Among the many dangerous side effects of heavy alcohol use, one that you may not be familiar with is a condition called alcoholic ketoacidosis. This is an acute form of metabolic acidosis, which is when the chemical balance in your blood is disrupted, leading to an accumulation of too much acid in the body. Alcoholic ketoacidosis is the buildup of ketones in the blood. Ketones are a type of acid that are produced when the body burns fat for energy or fuel, or when there is not enough insulin to help your body use sugar for energy.
Alcoholic ketoacidosis is caused by heavy alcohol use, but it usually occurs in a person who is also malnourished. Malnutrition occurs when your body is lacking an essential vitamin or nutrient. Alcohol has no vitamins or nutrients, and it can suppress appetite over time as well as interfering with metabolism. It can also cause cravings for carbohydrates, salts, and sugars. People who frequently drink too much alcohol also vomit a lot, which causes further malnourishment.
Some of the symptoms of alcoholic ketoacidosis include: nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, agitation, confusion, impaired level of alertness, which may lead to coma, fatigue, slow sluggish movements, deep, labored, or rapid breathing, loss of appetite, and symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and thirst.
There are some conditions that are also associated with alcohol abuse that may have similar symptoms to alcoholic ketoacidosis, including pancreatitis, liver disease, kidney disease, ulcers, and ethylene glycol poisoning. These must be ruled out before you can be treated.
Treatment usually must be done in a hospital, as it involves intravenous fluids and vitamin supplements to counteract nutritional deficiencies. Your vital signs will need to be monitored, including your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. You may also experience withdrawal if you have an alcohol dependence, and you’ll need medications to help you through the symptoms. The prognosis is usually fair, depending on the level of alcohol dependence and whether there are any associated liver problems. It may sometimes be life threatening, however, as complications can include coma and seizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflamed pancreas, and pneumonia.
One study in the United Kingdom also found that emergency departments frequently don’t correctly diagnose the condition, because the initial symptoms – nausea, intractable vomiting, and abdominal pain – are similar to the symptoms of many other illnesses, especially in people with alcohol dependence. When left untreated, patients with severe alcoholism are at risk for death.
The best way to prevent alcoholic ketoacidosis is to limit your drinking. If you have alcoholism or an alcohol dependence, you may need to seek treatment at an inpatient or outpatient facility, or at the very least see a therapist or join a support group.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
