Why do I have trouble breathing when I'm really drunk?

Question

When I get hammered I sometimes have trouble breathing- it's like i have asthma or something! I dont have alcohol poisoning or anything, I just have to make an effort to take really deep breaths. Does anyone else have this problem? Why??

Answer 1

all the c***s in your mouth

Answer 2

Alcohol is a depressant, and like any depressant it slows everything down.  Exactly what it slows down the most and how much varies from person to person and increases the more intoxicated you get.  So, when you get really trashed, it's very likely that it would feel difficult to breathe.  Especially if you're overweight.  

Bottom line of it is, alcohol, no matter how good it tastes, is not good for the body overall, especially not in large quantities.  

As I said to someone else here, if you wanna dance, you gotta pay the fiddler.

Answer 3

What are you drinking?

Often it can get hard to breathe when drinking wine - most specifically red, but often white, because of the histamines in the wine. I tend to avoid red wine because even with a few sips makes me all blocked up.

Answer 4

you are allergic to alcohol. my best friend is like that he can only have 1-2 then he has a hard time breathing, and gets really tired.  he went to the doc and that is what they came up with!!  Sucks for him!

Answer 5

an existing food sensitivity (allergies are like heinz 101 varieties,,,,,,,,so are drs) may weaken breathing muscles a bit that you r'e not aware of.worsens when you're loaded.also could be reaction to sulfide preservatives in wine

Answer 6

Are you a doctor? You can't rule out that you do not have alcohol poisoning if you haven't had your blood tested to prove it - i suggest seeing a doctor......

Just something else to keep in mind.... Alcohol is technically a poison therefore any reaction including the feeling of being drunk is actually the alcohol affecting your body's system etc

Effects of Alcohol at Specific BAC Levels

The effects of alcohol intoxication are greatly influenced by individual variations; some users may become intoxicated at a much lower BAC levels than others. Here is a look at what yo expect when drinking for an average person.

0.02-0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded.

0.04—0.06 BAC: Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (good emotions are better, bad emotions are worse).

0.07—0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired. You will probably believe you are functioning better than you really are. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle at this level of intoxication.

0.10—0.125 BAC: Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria.

0.13—0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired. (Dysphoria is an emotional state of anxiety, depression, or unease.)

0.16—0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."

0.20 BAC: Feeling dazed/confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand/walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people have nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may not remember what has happened.

0.25 BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falls or other accidents.

0.30 BAC: STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.

0.35 BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.

0.40 BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory arrest.

Answer 7

Perhaps you're so far into your cup that you are fixated that you have a problem breathing, and by thinking you have a problem, you actually force yourself on a subconscious level to take deeper breaths?

Don't flame me ,that's one idea.  But in all honestly AND WHAT I RECCOMEND:

See your doctor. please. now. immediately.  tell him the story, and let him look at you.

if you are underaged and have no history of issues when drinking, try drinking less or not at all.  At least until the point you can talk to a doctor without your folks whooping your backside. :)

Answer 8

your probably allergic.

my friend had a glass and then couldn't breathe properly.

get checked out.

Answer 9

well when you drink alcohol i relaxes your body this would include muscles that you may use to breath that might be the reason I'm just guessing but i know what you mean and that is what i think but maybe go to the doctor just in case