With no gag reflex, a person who drinks to the point of passing out is in danger of choking on their vomit and dying from a lack of oxygen (i.e., asphyxiation). Even if the person survives, an alcohol overdose like this can lead to long-lasting brain damage.
"The more alcohol you consume, the more adenosine will build up in the body," Windas explains. FYI, adenosine is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired and can contribute to you passing out.
If the person is unconscious, semi-conscious or unresponsive, check for these symptoms of alcohol or drug overdose: Cannot be roused and are unresponsive to your voice, shaking, or pinching their skin. Skin is cold, clammy, pale, bluish and/or blotchy. Breathing is slow - eight or fewer breaths per minute.
A person's loved ones may be relieved that they are finally sleeping, but this is a huge misconception. Passing out does not make anyone get to sleep in the way the body needs to perform in the best way possible. Passing out is just passing time until you come to from your latest inebriated state.
Some people use the terms blackout and fainting interchangeably, but they are different things. A blackout is a loss of memory. Fainting, also called passing out, is a loss of consciousness.
Immediate medical assistance is necessary if the person is:
Unconscious or semiconscious, unable to “wake up” Shaking, or having convulsions or seizures. Foaming at the mouth. Complaining of pressure or tightness in the chest.
lightheadedness. sweating. changes to your breathing, such as breathing faster and deeply.
However, it may be indicative of underlying health conditions, such as low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, hypoglycemia or stress, so the person should seek follow-up medical attention. If someone faints or appears to be fainting, call 911 or your local emergency number.
If you have had a fainting 'spell,' or have felt dizzy to the point of passing out, you should go to an emergency room such as one of Emergency Hospital Systems' ER's where the medical staff can evaluate your situation.
The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours. This means that's how long it takes for your system to eliminate half of it. However, it takes around five half-lives to get entirely rid of the alcohol in your body. Therefore, it takes your body approximately 25 hours to completely metabolize the alcohol.
Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, refers to the percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream, and can be measured within 30-70 minutes after drinking. Contrary to popular belief, nothing can lower BAC except time; coffee, cold showers, and chugging glasses of water will not help you sober up any faster.
Background: Ethanol undergoes a first pass metabolism (FPM) in the stomach and liver. Gastric FPM of ethanol primarily depends on the activity of gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In addition, the speed of gastric emptying (GE) may modulate both gastric and hepatic FPM of ethanol.
It's also highly uncommon for someone to faint for no reason while doing some type of physical activity or exercise. In particular, sudden fainting without any prior warning signs, such as lightheadedness, dizziness or nausea before a fainting episode, must be assessed by a health care provider.
Don't try to diagnose yourself; seek immediate medical attention if you lose consciousness. Fainting can be alarming, and it should be. While often the cause of fainting is something minor, fainting also can be a sign of a serious underlying medical concern.
Key facts. A blackout is a temporary loss of consciousness. Blackouts can be caused by fainting, low blood pressure, or something more serious. If you have a blackout, it's best to see your doctor.
Drinking water, juice, broth and other non-alcohol beverages to reduce dehydration. Getting sleep to counteract fatigue. Taking antacids to help settle your stomach. Trying aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to help your headache or muscle ache.
In addition to checking for visible signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, your doctor will likely order blood and urine tests to check blood alcohol levels and identify other signs of alcohol toxicity, such as low blood sugar.
Most often, there is a warning prodrome, consisting of nausea, sweating, pallor, feeling of warmth, tingling of extremities, “graying out” and/or tunnel vision.