Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> I wonder if the explanation for the apparent correlation between > drinking and surviving the Estonia disaster is not simply that those who > had been drinking were probably the younger and stronger of the lot, and > this, rather than their drinking would explain their higher survival > rates. Plus, they were up partying, hence awake, rather than sleeping in > their cabins. Just a thought... > > Nathan Hi Nathan, explanations that really make a lot of sense to me.... so the question is whether "the correlation" proves cause and effect, or, as often in medicine and elsewhere, is it just due to the juxtaposition of two unrelated variables...(see below**) we are looking into the intensive care literature, to see if there is any real data......Steve > > a couple thoughts... **assuming that there is true documented increased > > survival with alcohol in the body... > > 1. as Doug Herr said... alcohol will cause vasodilation and increase > > the rate of heat loss...that's a negative for alcohol.. > > > > 2. but death with hypothermia often occurs due to cardiac arrythmia, > > as the core temperature decreases through a critical range... > > possibly alcohol reduces the chance of arrythmia...that's a plus for > > alcohol...and that may apply to the specific subgroup you refer to... > > that had increased survival... > > > > Steve - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.558 / Virus Database: 350 - Release Date: 1/2/04 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html