Why is the brain able to remember functioning vital tasks such as breathing or pumping blood when he is so drunk he cannot even walk straight?

Question

Why is the brain able to remember functioning vital tasks such as breathing or pumping blood when he is so drunk he cannot even walk straight?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Its very hard to suppress autonomic functions like breathing and your heart pumping. But alcohol can prevent you from waking up if you have a problem breathing. Which is why you should always make sure a person unconscious from alcohol or other drugs is on their side or stomach. Autonomic functions can force a cough or gasps to clear minor breathing problems, but that doesn’t help if gravity is keeping that obstruction in your throat.