Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A doctor has revealed exactly what happens to your body during 'high intensity drinking' which experts have said is even worse than binge drinking.
The festive period is now frighteningly close, which means we can all look forward to knocking back everything from mulled wine at the Christmas markets to doing shots with your co-workers at the office party.
Although it's perfectly reasonable to want to let your hair down a little after a long year, the winter months should not be used as an excuse to overdo it.
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It's no secret how easy it can be to spiral into binge drinking while out celebrating with friends and family, with health experts keen to warn against a particularly concerning way in which people consume alcohol at big events, known as 'high intensity drinking'.
What is 'high intensity drinking'?
According to research published by the US National Library of Medicine, high intensity drinking is typically defined as a person drinking more than double, sometimes even triple, what is considered the binge drinking threshold.
The binge drinking threshold is around five drinks for a man - or four drinks for women - consumed within a space of two hours.
While this study doesn't take into consideration a person's BMI, ability to metabolise alcohol or the strength of drink consumed; it does provide a benchmark figure of eight to 10 drinks within a two-hour period, depending on a person's gender, as an indicator for high intensity drinking.
Why is high intensity drinking particularly dangerous?
Aside from the obvious negative side effects from overdoing it on the booze, high intensity drinking can be especially damaging to the body due to the amount of alcohol in your system.
Having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.2 percent or over is considered a common side effect of high intensity drinking, which can lead to dangerous changes in the body.
Explaining why having such a high BAC can be so damaging to the body, Dr Suhail Hussain explained to LADbible that high intensity drinking poses severe risks such as 'alcohol poisoning, injuries, and death' which can be particularly prevalent in young people.
"Reaching a BAC of 0.2 percent is a medical emergency, not a casual drinking milestone," he explained.
"The long-term effects of drinking this heavily can devastate your health, leading to organ damage, brain impairment, and addiction."
What does high intensity drinking do to the body?
According to Dr Hussain, high intensity drinking can lead to:
- Severe impairment, increasing risk of accident
- Diminished pain response
- Increased risk of blackout
- Increased choking risk
- Diminished pain response
Dr Hussain also explained that reaching a BAC of 0.2 percent is close to the threshold for alcohol poisoning which means the central nervous system becomes so depressed that 'vital functions like breathing and heart rate may slow or stop'.
Consistent high intensity drinking can also cause damage to the health to the brain, liver and heart.
Interview conducted by Joe Harker.
Dr Suhail Hussain is a private, home visiting GP, providing bespoke medical care to discerning clients in Herts and Greater London. Visit his website for more info.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Food And Drink, Alcohol, Health
Brenna Cooper