If you are planning to engage in an alcohol drinking session or any activity such as a social gathering that involves alcohol intake, you should endeavor to be well aware of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning as well as that of alcohol withdrawals. These two are very common effects of alcohol on the human body but unfortunately, an overwhelming percentage of the U.S. population consists of people who are totally unaware or do not possess working knowledge of alcohol’s dangerous effects. First of all, it must be stated that alcohol is a type of drug and as a drug, it can have some serious debilitating effects on the human body, especially the central nervous system. This is why it is very important to gain some working knowledge of the short-term as well as long-term effects of excessive alcohol intake.
As to its short-term effects, everyone should be well-acquainted with the condition known as alcohol poisoning or acute alcohol intoxication. Furthermore, a milder short-term effect known as a hangover may also be expected. Although these two may have some very similar symptoms, there is a world of difference in the way they can affect the human body. Simply put, alcohol poisoning is fatal while a hangover is generally not. A person who is suffering from a hangover can safely sleep off the effects of alcohol, but unfortunately, the same cannot be said for someone who is undergoing alcohol poisoning. Some classic alcohol poisoning symptoms include an intense headache, lack of reflex action, stupor, nausea, extreme vomiting, slow and irregular breathing as well as loss of conscious; would you be able to tell these symptoms apart from the symptoms of a regular hangover? If you can, good for you, but most ordinary people cannot. This is why it is recommended that you call a poison control center at the earliest opportunity if you suspect that someone is suffering from alcohol poisoning.