Alcohol poisoning: what to do at home

The well-known state of a hangover is not just poor health, but a sign of serious poisoning of the body with alcoholic toxins after heavy drinking. In some cases, the body needs immediate assistance, otherwise serious health consequences and even death are possible. What is the danger of alcohol poisoning, and what to do at home in this case?

How does alcohol intoxication develop?

After drinking alcoholic beverages, ethyl alcohol spreads throughout the body, entering primarily the liver. Ethanol, which is the main component of alcoholic beverages, weakens the protective functions of the liver and begins to attack other organs, disrupting the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous systems. In response to the effects of alcohol, the body begins to produce alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde - substances that are extremely toxic to the brain. The high concentration of poisons formed as a result of the consumption and splitting of alcohol, and causes manifestations, which are popularly called a hangover. It has characteristic symptoms, and proceeds in several stages - the first and second stages do not require medical intervention, and the latter is extremely dangerous for the body and requires immediate assistance.

If the poisoning occurred not with ordinary vodka or other alcoholic beverages, but with alcoholic surrogates (denatured alcohol, wood alcohol, moonshine, some medicines, etc.) aggravated. In addition to ordinary drinking alcohol, it contains many harmful substances that have a destructive name for the body. For intoxication in this case, it is not necessary to drink a large amount of alcohol - a very small dose is enough.

For reference: beer lovers claim that it is simply impossible for them to get poisoned, since its strength is much lower than that of vodka. In fact, the foam contains not only ethanol, but also fusel oils, preservatives, malt and other components, which in excessive quantities can increase intoxication.

Symptoms and stages of alcohol intoxication

Alcohol poisoning has three stages, each with its own symptoms. At the first, there are signs that are usually called alcoholic intoxication:

• dilated pupils, glitter in the eyes;
• excessive activity and talkativeness;
• a state of relaxation or, conversely, arousal;
• euphoria and emotional uplift;
• categoricalness in statements;
• communication difficulties.

In this case, a person, as a rule, easily wakes up after a short rest, and may experience only slight discomfort.

The middle stage of alcohol intoxication is characterized by more pronounced manifestations. A person's gait, coordination of movements and visual function are disturbed, and instincts begin to dominate in actions - aggression, sexuality, etc. In this state, the drinker does not control his actions and cannot adequately for them reply. Sobering up is accompanied by weakness, intense headache, indigestion, and intense thirst.

If, after the onset of the second stage of alcohol intoxication, continue drinking alcohol, the condition passes into the third stage. A person's movements become erratic, statements lose their meaning, and he himself completely loses control over what is happening and connection with reality. The threshold of pain sensitivity is reduced (the drinker can get serious injury and not even notice it), the skin blush, there is an increase or decrease in body temperature, reflexes are lost, and the more severe the poisoning, the stronger it manifestation.

For reference: the amount of alcohol that can provoke serious poisoning and to whom is determined by the characteristics of the body (weight, age, the presence of chronic diseases, etc.), but on average it is 300-400 g in terms of pure alcohol, or more than 3-4 ppm.

How to recognize an alcoholic coma?

The main symptom of an alcoholic coma is loss of consciousness when a person stops responding to his own name and external stimuli. The last stage of intoxication, in turn, also proceeds in three stages, and the severity of a person's condition is determined depending on the symptoms.

Table 1. Stages of an alcoholic coma

Alcoholic coma stage	Manifestations
Easy	Loss of consciousness, constriction of the pupils, cyanosis of the skin, a decrease in body temperature, slowing down of breathing and pulse. A person can be brought to consciousness with the help of ammonia.
Average	Complete muscle relaxation and loss of basic reflexes, lack of response to severe stimuli (such as hitting the cheeks) and using ammonia, but the pupils are exposed to light expanding.
Deep	Complete loss of basic reflexes, lack of pupil response to light, impaired respiratory function and cardiovascular activity.

At the first stage of a coma, it is enough to flush a person's stomach, after which nothing threatens his life - the consequences will be an extremely severe hangover. In other cases, a drunken person needs detoxification measures, which must be carried out in a medical institution.

When should you call an ambulance?

You can determine the fact that a drinker needs immediate medical attention by the following symptoms:

• loss of consciousness, lack of response to external stimuli;
• a decrease in body temperature, which can be determined even by touch, the appearance of a sticky cold film on the surface of the skin;
• severe blanching, cyanosis or redness of the skin;
• violation of respiratory function;
• a fast, weak, or threadlike pulse;
• severe vomiting with impurities of bile or blood;
• involuntary urination or defecation.

In this case, the person is hospitalized, detoxified using intravenous infusions glucose and other drugs, if necessary, support vital signs in the norm.

Poisoning with alcoholic surrogates

If there is a suspicion that the alcohol was of poor quality, or there was a drinking medical tinctures, moonshine, cologne, etc., an ambulance should be called even in the absence of severe symptoms.

Signs of intoxication with low-quality alcohol include:

• pathological changes in the sense of smell and vision (double vision, "fog" and "flies" before the eyes);
• noise in ears;
• increased salivation;
• abdominal cramps.

If you do not provide medical assistance to a person in a timely manner, the case may end in death, therefore, if the presence of an opportunity to deliver the victim to a medical facility before the ambulance arrives, it should take advantage.

For reference: signs of alcohol intoxication after consuming surrogates are much less pronounced than when drinking high-quality alcohol - this is due to the peculiarities of the effect of substances on the body person.

First aid

While waiting for the arrival of the medical team, the person must be laid on his side, loosen his clothes on his chest, make sure that he does not choke on his own tongue or vomit. To bring the drunk to consciousness, you can use ammonia or any substance with a strong aroma (vinegar, grated horseradish, etc.), rub your ears or pat on the cheeks.

If alcohol intoxication does not entail a threat to life (a person regains consciousness, can respond to simple questions, basic reflexes are present), you can alleviate his condition at home by providing the appropriate first help.

1. The main tasks in providing first aid to a person who has been poisoned by alcohol is to eliminate the impact ethyl alcohol and its decomposition products, remove toxic substances and bring all body functions to the norm. To do this, first of all, provoke vomiting - press on the base of the tongue or give 2-3 glasses of soda or salt solution to drink (a teaspoon in a glass of water). Gastric lavage should be carried out until the exiting water is practically clear.
   

   How to flush the stomach

2. For indomitable, excruciating vomiting, you can apply a cold compress to the back of the head, or dip your head in water.
3. Provide a flow of clean air - open the window, in summer or spring take a person outside, loosen clothes in the chest and neck area.
4. Neutralize harmful substances that are present in the digestive tract, for which you can use any absorbent (Enterosgel, activated carbon).
   

   Activated carbon

5. At low body temperature, covering or dressing the poisoned person will help to avoid serious hypothermia of the body, which occurs after a sharp expansion of blood vessels due to the use alcohol.
6. If, due to alcohol poisoning, a person has diarrhea, it is necessary to restore the normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract using probiotics and beneficial bacteria - Linex, Yogurt, Acipol etc.
   

   Linex

After the vomiting subsides, the person should be given a drink of Rehydron or another similar remedy that prevents dehydration. and put him to bed, and at this time someone must monitor his condition (control breathing, pulse, skin color and etc.).

Attention: it is impossible to stop vomiting and diarrhea, which has developed as a result of alcohol intoxication - they act as a protective reaction of the body and contribute to the early removal of toxic substances.

Video - Alcohol poisoning: what to do? First aid!

What cannot be done?

When providing first aid to a poisoned person with alcoholic beverages, remember that there is a number of prohibited activities that can aggravate a person's poor condition and harm him health. In case of intoxication of the body after heavy drinking, it is not recommended to do the following:

• induce vomiting in the absence of consciousness so that the drunk does not choke on vomit;
• give antiemetics or try to stop the body from self-cleaning in any other way;
• take sleeping pills or diuretics - they disrupt the activity of the central nervous system and kidneys, which are already "stunned" by a large dose of toxins;
• lead the victim to the steam room or pour cold water over them - sudden temperature changes can provoke serious dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

How to remove the effects of intoxication on your own?

After a serious alcohol intoxication, a person experiences a deterioration in general well-being, headaches, thirst and lack of appetite, which are the consequences of poisoning. A range of unpleasant symptoms can be dealt with with simple home remedies.

1. Consume as much liquid as possible, giving preference to herbal decoctions, weak green tea, clean water with lemon juice and honey, homemade fruit drinks and compotes, preferably unsweetened.
2. Drink liquid fermented milk products, including kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, or those that contain enzymes and acids (pickle of sauerkraut or cucumber).
3. Take a warm or contrast shower - stand for 1 minute under a hot and cool water jet.
4. Eat a bowl of low-fat chicken soup, fresh vegetable salad, or another light and nutritious meal, but if you have no appetite, don't force yourself to eat.
5. Take a walk in the fresh air.

Many people believe that the best hangover cure is sound sleep, so you can lie down and sleep as a therapy. The worst solution in this case is to treat like with like, that is, to get hungover. A person's well-being may improve, but a weakened body will receive an additional blow, which can cause irreparable harm to health.

Hangover medications

In pharmacies, you can buy a number of drugs that eliminate hangovers and promote quick recovery of the body.

1. Alka-Seltzer. The most common drug for a hangover, which is available in the form of soluble tablets, and in its composition contains soda, acetylsalicylic and citric acid. The components of the product are quickly absorbed by the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and eliminate the effects of intoxication. Contraindication - ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract.
   

   Alka-Seltzer

2. Medichronal. A product based on glucose, sodium formate and other substances that have the ability to remove from the body the products formed after the breakdown of alcohol. In excessive quantities, sodium formate is also capable of provoking intoxication, therefore, this remedy can only be used in case of severe manifestations of intoxication. Prohibited for use in diabetes.
   

   Medichronal

3. Alka-approx. An analogue of Alka-Seltzer, which has a similar composition (aspirin, soda, glycine), relieves headaches, has a calming effect on the nervous system, prevents dehydration and neutralizes the effects of acetaldehyde, which is a key cause of intoxication after consumption alcohol. Contraindications include severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal diseases, individual intolerance to the components.
   

   Alka-prim

4. Antipochmelin. The drug contains acids (succinic, fumaric, ascorbic), glucose and sodium glutamate. Suitable for both elimination of the effects of alcohol intoxication, and for the prevention of poisoning before a feast. It differs from other medicines in that it begins to act already at the time of the breakdown of ethanol and the formation of toxic compounds. Contraindicated in people with severe renal dysfunction and ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract.
   

   Antipochmelin

5. Alco buffer. The medicine includes succinic acid and milk thistle extract, it protects liver tissue from the negative impact of alcohol and its transformation products, has on the body detoxifying effect. Quickly eliminates unpleasant manifestations of alcohol consumption.
   

   Alco buffer

6. Zorex. It removes toxins from the blood, accelerates the breakdown of alcohol and contributes to the rapid elimination of symptoms of poisoning. The remedy is quite effective, but in comparison with similar drugs it often causes allergic manifestations.
   

   Zorex

7. DrinkOFF. Natural remedy, which contains extracts from various plants and acids. Tones and cleanses the body, relieves headaches, nausea and weakness. It is not used for serious violations of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract, with pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
   

   DrinkOFF

8. Buffalo. A drug based on soda and succinic acid with antioxidant properties, removes toxins, normalizes water balance and regenerative processes in the body. It is better to take it immediately after drinking alcoholic beverages. Contraindications include ulcerative lesions of the stomach and intestines, hypersensitivity to drug components.

If the above funds are not at hand, you can drink several tablets of succinic or ascorbic acid, as well as any vitamin complex.

Let's summarize

Alcohol intoxication is a serious violation of the body's activity, which can lead to unpleasant consequences and even death. To prevent poisoning, it is necessary to take a responsible attitude to the use of alcoholic beverages and do not exceed the safe dose, which is 13 to 20 g of pure alcohol at a time.