Understanding How Alcohol Affects the Body
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and scooter accidents, is driving under the influence. Although committing such a negligent act is strictly prohibited by law, drunk driving is still widespread. People disregard the potential fines and jail time they could accrue and still decide to operate a vehicle while impaired. For many who choose o drive drunk, they simply aren’t educated enough on how alcohol affects the human brain and body. Understanding this information could potentially prevent future injuries and save lives.
Consumption Process
People might be surprised to discover that alcohol starts to affect the body instantly and even in small dosages. Though the body can release tiny amounts of alcohol through urination and breathing, most of the alcohol consumed soaks into a person’s bloodstream. The more alcohol a person drinks, the more it alters their brain and body, eventually making them unable to function properly. Alcohol affects every organ in the body because once it soaks into the bloodstream as the blood flows to each organ, submerging into the tissue. Alcohol usually takes thirty to sixty minutes to absorb into the blood and start affecting the body. The body can only eliminate a certain amount of alcohol per hour, which means the effects could last for several hours.
Understanding Alcohol Levels
The more alcohol a person ingests, the more their blood alcohol content (BAC) levels increase. Levels ranging from .02-.06 result increased euphoria and decreased self-consciousness. Levels ranging from .07-.09 result in impaired speech, balance, and judgment. Once consumers reach this level, it’s illegal to operate a vehicle, though some people continue to do so regardless. Levels ranging from 1-.125 result in slurred speech and vision issues. High dosages can cause a loss of physical control and blurred vision. If consumption levels continue to increase, there is a potential for coma, respiratory arrest, and death.
Long-Term Effects
Alcohol not only has short-term effects but long-term effects as well. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can damage the central nervous system, causing pain, odd sensations, and numbness in the hands and feet. The heart is also highly susceptible to damage. Too much alcohol can cause heart irregularity, increased blood pressure, stroke, and stretching of the heart muscle. Another long-term effect is scarring of the liver tissue, which disallows the liver to clean blood and fight off infections.
Drivers operating vehicles under these conditions put themselves and others at risk of serious injuries. If a driver causes an accident from driving under the influence, then he or she will be held liable for committing a negligent act that put others in harm’s way.
At Los Angeles Injury Group, we know how common accidents occur due to drunk driving. We believe people who suffer personal injuries caused by another driver’s negligence deserve to be compensated for medical expenses. If you, or someone you love, received injuries in a car accident, call 310-954-7248 for a free consultation.
