Tequila Overdose Lands Nightclub Owner In Coma: Think Before You Drink

New Delhi: Doctors are cautioning against heavy drinking at summer parties after treating a man who became so intoxicated that he slipped into a coma. The 31-year-old drank a whole 500ml bottle of tequila and two shots of shochu, a strong Japanese Alcohol, at a nightclub in Izunokuni, Japan. He passed out and was taken to the hospital, where doctors found he was in a deep coma and had a dangerous amount of fluid in his lungs.

Doctors placed him on a ventilator to help him breathe and prevent suffocation from fluid, which they believe was vomit he choked on.

Tequila Overdose Leads To Severe Coma, Respiratory Issues

The patient, a nightclub owner who was otherwise healthy and not an alcoholic, was taken to the hospital. There, he received an E1V1M1 score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which measures consciousness levels after a head injury.

The score indicated that he couldn't open his eyes even when prompted, didn't make any sounds or responses, and didn't move his limbs or any part of his body when given commands or subjected to painful stimuli like pinching.

His blood pressure and heart rate were normal, but he had trouble breathing and was getting too cold. His tongue was blocking his airway, and crackling sounds from his lungs suggested fluid buildup. This was likely caused by vomiting while he was unconscious, leading to stomach contents leaking into his lungs.

Doctors at Juntendo Shizuoka Hospital in Japan said the main danger of severe intoxication is respiratory depression. Intoxication also dulls the airways' sensitivity and reflexes, increasing the risk of inhaling foreign objects.

On the second day, he regained consciousness, and his lung function improved, so doctors removed the breathing tube. He was discharged from the hospital on the third day. The case was reported in the American Journal of Medical Case Reports.

Man Consumes 13 Shots Of Liquor, Exceeds CDC Daily Limit

The patient consumed 500ml of liquor and two glasses, which is roughly equivalent to 13 shots of spirits.

The CDC advises that people should drink no more than one shot of alcohol per day, or one beer or glass of wine. About one in five adults admit they sometimes drink more than they intend, with this being more common in men.

Alcohol Consumption Stays High; No Safe Amount, WHO Warns

Americans currently drink about 2.5 gallons of alcohol per year on average, the same amount as during the Civil War. This is up from 2.15 gallons in 1995 and 2.3 gallons after World War II.

Despite previous claims that moderate red wine consumption (about a glass a night) was beneficial for heart health, recent research shows that evidence supporting this is weak and based on observational studies, which may involve other factors.

The World Health Organization has stated that no amount of alcohol is safe or healthy. A UK study found that even low-risk drinkers had an 11 percent higher risk of dying from cancer compared to occasional drinkers. Those from poorer areas faced a 25 percent higher risk of dying from cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying overall.

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