With the Spring Festival approaching, while enjoying good wine, we should also be wary of the potential risks of excessive drinking. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, and excessive intake can cause acute intoxication, affect the normal function of the central nervous system, and lead to a variety of health problems and accidental injuries.
In this regard, on February 14, in an interview with a reporter from Hualong.com, relevant experts from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Southwest Hospital of the Army Medical University conducted a popular science on acute alcoholism, reminding the public to be cautious about drinking during the Spring Festival, so that they can drink in moderation and spend the holiday in a healthy way.
》What is acute alcoholism?
Acute alcoholism (AAI) is a condition in which the body ingests excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time, resulting in impaired central nervous system function.
It is mainly manifested as multi-system impairment phenomena such as emotional instability, loss of limb coordination, vertigo, intellectual disability, improper behavior and even coma.
Severe poisoning can damage organ function, leading to respiratory and circulatory failure, which can be life-threatening.
》Clinical stage of acute alcoholism?
1.Euphoria: During this phase, the patient feels relaxed and happy, has increased speech, and has uncontrolled behavior.
2.Ataxia phase: followed by uncoordinated movements, unsteady gait, slurred speech, etc.
3.Comatose phase: Finally enter a coma state, and may have life-threatening conditions such as breathing and cardiac arrest.
》What are the common causes of acute alcoholism?
Excessive alcohol consumption is the main cause of acute alcoholism. Ingestion of large amounts of alcohol can increase the concentration of alcohol in the blood, exceeding the body's metabolic capacity, leading to intoxication and multisystem damage.
Unhealthy drinking habits (e.g., drinking on an empty stomach, drinking multiple alcohols at the same time, drinking alcohol while sick or taking medication). Even if the alcohol intake is within the normal range, it can cause damage to the body due to the incorrect way and time of alcohol intake.
Individual differences. Different individuals have different abilities to metabolize alcohol, and some people may have a lower ability to metabolize alcohol and be prone to intoxication after ingesting the same amount of alcohol.
》How to deal with acute alcoholism?
1.Induce vomiting: If you find that the person around you has mild symptoms of poisoning, you can let the patient spit out the residual wine in the stomach, and if the patient cannot vomit on his own, he can use a cotton swab to stimulate the base of his tongue. In addition, also drink some foods that can relieve the symptoms of poisoning, such as juice, mung bean soup, etc.
2.Keep the airway open: Lie on the patient's side to avoid vomit blocking the airway and clear oral secretions in time.
3.Evacuate to the hospital as soon as possible: If you have symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning, such as irritability, aggressive behavior, dysesthesia, agitation and coma, you should immediately call 120 Ambulance** and take you to the emergency department of the hospital.
4.Rehydrate: While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, the patient can drink some light salt water or sugar water to replace lost water and electrolytes.
5.Close observation of the patient's condition: During the process of being sent to the hospital, family members should closely observe the patient's vital signs such as breathing and heartbeat in order to provide accurate information to the doctor.
》How to prevent acute alcoholism?
1.Limit alcohol consumption: Drink in moderation and avoid excessive alcohol consumption at one time. People who drink alcohol addicts can replace high-strength alcohol with low-strength alcohol, or they can slowly quit alcohol by substituting ** (using other beverages instead of alcohol).
2.Drink slowly: Don't drink large amounts of alcohol quickly, but taste it slowly to give your body time to metabolize the alcohol.
3.Diet: When drinking, it is best to pair it with some foods that can slow down the absorption of alcohol. Make sure you drink enough water during and after drinking alcohol to prevent dehydration.
4.Be mindful of your health: If you have a chronic illness or are taking medication, you should seek your doctor's advice on the effects of alcohol consumption. Follow your doctor's instructions to control your drinking behavior.
5.Don't drink and drive: After drinking, do not drive a motor vehicle to ensure your own safety and that of others.
Hualong.com, Lin Hong, correspondents: Huang Qiao, Xu Wanmei, He Qinman, Liu Panwen.