How GP helps reduce patient drinking in line with new guidelines

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This is a reduction from the 14 standard drinks proposed in previous versions of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Alcohol Guidelines released in 2009.

This reduction occurs after many new studies have pointed out a link between relatively low levels of alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer, including the intestines and breasts.

The· Latest guidelines Released this week.

Professor Kate Conigrave, chair of the NHMRC Alcohol Working Committee, said that the clear link between alcohol and cancer has led many countries around the world to “lower recommendations on the maximum amount of alcohol a person should consume.” Said.

The recommendations for session drinking remain the same with four standard drinks a day.

Upgraded recommendations for children and people under the age of 18 state that they should not drink alcohol at all to avoid harm to their health.

Similarly, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should refrain from alcohol to avoid harm to the foetation, but lactating women are also advised not to drink alcohol.

Professor Anne Kelso, CEO of NHMRC, said the guidelines are not about telling Australians what to do.

“We provide advice on health risks so that we can all make informed decisions in our daily lives,” she said.

Alcohol claim More than 4000 lives Australia causes about 70,000 hospitalizations each year and is associated with many cancers among more than 40 medical conditions.

According to Dr. Hester Wilson, chair of the RACGP’s Network of Specific Interest Addiction Medicine, the guidelines provide the GP with a great opportunity to discuss drinking habits with patients.

she said newsGP The guidelines are a step forward and have integrated many new studies.

“This is an opportunity to report to patients that drinking less than 4 drinks per night reduces acute harm and drinking 10 drinks a week reduces long-term harm,” she said. It was. “When we look at a patient, it’s a really great opportunity for us to do an electric shock.”

Dr. Wilson said young people “absolutely” understand what a standard drink is, but older patients may not.

“It’s important to work where the patients are. It’s not our role to teach them how to live, it’s to give them scientific information,” Dr. Wilson said. “One of the things that really helps as a GP is that you can relate their risks to something unique to them.

“If they have a family history of high blood pressure, obesity, or alcohol problems, associating alcohol with their health concerns makes it a reality for that person.”

Dr. Wilson said new studies have been shown on the association between low levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy (1-7 cups per week) and having children with a high incidence of anxiety and behavioral problems. It was.

“Youth drinking is another real risk,” she said.

“There is an acute risk, but there may also be an ongoing risk. There may be some disability as a result of fairly moderate heavy drinking.

Due to the high risk of developing dementia, Dr. Wilson suggests focusing conversations on young people, pregnant women, or those who are considering it, and those over the age of 65. People who drank harder during COVID can also benefit from the conversation.

“During the pandemic, there was a person who had an alcohol problem in the past and managed it and had a recurrence due to COVID stress,” she said. “Others were sneaking up and drinking.

“They started drinking early to relieve stress and drank more at home as a way to manage anxiety and stress, rather than having a good time.

“Now that the vaccine is imminent, we hope we are nearing the end of the pandemic, especially Christmas and New Year, which is a really good time to think about drinking.

“If we can have conversations that lead to drinking, it brings net benefits to the entire community. And if we can flag those who are dependent on drinking and refer to or treat them, it is. It will bring real benefits to serious alcohol problems.

“If we can’t do it ourselves, we need to know where to send it.”

A “standard drink” is defined as containing 10 g of pure alcohol. This is equivalent to about 285 ml of full-strength beer, a can of middle-strength beer, 100 ml of wine, or a single spirit.

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