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Addiction to Alcohol/SUDDEN DEATH FROM ALCOHOL

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Expert: - 6/17/2008


Question
The use of alcohol (not necessarily by an alcoholic or heavy drinker) may, in rare cases, cause sudden, abrupt death. This type of death is not common or very widely known.What is it called?
NB. The questioner (Q+A radio programme) has clarified that this death does not involve the heart, allergy, blood pressure, brain damage.

Answer
Hi yiangos,

Quote:"Death by alcohol usually results from respiratory failure, because of alcohol's depressive effect on the respiratory centre. Alcohol, then, is a rather toxic substance with the lethal dose uncomfortably close to the usual social dose. Hence the expression "dead drunk".
Fortunately, alcohol has a built-in safety feature: we either vomit or pass out before we have a chance to kill ourselves. The trick is not to do the two things simultaneously, otherwise you risk doing the rock star thing of choking on your own vomit."
Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/alcohol/alcohol.htm

I hope this answers the question.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman

Addiction to Alcohol

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Experience

Nutritional Psychotherapy

Organizations
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia

Publications
Book: "Getting Off the Hook"freely available on the internet at Google Book Search.
Editor: Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Education/Credentials
BA(Psych), Sydney University, Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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