What to do in case of acute alcohol poisoning. Burnt vodka poisoning: symptoms and signs

Ethanol intoxication is the leader among all household acute poisonings. Exceeding the normal dose of alcohol leads to poisoning.

According to statistics:

Of all acute poisoning, alcohol accounts for 25%;

Of these, 60% of cases are fatal;

In 90%, death occurs before the doctor arrives.

The lethal dose of ethanol is 4 - 12 g per 1 kg of body weight. These figures are the value calculated for the body of a healthy person. In the presence of chronic diseases, it may be different.

alcohol tolerance

In chronic alcoholics, the lethal dose of ethanol is incomparable with that determined for healthy people; their body processes a much larger amount of alcohol. With the constant intake of alcohol, even in small doses, addiction and dependence develop.

Tolerance to alcohol is different for everyone, depending on:

Gender;

Weight and height;

The amount and strength of alcohol consumed.

In general, alcohol tolerance depends on the presence and activity of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Alcohol dehydrogenase takes part in the oxidation of ethanol with the formation of toxic acetaldehyde, which turns into acetic acid in further reactions.

Alcohol intoxication is measured in ppm (% 0) - the ratio of the volume of pure alcohol and the volume of blood (or urine). 1%0 means the content of 1 g of pure ethanol in 1 liter of blood.

Ethyl alcohol poisoning - the first signs

The first signs of poisoning ethyl alcohol occur 20 minutes after drinking an alcoholic beverage. After 1.5 hours, the amount of alcohol reaches a maximum. Ethanol poisoning in everyday life is called alcohol intoxication.

Signs of intoxication are always individual and appear depending on the quantity and quality of alcohol consumed within an hour. It is known that in a healthy person, the liver neutralizes 0.5 liters of light beer in 60 minutes. If during the same hour a much larger amount is drunk, there is a toxic effect on the entire body.

High big man gets drunk less than a short person with a small weight with an equal amount of alcohol drunk.

Features of metabolism

Carbonated alcoholic drinks are absorbed into the blood faster, so poisoning occurs earlier.

20% of alcohol is immediately absorbed in the stomach and 80% in the small intestine.

Food slows down the absorption of alcohol.

Accelerates absorption:

Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach;

Repeated intake of alcohol;

The presence of diseases of the stomach: gastritis, peptic ulcer.

10% of alcohol is excreted through the lungs unchanged, as well as through the skin and kidneys; 90% - undergoes oxidation.

All symptoms of ethyl alcohol poisoning: mild

A mild degree of poisoning (the amount of alcohol in the blood - from 0.2% 0 to 1.5% 0) manifests itself:

Hyperemia of the skin;

Discoordination of movements (there is an inhibition of spinal reflexes);

General hyperhidrosis (sweating);

cheeky behavior;

Excessive talkativeness;

Overestimation of personal capabilities.

Wherein:

Attention is sharply reduced;

Sensitive perceptions are difficult;

Analgesia develops - pain sensitivity sharply decreases;

Weakens memory.

There is no threat to life, but taking into account that alcohol is excreted from the body at a rate of 0.15% 0, sobering up will occur after at least 4 hours.

All symptoms of ethyl alcohol poisoning: moderate severity

With moderate severity of poisoning, the toxic effect of ethanol on the nervous system appears: aggressive behavior, incoherent speech, uncontrolled actions. In an excessive dose, excitation is replaced by inhibition - sleep sets in.

Severe poisoning

In severe poisoning occurs:

loss of consciousness, trouble breathing;

Vomiting, involuntary bowel movements and urination;

Prolonged seizures are possible.

The face becomes cyanotic, frequent thready pulse, pressure drops sharply, breathing is absent, dibo is intermittent, superficial, rare. The determined concentration of alcohol in the blood is 3-5% 0, in the urine - 6% 0.

In case of severe poisoning, a person quickly goes through all stages alcohol poisoning and falls into a coma.

Alcoholic coma

In coma, there is no reaction to external stimuli (pupils do not respond to bright light, no response to pain). Urgent resuscitation is required.

An alcoholic coma occurs if a person of average build and weight drinks 150 ml of alcohol in terms of pure alcohol (corresponding to 450 g of vodka) for a short time. This is up to 6% 0 alcohol in the blood, in the urine - 8% 0.

Alcohol poisoning

Especially severe intoxication in case of poisoning by surrogates. Surrogates include:

Drinks containing ethyl alcohol and chemical additives that lead to poisoning;

If, after drinking alcohol, in addition to the listed symptoms, there are "flies" before the eyes, severe pain in the temples, in the abdomen, persistent vomiting - these are signs of methanol intoxication; immediate resuscitation is needed. Without them, the condition progressively worsens irreversibly: loss of vision and hearing, convulsions, coma and a high probability of death occur.

First aid for ethyl alcohol poisoning

Before the arrival of the doctor, it is necessary to provide first aid in case of poisoning with ethyl alcohol.

1. With a mild degree of intoxication, you can drink aspirin: it inactivates the action of toxic acetaldehyde, which is formed during the oxidation of ethanol. A strongly diluted solution of ammonia, which is given orally, can bring to life.

2. First aid for ethyl alcohol poisoning consists in immediate gastric lavage: it is necessary to free the stomach from toxins, which, continuing to be absorbed, will aggravate the patient's condition.

If the patient is conscious, make him drink at least a liter of water with diluted soda or a few manganese crystals (up to a light pink color).

Induce a gag reflex by touching the root of the tongue with a spoon.

Flushing is carried out until pure water from the stomach.

Give the sorbent in an adequate dose: the simplest - activated charcoal - up to 20 tablets can be used for the charcoal to work effectively.

Warm the patient by covering with a warm blanket, because in case of alcohol poisoning, the body temperature decreases due to the rapid expansion of blood vessels, which leads to heat loss.

If breathing is disturbed, caffeine, atropine or cordiamine must be injected subcutaneously.

In case of cardiac arrest, an indirect massage is done until breathing is restored: alternate 15 strong pressures on the center of the sternum with 2 mouth-to-mouth breaths - in case of resuscitation by two people. If indirect massage and artificial respiration are carried out by one person, the ratio of actions is 1: 4 (4 clicks - 2 breaths).

First aid for ethyl alcohol poisoning (coma)

In the event of a coma, a person is laid on his stomach with his head turned to the side to prevent inhalation of vomit into the respiratory tract. For this reason, gastric lavage in a coma is not performed. It is necessary to give a sniff of ammonia, wrap it warmly. Further, all resuscitation activities are carried out in the hospital.

If the victim is in a supine position and it is not possible to lay him on his stomach, it is necessary to turn his head to one side to prevent aspiration of vomit.

It is unacceptable to give more alcohol to the poisoned person - symptoms of delirium tremens may develop.

Ethyl alcohol poisoning - treatment

In case of severe poisoning with ethyl alcohol, treatment is carried out in the conditions of the toxicological department. Necessarily:

The stomach is washed with a probe;

Salt laxative is introduced;

Forced diuresis is carried out, in parallel - alkalization of the blood.

In the absence of pharyngeal reflexes, tracheal intubation is performed for artificial ventilation of the lungs.

A 40% glucose solution with insulin is injected intravenously, vitamins B1, B6, ascorbic acid are added, for the purpose of alkalization - infusion of sodium bicarbonate. To restore consciousness After the gastric lavage, 5-10 drops of ammonia diluted with water are given (reflex therapy). Be sure to warm the patient with heating pads.

For the purpose of detoxification, Metadoxil is used - a drug that quickly removes methanol and acetaldehyde from the body, Neogemodez is also used - no more than 400 ml once.

Prevention of poisoning

Use it in acceptable quantities;

Avoid counterfeits - accept only original brands of drinks, for the manufacture of which natural raw materials are used: wheat grain and grapes.

If you intend to drink alcohol, follow these simple rules:

Do not drink on an empty stomach;

Drink alcohol in safe quantities: no more than 40 g of vodka, which is the same as 350 g of beer, or 140 g of fortified wine;

Exercise extreme caution in diseases of the stomach and intestines (with ulcers or erosions) - this can lead to bleeding;

It must be remembered that long-term regular use of alcohol, even in small children, will lead to the emergence of alcohol dependence. To avoid this, to maintain health for many years, it is better to stop drinking alcohol.

Alcohol poisoning in Russia is the most common among other poisonings. It accounts for about 60% of deaths. An even greater proportion of deaths occur before medical care is provided in 95% - 98% of cases.

Most alcoholic beverages contain ethanol (ethyl alcohol). This is a chemical substance, it is colorless, volatile, highly flammable, quickly spreads throughout the body and is absorbed into the blood, penetrating through the membranes.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is divided into 3 types according to the state:

Alcohol intoxication (mild, moderate, severe, coma)

Not a big disturbance of consciousness, elated mood, arousal are initially manifested, then a slowdown in activity and arousal begins, a depressed state comes in turn, a person’s consciousness slows down, becomes sleepy and slow.

  • alcohol poisoning
  • The state is lethargic, inhibited, drowsy, coma development.
  • Alcohol intoxication
  • The toxic effect of ethanol decay products on the human body.

Organ lesions and their symptoms:

Gastrointestinal tract - lesions of the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine, diarrhea occurs due to malabsorption of water and minerals, as well as fats, with a decrease in the number of enzymes that are responsible for the absorption of lactose. There are symptoms of intoxication in the form of nausea and vomiting with a toxic effect on the nervous system. With the defeat of the nervous system, there is a bret, hallucinations, mental agitation, impaired coordination, attention, memory, speech, violation of thermoregulation. Pupils dilate.

The action of ethanol occurs on the nervous system, while the metabolism of nerve cells is disturbed with the occurrence of oxygen starvation. Intoxication of ethanol decomposition products affects ketone bodies, acetate, acetaldehyde.

When ethanol affects the cardiovascular system, the heart rate increases, blood pressure drops, dizziness, loss of strength occur, while the skin turns pale and the face turns red.

The respiratory system is affected causing metabolic disorders with the development of cerebral edema. Acute respiratory failure appears, the tongue sinks with a reflex spasm of the larynx. Breathing becomes rapid.

Damage to the kidneys by ethanol and a violation of the water-salt balance, while the symptoms of alcohol poisoning are manifested in the form of frequent urination or infrequent urination, to the point of its absence. This happens due to a decrease in the secretion of hormones of the hypothalamus, which retains water. Ethanol is able to remove from the body all the mineral substances necessary for a person (potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), absorption into the intestines is disturbed and a deficiency of vitamins and minerals occurs. In some cases, ethanol damages the structure of the kidneys.

Damage to the liver and its cells leads to a violation of intracellular metabolism, pain appears in the right hypochondrium, sometimes yellowness of the skin appears.

Severe alcohol poisoning

In severe cases, with alcohol poisoning, a person falls into a coma. Who is able to cause ethanol if its concentration in the blood reaches 3 g per liter of blood.

Who is divided into 2 phases:

Deep coma - loss of consciousness, complete absence of external stimuli, loss of reflexes, pain, decrease in body temperature. Pale to bluish skin, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, deep breathing.

superficial coma- loss of consciousness, decreased sensation, floating movement eyeballs, with one pupil larger than the other. There is a reaction to external stimuli with facial expressions, the eyes are often reddish. Breathing and palpitations are speeded up, profuse salivation is also noticed.

The effect of alcohol on the body

The severity of alcohol poisoning can depend on various factors.

1 Amount of alcohol consumed:

If a person drinks a large amount of alcohol at a time, his liver does not have time to process alcohol. And ethanol accumulates in the blood, while destroying important organs for life, such as the brain, kidneys, liver, stomach, heart, etc.

A healthy human liver, whose weight is approximately 75-85 kg, is able to process only 8 grams of pure alcohol in one hour (100 ml of vodka contains 31 grams of pure alcohol.) Therefore, even 100 grams per hour is already great amount for the organs of our system.

With all this, alcohol will have the worst effect on children and the elderly, since in children it is not yet fully formed, and in the elderly the mechanisms do not perform their work so well.

2 Much depends on the genetic predisposition, some alcohol is absorbed quickly, others slowly, some have low activity of the enzyme that is responsible for the processing of ethanol, others vice versa. Intoxication occurs if the breakdown product of ethanol, acetaldehyde, accumulates in the blood. In addition, a person's health factors will affect, for example, if he already has an unhealthy liver, kidneys, diabetes mellitus or other diseases. No less important is lifestyle, such as pregnancy, malnutrition, overwork, which can also affect the absorption of alcohol.

3 Everyone knows that alcoholic beverages should not be mixed with drugs, since the effect of alcohol is only aggravated, especially for antipsychotics, trunks, antidepressants and other neuropsychiatric drugs. While taking conventional drugs, ethanol will only drown out their actions and there will be no sense from them.

This also includes the intake of various additives, in which the toxic effects of alcohol are enhanced. Additives include (methyl alcohol, aldehydes, furfural, ethylene glycol, etc.).

4 For pretty a short time half of the accepted dose of alcohol is already absorbed into the blood (about 15-20 minutes), so drinking it on an empty stomach only exacerbates the effect, however, when taking alcohol and carbohydrate food at the same time, it significantly reduces the rate of absorption of ethanol into the blood.

In general, with a large and frequent use alcohol, the heart may not be able to withstand and the person will simply die, such cases occur annually. Especially cases after taking alcohol in the form of cologne, lotion, troy, hawthorn and similar substances. Methyl alcohol, which is contained in these liquids, is oxidized in the body to formaldehyde and formic acid, which cause severe intoxication on the body. After that, a headache, nausea, abdominal pain, double vision, flies, fog, in the flesh to blindness begin. It especially affects the optic nerve and the retina of the eye. If for a long time in case of poisoning, the pupil is dilated, then this is a symptom of unfavorable consequences. Death occurs when there is a violation of breathing, heart or brain paralysis.

First aid for alcohol poisoning

Correctly lay the patient on his side Ensure the patency of the airways, if the tongue is sunk, straighten it, or press the tongue with your fingers, a spoon, do everything so that it does not sunk. Using a rubber bulb, remove the contents oral cavity, this is mucus, salivation, remnants of vomiting. With abundant salivation, put intravenously atropine 1.0-0.1% This is the most common cause death if the tongue or other contents interfere with normal breathing.

If breathing stops, you need to perform a heart massage - 2 breaths and 30 clicks on chest(is a resuscitation cycle) Repeat until breathing occurs. Pressing must be effective. This method is able to re-engage the cardiac and respiratory systems.

The classic way to bring the patient to consciousness is to bring a cotton swab with ammonia at a distance of 1 cm. It stimulates the respiratory organs, awakening them.

If the patient is conscious, give him the opportunity to clear the stomach, for this you need to drink a saline solution (200 ml 1 teaspoon of salt). It is effective in the first hours. Next, take ipecac root (200 ml per 2 teaspoons), it can cause vomiting, this is necessary to cleanse the stomach. If possible, perform gastric lavage through an umbrella (water can be salted for 1 liter of water 1 teaspoon)

Since alcohol causes peripheral vasodilation, the body loses heat. Therefore, try to warm the patient.

Medicines for poisoning

White charcoal: 3-4 tablets, up to 3-4 times a day

Enterosgel: 6 tablespoons, once

Polysorb: Adults 2-3 tablespoons, place in ¼-½ cup of water.

Activated charcoal: 1 gram per 10 kg of patient weight, 1 tab. \u003d 0.25 gr. The average daily dose is 20-30 gr., 80-120 tab.

Metadoxil: dose 300-600 mg (5-10 ml), intramuscularly; Or add 300-900 mg of metadoxil to 500 ml of saline or 5% glucose solution, inject intravenously over 90 minutes.

Since you are reading this, it means that the topic of intoxication has aroused interest. That is, I want to know for what reasons alcohol poisoning occurs. After all, the emerging signs of a bad state after alcohol can cause quite a few questions. This material will help satisfy curiosity, and may be useful in specific situation associated with the consequences of alcohol consumption. We advise you to carefully study everything, links for convenience are given immediately:

Alcohol poisoning is a dangerous, in some cases fatal, severe consequence of drinking excessive doses of alcohol, which occurred in a short period of time. The intake of large volumes of alcoholic beverages in the body causes an increase in the concentration of ethanol in the blood.

This is accompanied by such typical symptoms of poisoning. Such as: severe nausea and vomiting, failures in respiratory activity due to disruption (paralysis) of the respiratory center of the brain. As well as complications in the work of the cardiovascular system, which manifest themselves in the form of arrhythmia and tachycardia, etc. Alcohol poisoning in severe cases is complicated to coma and even leads to death.

The dangers of drinking alcohol

The excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is singled out as the main factor and the main cause of alcohol poisoning. It tends to be more spontaneous. For example, as a consequence of the loss of control over the amount of alcohol consumed.

Or it happens, as a result of dangerous disputes, like who can drink more. True, alcohol poisoning sometimes occurs as a result of accidental or deliberate intake of a surrogate. For example, industrial and household liquids containing ethyl alcohol.

The latter are especially dangerous of the second kind, which often occur in cases where alcoholics in a binge have an urgent need to "hangover" and there is nothing else to drink. Therefore, drinking the first available liquid containing an alcohol component often occurs alone. And the body of such a person is already greatly weakened by prolonged abuse.

The first symptoms of alcohol poisoning are very similar to typical household intoxication. If you suspect alcohol poisoning, you should immediately call medical care. If possible, provide emergency first aid measures on your own.

Wrong behavior, which consists in waiting until the patient's condition returns to normal by itself, is fraught with serious complications. That's why you have to call ambulance, as soon as you suspected something was wrong.

Typical causes of alcohol poisoning

There are several varieties of alcohol, the use of which most often causes intoxication of the body, that is, they will be a direct cause of human poisoning. These alcohols differ in their chemical structure:

  • Wine alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol): found in any alcoholic beverages, also in perfumes (cologne, eau de toilette, perfumes), in sanitary and hygienic liquids (lotions, mouth rinses, etc.), in addition to some medicinal tinctures, for example, hawthorn.
  • Wood alcohol (methanol, methyl alcohol): serves as the basis for some solvents, antifreeze, cleaning and other technical compounds.
  • Isopropyl Alcohol: Used in cleaning formulations and some technical formulations.

There are other types of alcohols, but the use of these substances is much less common. Because in household liquids they are used much less frequently. And besides, most have a more pronounced smell that distinguishes them from alcohol (ethanol).

How much alcohol can you drink without causing poisoning?

How much ethanol provokes poisoning, there is no absolute value. But the generally accepted lethal dose alcohol, more than which you can not drink for obvious reasons. Alcohol differs from other varieties food products, which are characterized by slow digestion and gradual absorption into the blood.

Ethanol quickly penetrates the bloodstream - much earlier than most nutrients. It has been proven that natural metabolism takes a lot of time to remove alcohol from the body, purify the blood.

The speed of alcohol withdrawal is due to too many reasons. You can highlight the work of the liver and other organ systems, the age of a person, the presence of snacks, physical activity etc. Paradoxically, if alcohol abuse is a common occurrence for a person, differences appear.

Sooner or later, he develops drunkenness, and then alcoholism (everyone knows this). But at the same time, the amount of drunk possible is also growing. That is, the dose of alcohol for an alcoholic of stage 1-2 is much more than a non-drinker can afford. An alcoholic in the middle stages of the disease can easily drink a bottle or even two vodkas at a time. When as for normal person such a dosage will lead to serious consequences.

A significant part of the consumed alcohol is neutralized by special liver enzymes. Only a very small part of ethyl alcohol is excreted from the body in its original state. Occurs mainly through the lungs and sweat glands. To utilize the so-called 1 drink of alcohol, a healthy liver will take about 60 minutes.

A drink is a Western unit that corresponds to 1.5 ounces (44ml) of 80% alcohol, 5 ounces (148ml) of wine, or 12 ounces (355ml). Single consumption of large doses of alcoholic beverages naturally exceeds the maximum alcohol load on the liver, which increases the concentration of ethanol in the blood. At the same time, the time for the neutralization of alcoholic toxins increases. That is, the time during which the liver can neutralize it is lengthened.

How does poisoning manifest itself, what happens in the body when taking alcohol?

After the first symptoms alcohol intoxication, which are usually associated as pleasant. And the further adoption of alcoholic beverages causes more and more Negative consequences. Alcohol provokes nausea and leads to vomiting, with all its unpleasant sensations accompanying this phenomenon.

It should be understood that this defensive reaction organism - it occurs in a person not only from alcohol, but also from any other poisoning. With an increase in the concentration of alcohol in the body, the nervous system is depressed. What causes difficulties and failures in the processes of respiration and cardiovascular function.

With further alcohol poisoning, hypothermia (a drop in body temperature) is observed. And in some cases, cardiac arrest (heart attack), cerebral hemorrhage (stroke) may occur. Cases of a sharp decrease in blood glucose have been noted, which may be another factor that causes seizures.

Risks of alcohol poisoning

There are many reasons that increase the risk of alcohol poisoning:

  1. age risks. Girls and boys are most often not able to correctly calculate their capabilities and strengths, including when drinking alcohol. However, according to US statistics, the largest part deaths are due to alcohol poisoning in adulthood (35-55 years). This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that with each passing year after 30, both the capabilities of the liver and the general state of health worsen.
  2. gender risks. Previously, it was considered that men are in a more obvious risk group. However, at present, the center is steadily shifting and young girls, and women are now not at all immune from this disaster. With every bottle of wine or even beer they drink, they also become more susceptible to alcohol risks. female body synthesizes fewer enzymes that neutralize alcohol toxins and their central nervous system is less strong.
  3. body weight factor. On the one hand, it is believed that the denser a person is, the more resistant he is to the action of ethanol. For example, a child may be poisoned if accidentally swallowed small portion. On the other side overweight the body weakens the body, and a disturbed metabolism, combined with alcohol intoxication, is a very bad combination.
  4. General health status. Some diseases, such as diabetes, make the patient extremely sensitive to alcohol. As you know, in diabetics, even a small amount of alcohol poisoning can cause a catastrophic drop in blood sugar levels. Another high-risk group is people with diseases of the heart and blood vessels, in such patients with congenital or acquired heart problems, the intake of alcoholic beverages can be fraught with severe circulatory disorders up to cardiac arrest.
  5. Food or satiety factor. When a person takes alcohol on a full stomach and (or) bites every glass or glass, the process of absorption of alcohol into the blood will be lower, but it does not stop. Therefore, with only one meal or snack, the risk of poisoning cannot be excluded!
  6. Drug combinations. The combination of alcohol with drugs in the vast majority of cases is a very bad option. Very rarely, the drug is compatible or does not interact with alcohol. But there are so many drugs that, in the case of such a combination with alcoholic beverages, including low alcohol, can be complicated to severe and even critical conditions up to lethal.
  7. The degree of alcohol tolerance or individual resistance to alcohol. The highest risk of poisoning from alcohol abuse is not drinking people. Resistance (tolerance) to alcohol in drinkers increases over time to famous truth limit, after reaching which it drops sharply. But these changes don't protect them not a drop from harmful effects ethanol.
  8. Temperature regime. High and low temperatures will additional risk development of more severe alcohol poisoning. People are more likely to drink when it's cold, primarily because of the misconception that alcohol helps keep you warm. In the heat, the cardiovascular system is working at its limit, and alcohol in any case worsens its work, which those who like to “refresh” with beer usually don’t even think about.
  9. Time-speed factor. The faster a person drinks, the more often he overturns a glass in himself, the higher the likelihood of possible severe poisoning. When many servings of alcohol are consumed one after another, then when they enter by absorption into the blood, the liver will not be able to protect the body. Metabolism in the liver goes at a fixed rate and copes with overload. Growth will be observed, which will inevitably lead to dire consequences.

What are the signs of alcohol poisoning

Although intoxication will already be a sign of the onset of alcohol poisoning, the main alarming symptoms of alcohol poisoning can be distinguished:

  • Stupor and confusion.
  • Problems with the gastrointestinal tract
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Shallow breathing.
  • The occurrence of seizures.
  • Arrhythmia when listening to the heartbeat.
  • Pale, even with signs of blue skin.
  • Decrease in body temperature.
  • Unconscious state.

It is not at all necessary to wait until all these symptoms begin to appear simultaneously and together. Just a couple, three signs are enough to call for medical help. Especially dangerous is a condition in which a person suddenly "turned off" and cannot recover, there is a real risk of death. It is clear that the probability of a successful outcome depends very much on the speed of rendering assistance to the victim.

Vodka poisoning is a common occurrence. It contains a fairly large amount of ethyl alcohol, which is the reason

In addition, this drink Lately often forged by pouring a surrogate into a bottle.

What are the symptoms of such poisoning and what to do to help a person?

About vodka

Vodka appeared in 1533. However, at that time it was used exclusively as a medicine. Gradually, the technology of its manufacture and recipes improved more and more. How is it made?

Cooking process:

  • Water purification. Even spring water for the preparation of vodka must be very carefully cleaned of all impurities. In this case, cleaning takes place through special filters, and not by distillation or boiling.
  • Choice of alcohol. The quality of this product is passing quite strict control. Unscrupulous manufacturers are trying by any means to circumvent such a check.
  • Mixture preparation. Based on what strength the drink is needed, alcohol and water are mixed. For this, special containers with mixers are used. In addition, other ingredients are added at this point.
  • Cleansing. The resulting mixture must be filtered with quartz sand.
  • Treatment activated carbon- next stage. It is necessary to rid the drink of various harmful compounds.
  • After all the procedures, the finished drink is left for about a week so that all the ingredients interact completely.
  • Poured vodka using automatic systems.

Thus, the process of making this liquor is quite serious. All steps should be followed and taken quite seriously.

Causes of ethyl alcohol poisoning

If the production of vodka is such a serious process, then why do poisonings still occur with this drink?

Causes:

  • The constant use of vodka leads to the development of alcoholism. In this case, the accumulation of harmful substances in the body.
  • Vodka poisoning can be caused by taking a large number this product in a short period of time. As a result, there is Negative influence on the body of ethanol contained in the drink.
  • Some people believe that nothing will happen if you drink a little while taking any medications. However, it is not in vain that the instructions write about incompatibility with alcohol, the reaction can be completely unpredictable.
  • Ethanol intolerance is also a cause of intoxication. By the way, scientists say that it is inherited.
  • However, the most common cause is poisoning with burned vodka. The fact is that many manufacturers are trying to save on raw materials, violating production technologies. As a result, such a product is much cheaper. People who are addicted to alcohol buy it. As a result, poisoning with surrogate vodka occurs.

As you can see, there are enough reasons. However, flush common in modern time remains the last one.


Symptoms and signs of alcohol poisoning

Symptoms of vodka poisoning depend on the degree of intoxication. As with poisoning with other alcohols, there are three types.

Signs:

  • speech disorder,
  • Problems with adequacy
  • redness of the face,
  • increased sweating,
  • Sharp movements.

The average degree of intoxication, as a rule, leads to a rather strong hangover syndrome. The symptoms are already showing up more intensely.

Symptoms:

  • Dizziness,
  • Pain in the head
  • Lack of adequacy
  • Nausea, vomiting,
  • Problems with speech and walking
  • Impaired coordination.
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Labored breathing,
  • Cold sweat,
  • Decrease in body temperature,
  • Low pressure.
  • In especially severe cases, the development of a coma is possible.

The symptoms of poisoning with burned vodka are the same, only they appear faster and stronger. Indeed, in this case, intoxication occurs with harmful substances that are part of this product.


First aid and treatment at home

Depending on the degree of intoxication, therapy can be varied. But in any case, you should know what helps in this case.

With mild degree vodka poisoning will be enough treatment at home. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the stomach of the victim and provide him with peace.

If moderate poisoning, then the person can also be left at home. In this case, the stomach is also washed to get rid of alcohol, then drink adsorbents.

Severe intoxication requires hospital treatment. Therefore, if symptoms are detected, it is imperative to call a doctor.

However, while the doctors are on the way, the victim must be given first aid.

Help:

  • Get the victim drunk big amount water, and then induce a gag reflex.
  • Give the person drink adsorbents.
  • If the poisoned person is unconscious, he should be laid on his side so that he does not suffocate.
  • You should unbutton all clothes, remove your tie, belt, bra.
  • You can try to bring the victim to consciousness.
  • By the way, with this degree of poisoning often occurs involuntary urination or vomiting, so you need to monitor the condition of the person.

Thus, knowing what to do at home in case of vodka poisoning, you can help a person before the ambulance arrives.

Further treatment is carried out in a medical institution. Doctors use various activities to help the victim.

Actions:

  • Gastric lavage with a probe.
  • The use of various drugs to restore the work of all body systems.
  • The use of vitamin and mineral complexes to alleviate a person's condition.

If necessary, doctors use various additional methods, for example, hemodialysis, droppers with therapeutic drugs.

The condition that develops with the use of ethyl alcohol is familiar to everyone who has tried alcoholic beverages at least once. Small concentrations of this chemical make a person more relaxed and cheerful. In some cases, the use of drinks containing alcohol in small quantities leads to drowsiness and apathy. It depends on the characteristics of the body's metabolism. Most people know that if you "overdo it" with alcohol, then there are less pleasant sensations. Namely - nausea, dizziness, unsteadiness when walking, vomiting. Such manifestations indicate intoxication.

Poisoning with alcohol and its surrogates

Poisoning often occurs when it is ingested. Less commonly, rubbing this substance into the skin or inhaling alcohol vapors can lead to intoxication. In these cases, we are talking about poisoning with ethyl alcohol substitutes. Almost always, when drinking alcoholic beverages, intoxication of the body occurs. How serious the poisoning is depends on the dose of alcohol and individual characteristics. The first sign of intoxication is a euphoric state. Despite the fact that a person does not feel bad at the same time, alcohol still affects the body, causing a mild degree of poisoning. With an increase in concentration, signs of a deterioration in general well-being appear. Nausea and vomiting are observed, movements become uncoordinated, speech is slurred.

Ethyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a specific odor. It is used in medicine as a disinfectant, and is also a solvent for many medicines. In addition, ethanol is used in Food Industry. It is added to various cosmetic and perfumery products. All these funds are classified as surrogates. By direct poisoning with ethyl alcohol is meant intoxication of the body resulting from the use of alcoholic beverages. It can lead to serious consequences, among which are circulatory disorders, coma, mental disorders.

Reasons for the development of ethyl alcohol poisoning

Often, ethyl alcohol poisoning is associated with the use of alcohol in high concentrations. The transition from the pleasant sensations that many experience when taking strong drinks to intoxication of the body is achieved when the dose of ethanol exceeds 1 ml in the blood (1 ppm). Poisoning in most cases is accidental, as a person ceases to control the amount of alcohol they drink, and symptoms develop after a while. Sometimes alcohol intoxication occurs in children. The reason is that the parents did not keep track of the baby, who mistook the drink for water or juice and drank it. In addition to poisoning with ethyl alcohol, a person may develop intoxication when using alcohol surrogates. The reasons include the following situations:

  1. Reception of various chemical compounds. These include alcohols, in which there are impurities of aldehydes, methanol.
  2. Ingestion of cologne, antifreeze for refrigeration units, medicinal infusions, etc.
  3. Inhalation containing ethyl alcohol and acetone.

It is worth remembering that poisoning with surrogates may not manifest itself in the same way. In addition, the treatment of these conditions is also different. Therefore, before providing assistance, it is worth finding out what exactly the person used.


The mechanism of development of alcohol intoxication

Ethyl alcohol poisoning develops as a result of complex biochemical processes occurring in the body. Most of This substance is metabolized by the liver. As is known, this body responsible for neutralizing toxins. The liver has a special enzyme - alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down ethanol. 10% of alcohol is excreted from the body by other organs - the kidneys and lungs.

When ethanol enters the bloodstream, the following changes occur: the phospholipid layer that makes up the membrane (shell) is destroyed and cell permeability increases. Most of all it affects the CNS. After all, alcohol is neurotoxic. Depending on the concentration and susceptibility of a person to ethanol, activation or inhibition of the central nervous system occurs. With an alcohol dose of more than 5 ppm, the vital centers of the brain are inhibited, which leads to death.

What is the difference between methyl and ethyl alcohol?

How to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol and help the patient? Despite the fact that poisoning with these substances has similar symptoms, it is necessary to know the difference between them. After all, treatment depends on it. Methyl (wood) alcohol is not used in the production of alcoholic beverages. It is used for the manufacture of antifreezes, solvents, plastics. It is also used as a fuel in some types of vehicles. And yet, for appearance these chemical compounds are identical. Methyl alcohol, like ethanol, has no color. In addition, they have a similar smell. To distinguish these substances, it is worth setting fire to a flammable liquid. In this case, the flame from ethanol will have Blue colour, and from methyl alcohol - green. these substances are slightly different from each other. Signs of intoxication caused by methyl alcohol develop longer - from 12 hours to a day. In addition, poisoning will not be accompanied by euphoria. Often the patient himself or his loved ones can answer the question of what exactly caused intoxication.


Ethyl alcohol poisoning: symptoms of pathology

Signs of intoxication caused by alcohol resemble poisoning by other toxic substances. The difference is a change in the psycho-emotional state. After all, poisoning with ethyl alcohol does not occur immediately after its use. This is preceded by signs of CNS excitation (mild degree of intoxication). They are characterized by an increase in mood, sweating, flushing of the skin of the face. With an average degree of poisoning, the following symptoms are observed:

  1. From the side of the nervous system - unsteadiness when walking, decreased muscle tone, headache. People with hypertension may develop circulatory disorders in the brain. At the same time, symptoms such as loss of sensation in the limbs, paralysis, visual impairment are noted.
  2. From the side gastrointestinal tract- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. Abdominal pain is not always noted.
  3. From the side of the cardiovascular system - increased heart rate and pulse, increased blood pressure.

Changes are also observed in human behavior. Some people become aggressive, others become depressed. In a severe degree, a coma develops, convulsions, respiratory arrest are possible.


What can alcohol intoxication lead to?

The consequences of ethyl alcohol poisoning are often deplorable. No wonder alcoholism is considered not only medical, but also social problem. After all, due to a change in behavior, a person ceases to control his actions. This leads to car accidents, fires, criminal situations. In addition, chronic ethanol poisoning ends in severe encephalopathy that cannot be treated. There is a disorder of memory, thinking, sleep. There are also pronounced changes in the liver and pancreas. Among them are diseases - fatty hepatosis, cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis.

The consequences of acute intoxication include mental disorders - alcoholic delirium (hallucinatory syndrome, behavioral disorders), stroke, myocardial infarction, coma.

First aid for ethanol poisoning

Emergency ethyl alcohol consists in the introduction of a 40% glucose solution, vitamin B1 (thiamine), ascorbic acid. With an increase in blood pressure, it is necessary to stabilize the patient's condition. For this purpose, magnesium sulfate therapy is carried out.


Ethyl alcohol poisoning: home treatment

Help with intoxication can also be provided at home, if the patient's condition is not severely affected. In acute poisoning, it is necessary to replenish the volume of fluid, to detoxify the body. To this end, you should drink as much as possible. more water or oral solutions (drug "Regidron"). You should also give the patient a few tablets of activated charcoal.

Specialized treatment of ethyl alcohol poisoning

It is necessary to hospitalize the patient if severe poisoning with ethyl alcohol is observed. First aid must be provided immediately. In the hospital, the patient is injected intravenously with saline solutions, glucose, and vitamins. With the development of complications, special treatment in the department of cardiology, neurology or intensive care is necessary.