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What Is Alcohol Poisoning? Here Are the Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Alcohol poisoning is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Learn about its causes, symptoms, and how to manage it effectively.

ByJake Parks
Credit: SurfsUp/Shutterstock

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Alcohol, often deployed as a social lubricant, can easily turn into a poison. It's a thin line between enjoyment and danger. Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time.

Understanding what alcohol poising is, recognizing the symptoms, and knowing how to respond could be lifesaving. So in this article, we’ll go over the basics of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks too much alcohol, usually over a particularly short period of time. The body can only process a certain amount (about one serving) of alcohol per hour[JP1] . Beyond this, alcohol can start to accumulate in the blood, eventually reaching toxic levels.

Alcohol poisoning impacts the body's vital functions, including heart rate, breathing, and temperature regulation. And in severe cases, it can even lead to coma or death.

Read More: How Much ...

  • Jake Parks

    Jake Parks is a freelance science writer and editor for Discover Magazine, who covers everything from the mysteries of the cosmos to the latest in medical research.

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