Why does drank actually work

Purple drank is responsible for the hospitalization and death of many people, including several celebrity singers, rappers, and professional athletes. For example, the singer and rapper Mac Miller, who later died of a drug overdose, had spoken about his own addiction to purple drank.

Compared to other recreational drugs, the ease of obtaining the ingredients and the drug's relatively low cost to make it more accessible than other recreational drugs. In , pharmaceutical company Actavis decided to stop producing and selling its prescription-only promethazine-codeine syrup product nicknamed "Prometh" due to the rise in recreational use. Unfortunately, this move did not deter its use. In fact, people have reportedly stockpiled the promethazine-codeine cough syrup and it remains to be seen whether people seeking a similar high will come up with another way to concoct a cocktail replete with promethazine and opioids.

For instance, drank can be brewed from over-the-counter cough syrups containing dextromethorphan DXM , which is similar to the dissociative anesthetics ketamine Special K and phencyclidine PCP. Like its chemical brethren, when taken in excess, dextromethorphan can cause hallucinations and out-of-body dissociative experiences; it also causes adverse effects like increased heart rate, hypertension, and diaphoresis profuse sweating.

Because there is really no way to know the soda-to-syrup ratio in any given serving, overdose risk is high with drug cocktails like purple drank. Each ingredient is associated with various side effects.

When used as prescribed, promethazine acts as an antihistamine, antiemetic anti-vomiting , and sedative. Codeine is a drug that is metabolized by the body into morphine. In prescription cough syrup, codeine works to suppress a cough. Purple drank is composed of multiple depressants which can synergize to cause:. Furthermore, when other central nervous depressants are thrown into the mix—like barbiturates , narcotics, and tricyclic antidepressants—repercussions are particularly grim.

From a scientific perspective, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly how much purple drank it takes to kill someone. From a medical perspective, it's safe to say that imbibing any amount of purple drank is dangerous. Beyond finding empty bottles of cough syrup, styrofoam cups, soda, and candy among your loved one's belongings, it's important to watch out for any changes in personality and behavior.

Changes might include being irritable, changes in sleep patterns, a loss of interest in school or social activities, or a sudden change in friends. If you suspect someone has overdosed on sizzurp, call immediately or the national toll-free Poison Help hotline A number of commercial products have emerged that are inspired by purple drank and include herbal ingredients such as melatonin, rose hips, and valerian.

These products are often marketed as relaxation aids and sometimes use similar-sounding names such as "Lean" or "Purple Stuff. Just because the main ingredients in purple drank are "legal" or sold over-the-counter in a pharmacy, does not make it safe to drink. When not used as directed on the label or exactly prescribed, cough medicine and other over-the-counter drugs can be harmful to your health. It can be difficult to know what these products actually contain and the potential effects these substances may have.

Possible complications of chronic kidney failure include anemia , damage to the central nervous system , heart failure , and a compromised immune system. Some of the water required by the body is obtained through foods with a high water content, such as soups, tomatoes, oranges, but most come through drinking water and other beverages. During everyday functioning, water is lost by the body, and this needs to be replaced. We notice that we lose water through activities such as sweating and urination, but water is lost even when breathing.

Milk and juices are also good sources of fluid, but beverages containing alcohol and caffeine, such as soft drinks, coffee , and beer, are not ideal because they often contain empty calories. Drinking water instead of soda can help with weight loss. It was previously thought that caffeinated beverages had diuretic properties, meaning that they cause the body to release water. However, studies show that fluid loss because of caffeinated drinks is minimal. The amount of water needed each day varies from person to person , depending on how active they are, how much they sweat, and so on.

There is no fixed amount of water that must be consumed daily, but there is general agreement on what a healthy fluid intake is. According to the U. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average recommended daily intake of water from both food and drink is:. This would be around However, around 80 percent of this should come from drinks, including water, and the rest will be from food.

People were more likely to drink less than 4 cups of drinking water daily if they consumed 1 cup or less of fruits or vegetables a day. The study only measured the intake of drinking water. Fluid can be gained from other beverages, but water is best because it is calorie-free, caffeine-free, and alcohol-free. Seven percent of respondents reported drinking no water at all daily, and those who drank a low volume of water also consumed less fruit and vegetables.

This suggests that a certain number of people are risking their health by not getting enough fluid. Even if the respondents reporting low levels of water intake were obtaining enough fluid, it is likely that they would be obtaining it from sources that could potentially compromise their health in other ways. How much plain water do we really need? Is '8 X 8' a good guideline? Can we drink coffee instead of water?

Find out more about how much fluid the body…. Drinking raw water is a relatively new health phenomenon, but are the rumors about its health benefits true, or is it dangerous? Find out here. That is why, there is a reason why our elders have always told us to sit down and eat and do the same while we drink water!

There is actually a right way to have water to detoxify the body and gain all the nutrients and minerals. And no, it cannot be achieved when you stand up and drink! Wondering why? We tell you. When you drink water standing up, the water which goes in passes through the system with a straight gush, not really reaching the organs where it is supposed to do the job. Hence, the impurities which are supposed to go out get deposited in the kidneys and the bladder.

Wellness coach and fitness enthusiast Nikita Parmar also shared a post which highlighted some of the dangers of standing up and drinking water. Standing up and drinking water makes the body out of sync with nature and triggers the nervous system, making it feel it is facing danger. The nutrients really go waste this way and your body is bound to face stress or any tension.

This is because when you stand and drink water, it travels through the system really fast and you risk your lungs and heart functions. The oxygen levels also get disturbed this way. This, in turn, can also put bones and joints at risk as the water gushes down the body. You can also experience joint pain, bone degeneration and weakness. Thus, the speed of chugging water down and how you drink it has an important role to play.

Hence, there is a very valid reason to sit down and gulp your water, the same way it is recommended that you sit down and have your meal. Our bodies are designed in a way that you get maximum health benefits when you sit down and keep your back erect.

When you drink your water from a bottle or a glass sitting down, the nutrients reach the brain and boost its activity. Drinking water this way passes through the regular designed track and ensures all the benefits are achieved in the organs. Toxins go away, impurities are flushed out and your health improves overall! Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

It may also help metabolize alcohol more quickly, although the scientific evidence of this is inconclusive. Some people have reported carbon or charcoal capsules, which can be found in health food stores, help with sobering up.

However, there is no evidence to back this up. Evidence on charcoal capsules finds they do not bind alcohol well. In fact, one very old study in the journal, Human Toxicology , finds blood alcohol levels remain the same , with and without the capsules, in people who have consumed only a couple of drinks. Carbon and charcoal capsules are available to buy in health stores and online. There are some ways an individual can stop themselves consuming too much alcohol and becoming intoxicated:.

When people are drinking, it is easy to lose track of the amount of alcohol they have consumed. An individual can stay aware of how many drinks they have had by keeping a notepad and a pen handy and jotting each drink down. Another way to keep track is with a cellular phone app. Apps, such as AlcoDroid and IntelliDrink , can not only track how many drinks have been drunk, but they can also estimate BAC levels and send alerts if a person is drinking too much or too quickly.

It takes the body at least 1 hour to process each drink consumed. By the time a person has had their second drink, if it is within the same hour, they are likely to be impaired, although they may not realize it. It is best not to consume several drinks in a short period.

Taking slow sips and keeping busy, such as by chatting with friends, can help reduce the number of alcoholic beverages that are drunk. For every alcoholic drink an individual has, they should also have a full glass of water, which will help limit the amount of alcohol they consume. Moreover, because even moderate levels of alcohol cause dehydration and quicker impairment, drinking water can slow this effect down.

When a person hydrates by drinking plenty of water, it can give their liver time to metabolize the alcohol in their body, as well as spacing out the alcoholic drinks they consume. Getting some food in the stomach can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed. It is important, however, to stay away from heavy and greasy meals because these can make a person sick when combined with alcohol.

Mixing different types of alcoholic drinks can rapidly bring up BAC levels and make a person feel and appear intoxicated much more quickly than if they stick to one kind only. If a person wants to drink alcohol, it is best to do so in moderation.