Be careful not to abuse alcohol and beer during Tet

Tet is the time for people to reunite after a year of hard work. In the family meals, there are indispensable glasses of wine and beer to celebrate the new year. However, excessive alcohol and beer abuse is also the cause of poisoning and serious traffic accidents.

People should buy wine at reputable stores and wine with clear origin. Photo: Duong Chung

Recently, Bach Mai Hospital admitted a patient from Tam Duong district in a state of delirium, with no vision. Before being admitted to the hospital, the patient had drunk alcohol of unknown origin. After conducting a clinical examination and performing tests, the doctor concluded that the patient had methanol poisoning. After a period of intensive treatment, patient T was able to save his life, but his vision could not be restored. Mr. T also had increased liver enzymes and cirrhosis.

At the Provincial General Hospital, during the 2024 New Year, nearly 10 cases of alcohol poisoning were also recorded for emergency hospitalization, an increase of 2-3 times compared to normal days. A typical case is a 40-year-old male patient in Dong Ich commune, Lap Thach district, who was admitted to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness and vomiting a lot.

After performing emergency care and conducting a blood ethanol test, the result was more than 300mg/dl. This is a severe alcohol poisoning condition, not only negatively affecting the health of the drinker but also increasing the risk of causing accidents when participating in traffic. In this case, the patient will be monitored and treated with active methods to minimize possible damage and sequelae.

According to Master, Doctor Do Dinh Luong, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, Provincial General Hospital, there are two types of alcohol poisoning, including ethanol poisoning and methanol poisoning, most cases are ethanol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning manifests itself at different levels, from mild (unable to control emotions, easily angered, hot-tempered, unsteady walking...) to severe poisoning (vomiting a lot, sweating, coma, rapid pulse, breathing disorders, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, hypothermia, and possible death if not treated promptly).

Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks more alcohol than the body can handle, even with alcohol that meets regulatory standards. Some cases of alcohol poisoning from industrial alcohol containing methanol are due to people buying alcohol of unknown origin that is floating on the market. Methanol is a solvent widely used in industry such as paint mixing, car window cleaning, anti-freeze for gasoline pipes, printer ink, etc., so it is highly toxic.

Therefore, methanol poisoning is much more severe and dangerous than ethanol poisoning. Severe cases of methanol poisoning will lead to cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral vascular occlusion, acute renal failure, so in addition to mechanical ventilation, patients will need dialysis combined with other treatments. In cases of late hospitalization, patients may die from multiple organ failure and severe metabolic acidosis.

In addition, participating in traffic while drinking alcohol is also the cause of many traffic accidents. Medical facilities throughout the province have also received many cases of traffic accidents hospitalized during the New Year and the days before the Lunar New Year. Drinking alcohol also causes cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease and alcoholic psychosis...

To celebrate Tet with full joy, Master, Doctor Do Dinh Luong, Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, Provincial General Hospital recommends that people should use alcohol of known origin and should minimize the level of alcohol and beer consumption during Tet because there is no safe threshold. Absolutely do not use alcohol and beer of unknown origin to ensure health.

In particular, do not drink alcohol when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. If you have drunk alcohol, you should not participate in outdoor activities or in dangerous, unsafe places because it is easy to fall, collide and cause injury...

In case you have drunk alcohol, if you experience symptoms such as stomach ache, nausea, dizziness, delirium, blurred vision, etc., you should go to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment will be more effective.

Minh Nguyet

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