Symptoms after alcohol poisoning occur for several reasons. We will talk about them below. It should also be noted that such unpleasant signs of intoxication are pronounced. It's hard not to notice them.
General information
Alcohol poisoning (symptoms, home treatment will be described below) occupies a leading position in our country among all domestic poisoning. In more than 60% of cases, this condition is fatal. Most of them (about 95-98%) occur before medical care is provided.
So how to recognize the symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning and what measures to take in order to avoid tragic consequences? You will learn about this in the presented article.
What is alcohol?
Alcohol is called drinks that contain ethanol (wine or ethyl alcohol). It is a chemical colorless and volatile substance of moderate toxic activity, which is highly flammable. Ethanol can be mixed with ordinary water in anyquantities. It is easily soluble in fats, and also easily penetrates biological membranes and quickly spreads throughout the body.
Intoxication, poisoning, intoxication
Alcohol intoxication is a special state of the human NS, which occurs as a result of drinking drinks containing ethanol.
There are four degrees of intoxication:
- easy;
- average;
- heavy;
- coma.
At the initial stage, such a state is manifested by unreasonably joyful, as well as high spirits (that is, euphoria). The consciousness of the intoxicated person is preserved (small disturbances may be observed). After a while, the thinking processes slow down. In addition, the mental and physical activity of a person decreases, his consciousness is oppressed, and he becomes slow, lethargic and drowsy.
When a coma develops, they talk about severe alcohol poisoning.
As for severe intoxication, this condition is associated with the toxic effect of ethanol breakdown products on the human body.
What are the symptoms of alcohol poisoning?
Speaking about the signs of alcohol poisoning, one cannot but note the fact that they can manifest themselves in different ways. It depends on the amount of alcohol consumed and the quality of the drinks. In addition, the symptom of alcohol poisoning is closely related to which system or organ of a person has been exposed to toxic effects.
GIT
At the primary lesionorgans of the digestive system, a person experiences abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. What causes each symptom of alcohol poisoning listed?
Pain in the abdomen occurs due to the direct damaging effect of ethanol on the mucous membrane of the small intestine and stomach.
Diarrhea occurs due to impaired absorption of minerals, water and fats, as well as a rapidly occurring deficiency of an enzyme that is necessary for the absorption of lactose.
Nausea is a sign of general intoxication.
As for vomiting, most often it has a central character. In other words, it is associated with the toxic effect of alcohol on the central nervous system.
CNS
When the nervous system is damaged, a person experiences: mental agitation, delirium, euphoria, impaired coordination of movements, hallucinations, increased sweating, convulsions, decreased body temperature, dilated pupils, impaired attention, thermoregulation, as well as speech and perception.
Each symptom of alcohol poisoning mentioned is associated with impaired metabolism of nerve cells, oxygen starvation, the damaging effect of ethanol on the cells of the central nervous system and the toxic effect of intermediate products of the breakdown of alcohol (acetate, acetaldehyde, ketone bodies).
SSS
The first signs of alcohol poisoning from the heart are:
- decrease in blood pressure;
- palpitations;
- dizziness;
- facial redness;
- general weakness;
- pale skin;
- malaise.
The appearance of such symptoms is explained by the fact that the patient loses a lot of fluid during diarrhea or vomiting. Also, due to the increase in the permeability of the vascular walls, the fluid from the vascular bed passes into the space between the cells. To compensate for the volume of blood (circulating), the human body includes the following compensatory mechanisms: constriction of peripheral vessels and increased heart rate. Thanks to this, the blood is redistributed and saturates the more important organs.
Respiratory tract
How does alcohol poisoning affect the respiratory system? The symptoms of such a lesion are expressed as follows:
- acute respiratory failure;
- noisy and rapid breathing.
The listed symptoms occur due to damage to the respiratory center, the development of cerebral edema and metabolic disorders. The occurrence of acute respiratory failure is associated with retraction of the tongue, the ingress of vomit into the respiratory tract and reflex spasm of the bronchi and larynx.
Renal system
With kidney damage, the patient has increased urination or, conversely, a decrease in urination (sometimes to complete absence).
Such conditions are due to the fact that by reducing the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (the hypothalamus, which retains water in the body), ethanol increases the process of urination. In addition, alcohol contributes to the removal of calcium, potassium, magnesium from the human body, disrupting their absorption in the intestine. Thus, there is a shortage of these elements.
In severe cases, ethanol damages the structure of the kidneys.
Liver damage
Symptoms of alcoholic liver poisoning are also pronounced. These include severe pain in the right hypochondrium, as well as yellowing of the skin and sclera. Such signs arise due to the damaging effect of ethanol on liver cells and intracellular metabolic disorders.
Acute alcohol poisoning: symptoms
In severe poisoning, the patient may fall into a coma. At the same time, he loses consciousness, and also does not respond to any external stimuli (for example, loud sounds, patting on the cheeks, tingling, etc.).
A systemic alcohol concentration of 3 g/l or more causes coma. Currently, its two phases are distinguished: superficial and deep. Consider their symptoms in more detail.
Surface coma
This condition is characterized by: loss of consciousness, floating movements of the eyeballs, decreased pain sensitivity, excessive salivation, pupils of different sizes (constricted - dilated), reaction to irritation with protective movements or changes in facial expressions, rapid heartbeat, redness of the skin and membranes of the eyes, shortness of breath.
Deep coma
Symptoms of alcohol surrogate poisoning are very often accompanied by a loss of pain sensitivity, a decrease in body temperature, the absence of tendon reflexes, convulsions, loss of muscle tone, a decrease in blood pressure, pallor or cyanosis of the skin, a decrease in depth andrespiratory rate, marked by an increase in heart rate.
Severity of alcohol intoxication
The symptom of alcohol poisoning can be mild or severe. What does it depend on? We will give the answer to the question posed right now.
- Amount of drink. When large doses of ethanol enter the human body, especially at one time, the liver does not have time to process it. Thus, the products of incomplete alcohol decay accumulate in the blood, after which they damage such vital organs as the brain, liver, kidneys, heart, and others.
- Age. Children and the elderly are the most sensitive to the effects of alcohol. This is due to the fact that adolescents have not yet formed all the necessary neutralization mechanisms, and in the elderly they no longer perform their function in the required quality.
- Individual intolerance. Personal intolerance to ethanol and, as a result, the rapid development of intoxication is especially common in the Mongoloid race. This is due to the fact that they have reduced activity of a special enzyme, which is necessary for the complete breakdown of alcohol.
- Pregnancy, malnutrition, overwork, diseases of the pancreas, liver and diabetes. Such conditions reduce the work and neutralizing function of the main cleansing organ (liver).
- Combination of alcohol and drugs. The toxic effect of alcohol is increased several times when taken simultaneously with such drugs,as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, NSAIDs and others.
- Additives and impurities. The toxic effect of alcohol is increased by such additives and impurities as methyl alcohol, aldehydes, higher alcohols, ethylene glycol, furfural and others.
- Ethanol consumption on an empty stomach. When alcohol is taken on an empty stomach, it is absorbed into the blood in half the dose, which can lead to severe poisoning.
What to do with intoxication?
Now you know why alcohol poisoning occurs. Symptoms and treatment for this condition are presented in this article.
If you notice that your friend has become ill after drinking alcohol, you should immediately call an ambulance. This is due to the following points:
- Severe pathological condition caused by alcohol intoxication, quite often leads to death.
- Only an experienced doctor is able to assess the condition of the victim and prescribe treatment.
- Treatment of poisoning requires the use of a number of medications.
- Most cases of severe alcohol intoxication are treated in the intensive care unit or intensive care unit.
First aid at home
How should alcohol poisoning be treated (the symptoms and treatment of this condition are described in this article)? First, you need to call a specialist. While the doctor is on the way, it is required to provide first aid to the victim. What is it?
- Provisionairway patency. To do this, you need to remove the patient's tongue (when it retracts), and then clean the oral cavity. If possible, use a rubber bulb. With excessive salivation, the patient should be administered intravenously 1.0-0.1% atropine. These measures are necessary to ensure adequate oxygen supply and prevent upper airway blockage.
- Give the victim the correct position (on his side) and fix his tongue (for example, press with a finger or a spoon).
- Perform artificial respiration and chest compressions (when breathing and heart stops). Such procedures must be carried out before the appearance of a heartbeat and breathing.
- Bring the victim back to consciousness if he has lost it. To do this, it is necessary to bring cotton wool with ammonia to the nose of the patient.
- Induce vomiting (only if the person is conscious). To do this, he must be given a saline solution or a special agent that causes vomiting. This procedure is effective only in the first hours after drinking ethanol.
If the listed methods do not help, then resort to the following:
- Gastric lavage. The victim is given the maximum amount of water, and then pressure is applied to the root of the tongue.
- Warming the patient. A person is placed in a warm bed, wrapped in a blanket.
- Reception of the adsorbent. The victim is given sorbents that can absorb various types of toxins. They accelerate the detoxification and elimination of alcohol from the body.
Medicines for the treatment of alcohol poisoning
In the hospital, the following remedies can be prescribed to the victim:
- The drug "Metadoxil" intramuscularly. This is a medication that was created specifically for the treatment of alcohol poisoning. It increases the activity of enzymes that are responsible for the utilization of ethanol. Thus, the agent in question accelerates the processing and removal of alcohol. In addition, it restores liver cells and improves the mental state of the victim.
- Vitamins and glucose mixed in one syringe. Such a cocktail improves metabolic processes, and also accelerates the neutralization and elimination of ethanol. In addition, it reduces the risk of alcohol-related psychosis.
- Droppers for water-mineral balance. They improve blood circulation through the vessels, and also help restore the necessary water and mineral balance.
It should also be noted that the symptoms of alcohol poisoning of the pancreas and liver require the use of hepatoprotectors. Such medicines improve the functioning of the mentioned organs, restore damaged cells and accelerate the detoxification of ethanol.
Often, with alcohol intoxication, doctors use the drugs "Pirozol" and "Fomepisol". These are the latest antidotes used for ethylene glycol and methyl alcohol poisoning. They reduce the activity of the liver enzyme and interrupt the formation of toxic elements.
