3 Surprising Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
People with liver disease can experience fruity breath, but it’s a bit different. While bad breath isn’t a physical sign of alcohol abuse, it comes across in the physical sense. It’s not something you’ll see, but rather, something you will smell.
People who consume a lot of alcohol during one occasion often vomit repeatedly and stop eating. If the vomiting and starvation go on for a day or more, the liver’s normal stores of sugar (glucose) decrease. The low glucose stores combined with lack of food intake cause low blood glucose levels.
- Patients with mild hyperglycemia may have underlying diabetes mellitus, which may be recognized by elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C).
- Dehydration and volume constriction directly decrease the ability of the kidneys to excrete ketoacids.
- Several mechanisms are responsible for dehydration, including protracted vomiting, decreased fluid intake, and inhibition of antidiuretic hormone secretion by ethanol.
- During this period of starvation, vomiting continues and abdominal pain develops, leading the patient to seek medical attention.
- Electrolyte imbalances are corrected through appropriate supplementation.
- Antiemetics such as ondansetron or metoclopramide may also be given to control nausea and vomiting.
Other causes of acetone-like breath
The prognosis for individuals with AKA depends on various factors, including the severity of the condition, the presence of other medical complications, and the individual’s commitment to recovery. With prompt medical intervention and appropriate treatment, the outlook for individuals with AKA can be positive. However, it is important to note that continued alcohol abuse can lead to recurrent episodes of AKA and other serious health complications. Seeking medical help and addressing the underlying alcohol abuse problem is crucial for long-term recovery and improved prognosis. It is important for patients with AKA to receive ongoing medical follow-up and support.
If you’re intentionally fasting or following a ketogenic diet, you should expect fruity breath. You can drink plenty of water, brush your teeth more often, or use mints or gum to try to mask it. If you are unable to test your blood sugar and ketones, go to the emergency room. If you experience fruity breath after intentionally fasting or following a ketogenic diet, you don’t have cause for concern. Drinking more water may help control the fruity scent, but there’s no way to prevent it while following these types of diets.
Differential Diagnosis
These may include chest X-rays, electrocardiograms (ECGs), or urine analysis. Alcoholism is a disease that affects more than 80 million people in the United States. Unfortunately, only 8 percent of those suffering from the disease will actually receive treatment. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.
If a person’s breath smells like acetone — or nail polish remover — it may Gray death is the latest, “scariest” opioid drug threat indicate that there are high levels of ketones in their blood. Triglycerides stored in adipose tissue undergo lipolysis and are released into the circulation as free fatty acids bound ionically to albumin. Free fatty acids are removed by the liver, where they primarily undergo oxidation to hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetate and subsequently are reesterified to triglyceride. Decreased insulin and elevated glucagon, cortisol, catecholamine, and growth hormone levels can increase the rate of ketogenesis.
Ketones are a type of acid that form when the body breaks down fat for energy. Diabetes happens when your blood glucose (blood sugar), a key energy source from food, is too high. Normally, glucose gets into your cells thanks to a hormone from the pancreas called insulin. With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough, or any, insulin or doesn’t use it well. Alcoholic ketoacidosis is a complication of alcohol use and starvation that causes excess acid in the bloodstream, resulting in vomiting and abdominal pain.
Laboratory tests are essential for confirming the diagnosis of AKA and ruling out other conditions. Blood tests are performed to assess the levels of glucose, ketones, electrolytes, and liver function. In AKA, blood glucose levels are typically elevated, ketones are present in the blood and urine, and electrolyte imbalances such as low potassium (hypokalemia) may be observed. Additionally, liver function tests may reveal elevated liver enzymes, indicating alcohol-induced liver damage. The prognosis for alcoholic ketoacidosis is good as long as it’s treated early. However, the long-term prognosis depends on the severity of the underlying alcohol abuse disorder.
Treatment / Management
People with liver disease have higher levels of certain chemical compounds, including acetone. The link between liver disease and fruity, musty breath is so strong that healthcare providers use breath smell as an indication of liver disease. If a person does not have enough insulin, their body is unable to convert blood sugar to glucose, which the body uses as fuel. Without glucose to burn, the body enters a severe form of ketosis, releasing enough ketones into the blood that the ketones begin poisoning the person.
This test measures the pH and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood, giving your healthcare provider insight on potential issues with your body. When your body doesn’t receive adequate nutrients during episodes of starvation, it relies on stored fat for energy. This process leads to the production of ketones, which, if present in high levels, can cause the onset of alcoholic ketoacidosis and its signature smell. Patients who appear significantly ill and those with positive ketones should have arterial blood gas and serum lactate measurements. Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is a serious complication that can occur in individuals who abuse alcohol excessively.
