{This year while you’re celebrating the holidays, remember to practice safety when it comes to drinking alcohol.}
Excessive alcohol use causes 79,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and hundreds more are injured.
Ogden Regional Medical Center’s emergency department treats many alcohol related injuries each year, especially during the holiday season, said Deanna Wolfe, trauma coordinator for the hospital.
“Over consumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol toxicity or poisoning. This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to serious consequences including death,” Wolfe said. “Symptoms include extreme confusion, vomiting, blue or pale skin, unconsciousness, and slow or irregular breathing.”
Sandy Egbert, director of intensive medicine at McKay-Dee Hospital said drinking too much too fast can cause alcohol poisoning. This is a serious condition and should be treated immediately.
“People can even die from alcohol poisoning,” she said. “Key points to remember are to never drink alcohol and drive and understand the affects to your body if you decide to consume alcohol. Your liver can be damaged, your stomach lining can become irritated, your pancreas can be damaged and then digesting food becomes difficult, your immune system is weakened making you more susceptible to disease, and your judgment and reactions are altered when you drink alcohol. Long term drinking can cause permanent damage to your brain.”
Wolfe and Egbert said common alcohol related injuries that land people in the emergency department include automobile accidents, slips and falls, alcohol poisoning, cuts and lacerations, hanging Christmas lights and carving the ham or turkey.
“It’s frustrating because alcohol related injuries are almost always preventable,” Wolfe said. “Many of these injuries are very serious and unfortunately some are fatal.”
Egbert said there are always dangers to alcohol consumption, not just during the holiday season. Drinking even small amounts of alcohol from beer, wine, or hard liquor can affect a person’s thinking and coordination.
“When your coordination and balance is impaired, you have a greater chance of falling or getting into an accident,” she said. “If people are going to social events during the holidays where there is alcohol, drink responsibly and never drive. Plan ahead and find a designated driver, or plan on using a local taxi company for transportation.”
Wolfe also said it’s a myth that alcohol will keep you warm. You may feel warmer but when drinking, but it will actually lower your core body temperature and can lead to hyperthermia.
It’s also important not to combine alcohol with medications, even over-the-counter cold medications without consulting your doctor.
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