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Health & Fitness

Advocate Condell Physician Warns About the Dangers of Binge Drinking

For thousands of college students, March means Spring Break. But beaware the physical consequences of binge drinking, which can be serious or even deadly.

For thousands of college students, March means Spring Break. Unfortunately for many, Spring Break and binge drinking go hand-in-hand. But the physical consequences of binge drinking can be serious or even deadly.  

Overconsumption of alcohol is responsible for more than 80,000 fatalities in the United States each year, making it the third leading preventable cause of death. According to a CDC report released in January 2012, states in the Midwest are among the most affected by binge drinking. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines binge drinking as the consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks for men and four or more drinks for women on a single occasion.

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“Everyone knows the dangers of drinking and driving,” said Dr. Adam Rubinstein, an internal medicine physician at Advocate Condell Medical Center. “But many people don’t understand how alcohol negatively affects their normal body function. Alcohol affects every organ of the body, including the liver, pancreas and heart.”

Dr. Rubinstein explained, “The full sedative effect of alcohol is delayed for 60 minutes to 90 minutes after intake, so that one can ingest more alcohol than the liver can metabolize. Therefore, a person can ingest a large amount in a short period of time and then, if not observed, ‘go to sleep’ and have their respirations stop.”

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A very common side effect of excessive drinking is inflammation and irritation of the stomach lining, resulting in pain, nausea and vomiting.

“The minor cases can be treated with antacid, but serious cases can include bleeding,” Dr. Rubinstein said. “One of the common causes of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is overconsumption of alcohol. This can also range from minor to life-threatening.”

Another effect of overconsumption is the so-called “holiday heart,” a term applied to various disturbances in heart rhythm, ranging from a few extra beats to dysrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. The condition is usually short in duration, but can be significant enough for the individual to seek medical attention.

“When patients combine alcohol with other prescription or non-prescription drugs, their situation dramatically worsens,” warned Dr. Rubinstein. “We see deaths from combining alcohol with sedatives such as Xanax or Valium, and painkillers such as Vicodin or Norco. These combinations bring high risk of respiratory depression and death.”

Beyond the physical health risks, binge drinking can lead to injury due to the disorienting effects of overconsumption.

“Impaired balance causes falls, and result in risky behaviors, such as driving too fast or socially inappropriate or hurtful behavior,” said Dr. Rubinstein. “It’s sometimes difficult not to get swept up in the revelry, but it’s important to be mindful of how much one has consumed, and keep the definition of a ‘binge’ in mind. It can also help to stay with people who have a similar point of view on the matter and intend to keep themselves safe and in control.”

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