Eli5 Why shouldn’t I drink alcohol before surgery?
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This is ELI5!
Animals like human beings have evolved over millions of years to stay alive.
This is an elaborate and complicated dance. Air goes in and out. Blood goes round and round. A gazillion other things are happening to keep you alive at any second.
When you have surgery, someone is doing things that would ordinarily kill you. They stop your ability to move air in and out and blood round and round. They cut big holes in your body. This is all very bad.
Fortunately, due to our scientific knowledge and experience, we are pretty good at keeping people alive who otherwise would be dead. But it’s hard! And doing things that change the body, like alcohol or drugs, make it harder.
So doctors will tell you things, because we know that that will help us keep you alive. Do not eat or drink after midnight. Do not take certain medicines or alcohol or drugs.
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