Alcohol poisoning

The effects of alcohol

Around 1-2 units your heart rate will speed up and your blood vesselswill expand you get the warm, sociable feeling associated with moderate drinking Around 4-6 units your decision making and judgement will start to be affected, making you lose your inhibitions and become more reckless the cells in your nervous system will start to be affected, making you feel lightheaded your co-ordination will be affected and your reaction time may be slower Around 8-9 units your reaction times will be much slower your speech will be slurred your vision will begin to lose focus your liver won't be able to remove all of the alcohol overnight, so it's likely you'll wake up with a hangover At this stage you should seriously consider not drinking any more alcohol. If you do: Around 10-12 units your co-ordination will be seriously impaired, placing you at high risk of having an accident you may stagger around or feel unstable on your feet you'll feel drowsy or dizzy the amount of alcohol in your body will begin to reach toxic (poisonous) levels you may need to go to the toilet more often as your body attempts to quickly pass the alcohol out of your body in your urine you'll be dehydrated in the morning, and probably have a severe headache the excess alcohol in your system may upset your digestive system, leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or indigestion More than 12 units you're at high risk of developing alcohol poisoning, particularly if you're drinking lots of units in a short space of time the alcohol can begin to interfere with the automatic functions of your body, such as your breathing, heart rate and gag reflex you're at risk of losing consciousness