ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY

Alcohol poisoning is a serious - sometimes deadly - result of consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol. When your body absorbs too much alcohol, it can directly impact your central nervous system, slowing your breathing, heart rate and gag reflex. This can lead to choking, coma and even death. Alcohol poisoning most often occurs as a result of drinking too many alcoholic beverages over a short period of time. Binge drinking is a common cause of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning can also occur by drinking household products that contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol), or by ingesting isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) or methyl alcohol (methanol; commonly referred to as wood alcohol). A person with alcohol poisoning needs immediate medical attention and should not be left alone. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, call your local poison control center or emergency number, usually 911. Treatment of alcohol poisoning consists of providing breathing support and intravenous fluids and vitamins until all of the alcohol is eliminated from the body.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL POISONING INCLUDE:
Confusion
Stupor
Vomiting
Seizures
Slow or irregular breathing
Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
Low body temperature (hypothermia)
Unconsciousness ("passing out")

It's not necessary for all of these symptoms to be present before seeking help. Alcohol poisoning may result from accidental - and, in some cases, intentional - ingestion, particularly among children: Ethanol, for example, is found in alcoholic beverages as well as common household items such as after-shaves, colognes, perfumes, mouthwashes and medications.Isopropyl alcohol is commonly found in rubbing alcohol, lotions, certain hand-sanitizing gels, some cleaning products and antifreeze.

Methanol is found in items such as solvents, paints, varnishes, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. Most often, however, alcohol poisoning is a result of drinking too much ethanol in the form of alcoholic beverages. The effects of ethanol on your system depend on the concentration of alcohol in your blood. Also the concentration will include how strong the alcohol is, how quickly and how much you drink it, and how empty your stomach is at the time you drink it. Normally, your body can eliminate the alcohol from a 12-ounce can of beer in about one hour.

Alcohol is a stomach irritant and may cause vomiting. It also impairs your gag reflex. This increases the risk of choking on vomit if you've passed out from excessive drinking. There's also a risk of accidentally inhaling vomit into your lungs, which can lead to a dangerous or fatal interruption of breathing (asphyxiation). Excessive vomiting can also result in severe dehydration.In addition, alcohol poisoning can affect your respiratory and heart functions to the point of shutting them down, causing death.

MEDICAL TREATMENT
Alcohol poisoning treatment usually involves supportive care while your body rids itself of the alcohol. This typically includes: Careful monitoring, airway protection to prevent breathing or choking problems and/or oxygen therapy. Administration of fluids through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration. If methanol was ingested, kidney dialysis may be necessary to speed up the alcohol elimination process. Your liver performs hundreds of vital functions, including processing nutrients, regulating blood clotting and producing bile, a fluid that helps digest fats. It also removes most drugs and chemicals from your bloodstream, breaking them down so they can be quickly eliminated from your body. Although the liver has a great capacity for regeneration, constant exposure to toxic substances can cause serious - and sometimes irreversible - harm. Because it's not possible to know how you'll react to a particular medication, toxic hepatitis can't always be prevented. But these steps can help reduce your risk:

Limit medications. Take prescription and nonprescription drugs only when absolutely necessary. Investigate nondrug options for common problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis pain.

Take medications only as directed. Follow the directions exactly for any drug you take. Be cautious with herbs and supplements. Don't assume that a natural product won't cause harm.

Don't mix alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and medications are a bad combination. If you're taking acetaminophen, don't drink.

Take precautions with chemicals. If you work with or use hazardous chemicals, take all necessary precautions to protect yourself from exposure.

Nonprescription pain-relievers: You don't have to look farther than your medicine cabinet to find the majority of liver toxins. Nonprescription pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can all damage your liver, especially if taken frequently or combined with alcohol.

ACUPUNCTURE and ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY

We can help eliminate the toxic side effects.We will help detoxify the patient's liver functions that will help strengthen the other organs in the body.