NDO - Alcohol is an indispensable part of many holidays and celebrations. However, alcohol abuse causes many harmful effects on health. Doctor Bui Huy Can, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, branch 3, advises on how to handle alcohol poisoning as well as notes when using products to support hangover relief.
Food wine is an alcoholic beverage produced from the fermentation of starch from cereals, sugary juice from plants, flowers, tubers, fruits or prepared from food alcohol. The main ingredient of food wine is ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH).
This article does not refer to counterfeit alcohol, low-quality alcohol, or alcohol containing methanol (a very toxic type of alcohol).
Drinks and foods that help sober up
The following drinks and foods may help relieve unpleasant symptoms after drinking alcohol.
Water: Drinking plenty of water helps dilute the alcohol concentration in the blood, rehydrate the body and increase the elimination of toxins through the urinary tract.
Fruit juice (orange, grapefruit, tomato): Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, helps the body stay awake and supports the liver's alcohol metabolism.
Note: Avoid juices that are too acidic (especially lemon juice) as they can irritate the stomach, especially when the stomach also contains alcohol.
Ginger tea: Ginger has the effect of warming the body, increasing blood circulation and reducing nausea. Can be combined with honey to increase effectiveness.
Green bean/black bean water: Contains lots of fiber and antioxidants, helps detoxify and reduce uncomfortable symptoms.
Hot porridge/soup: Provides energy and replenishes electrolytes lost due to the diuretic effect of alcohol.
Green vegetables and fresh fruits (bananas, apples, watermelon): Provide vitamins and minerals necessary for the body.
Signs of alcohol poisoning and how to treat it
Signs of alcohol poisoning range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache; Moderate: Confusion, slurred speech, loss of motor coordination; Severe: Convulsions, difficulty breathing, hypothermia, slow or irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness, coma.
When the person is still conscious, place the patient on their side to avoid inhaling vomit into the lungs; keep the body warm; give water or an electrolyte solution (ORS) to rehydrate.
If the patient shows signs of severe poisoning (confusion, loss of consciousness, convulsions, difficulty breathing,...): Call an ambulance immediately and take the patient to the nearest medical facility.
Drugs and functional foods to help sober up
Currently, there is no real hangover cure recognized by health authorities. Products sold on the market are usually functional foods with ingredients such as glucose, vitamins, organic acids (glutamic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, ...), which help the liver metabolize alcohol and alleviate some symptoms.
Therefore, doctors note that these products are not capable of completely detoxifying alcohol and cannot prevent the harmful effects of alcohol; Acetaminophen (paracetamol) should not be used to relieve headaches after drinking alcohol because it can be toxic to the liver when combined with alcohol.
Avoid using ibuprofen because it can increase the risk of stomach bleeding, especially in people with a history of stomach disease; do not use anti-emetics because it can hinder the process of eliminating toxins.
"Abusing these products can make drinkers subjective and drink more alcohol, which is harmful to health," Dr. Can noted.
According to this expert, long-term alcohol abuse can cause many serious diseases: Liver disease: Hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer; Cardiovascular disease: High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke; Neurological disease: Memory loss, mental disorders, peripheral nerve damage; Cancer: Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, breast; Other problems: Pancreatitis, malnutrition, immune system decline.
"The best way to avoid the harmful effects of alcohol is to limit or not drink alcohol. If you do drink, follow these principles: Drink slowly, do not drink too quickly; do not drink when hungry; drink plenty of water between drinks; eat food while drinking alcohol; do not drive after drinking alcohol," Dr. Can recommends.
Alcohol can cause many health problems if abused. It is important to understand the harmful effects of alcohol, how to treat poisoning, and what to watch out for when using support products. Everyone should drink alcohol responsibly to protect their health and the health of those around them. If you experience serious health problems due to alcohol, seek timely medical advice.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhan-biet-tinh-trang-ngo-doc-ruou-va-xu-ly-ngo-doc-ruou-dung-cach-post857453.html
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