Don't get drunk at New Year's parties. Three drinking methods are the most dangerous
Deep feelings, a gulp down; shallow feelings, just a lick; one or two ounces, just a rinse; three or four ounces, not considered drinking; five or six ounces, leaning on the wall to walk; seven or eight ounces, still shouting... Our country's drinking culture has a long history, and the persuasive toasts are endless. As the year-end approaches, with one gathering after another like New Year's parties, annual meetings, and thank-you events, you're expected to drink a bit. However, don't get drunk and cause trouble, turning a joyous occasion into a tragic one.
Excessive drinking can be fatal
Don't get drunk at New Year's parties. Three drinking methods are the most dangerous
At 6 a.m., just as the sky was getting light, the emergency department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine received an emergency call. A man was found unconscious on the roadside. Dr. Lan Hai from the emergency medicine department rushed to provide first aid. The man's blood pressure was zero, and one of his pupils was larger than the other. He was immediately diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage. The strong smell of alcohol on the patient led to a further diagnosis of a ruptured cerebral blood vessel caused by drinking.
"Excessive drinking can also lead to death," said Lan Hai. The man suffered a cerebrovascular accident due to excessive alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol can inhibit the function of the brainstem, which controls a person's breathing, blood pressure, and heartbeat. If inhibited, it can lead to abnormalities in breathing, blood pressure, and heartbeat, which in turn can be life-threatening. Secondly, drinking often causes gastric bleeding, manifested as vomiting and black stools, which is also very dangerous.
During this year-end period, the emergency medicine department admits more than five patients every night who show symptoms like vomiting and unconsciousness due to excessive drinking. The emergency surgery department also sees many patients with accidents such as falling injuries due to unsteady walking after drinking, injuries from fights after drinking, and car accidents after drinking. Therefore, experts advise that you should be moderate with your drinking during the New Year.
The three stages of drinking: excitement and talkativeness, unsteady walking, and silence
According to Lan Hai, drinking generally has three stages. The first stage is when alcohol excites the cerebral cortex, often表现为表现为 excitement, rambling, etc. If you drink more, you enter the second stage, where alcohol begins to inhibit the subcortical centers and the cerebellum. At this point, the drinker often shows signs of confusion, unsteady walking, and difficulty maintaining balance. If they get up to go to the bathroom at this time, they are very likely to fall and get injured. If they continue to drink, excessive alcohol begins to inhibit the brainstem center. The drinker's breathing slows, blood pressure drops, and they may even fall into a coma.
Experts say that when drinking, it's best to stop when you feel happy and a little excited. Getting drunk can easily harm your health. Baijiu (white liquor) is easy to get drunk from and can also cause vomiting and alcoholic gastritis. Red wine is beneficial in small amounts; don't drink more than 100ml in one evening. Don't drink medicinal wines indiscriminately; they should be chosen according to your constitution. There was a case where a patient with hypertension drank deer antler wine, which caused a sharp spike in blood pressure and was extremely dangerous.
3 of the most dangerous drinking methods
"Mixing" is the most harmful to your health
There are countless creative ways to mix drinks, such as red wine with Sprite, whiskey with iced black tea, beer with cola, or a rotation of "red, white, and beer"... Experts say that carbonated mixers often release carbon dioxide gas in the stomach, which forces alcohol into the small intestine quickly, thus increasing the damage. Moreover, people feel like they are just drinking a beverage, so they drink a lot. By the time they feel the effects of the alcohol, they have already had too much.
"Gulping it down" gets you drunk the fastest
Never drink too fast or too forcefully. Drink slowly to allow your body more time to absorb it. Drink with food, which gives your body time to break down the ethanol. Never drink on an empty stomach. Drink a glass of milk or eat a few slices of bread beforehand to avoid irritating the stomach lining. You can also take vitamin B in advance to protect your liver.
Drinking and smoking gets you drunk the fastest
Some people feel like they're in heaven with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. When the mood is right, they light up a cigarette. In fact, drinking and smoking together harms both the liver and the lungs. This is because nicotine in cigarettes weakens the effects of alcohol on the body, making you feel "anesthetized," and you unknowingly increase your alcohol consumption significantly.