Alcohol can be an insidious drug. We all love knocking back a few, but your body often does the opposite of what you think it's doing. The feelings you experience while under the influence are vastly different than alcohol's actual physiological effects. A popular misconception is that a glass of hard liquor restores warmth when consumed on a cold day. Here's a clear look at the reality.

what-alcohol-consumption-does-in-a-survival-situation

Drinker's Perception

  • Warmth
  • Increased Pain Threshold
  • Relaxation
  • Increased Confidence
  • Fully Hydrated
  • Quick Thinking
  • Fast Reflexes
  • Accurate Perception

Drinker's Reality

  • Increased Sweating
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Loss of Shivering (the body's method of warming itself)
  • Decreased Core Temperature
  • Poor Decision Making
  • Loss of Coordination
  • Dehydration
  • Increased Infection Risk

Sources

Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
www.usariem.army.mil

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov


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