol.

How can you prevent alcohol poisoning?

Experts advise people to know their limits, understand their tolerance for alcohol and be aware of how it affects them.

Drink in moderation by limiting alcohol intake as a way of preventing poisoning, and avoid consuming large amount of alcohol within a very short time.

Also, drink water in between alcohol to significantly lower alcohol levels in the bloodstream and avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs.