Your health: When it’s not just social drinking
Alcohol-related brain injury
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Your health: When it’s not just social drinking |
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| It’s easy to get confused about alcohol and health. Sometimes we hear that alcohol is bad for us and sometimes we hear that it’s good for us. But although some research suggests a little alcohol is beneficial for health, this means a few drinks a week - not a few drinks every day. This fact sheet was written by Dr Harvey Lander, Director of Medical Services at HKHS. It is part of our Health Hotline series. Research from the recent “Hangover for Life” campaign shows that around two million Australians are at risk of permanent brain damage because of the amount of alcohol they drink. And figures for Northern Sydney are higher than the state average for both men and women, with a reported 38 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women reporting harmful alcohol use. More than 2,500 Australians are treated for alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI) every year and another 200,000 are already suffering from it but are unaware of it. Seventy per cent of men and 60 per cent of women do not know what volume of alcohol puts them at risk and the unfortunate thing is that many Australians who are consuming more than the recommended amounts consider it to be just ‘social’ drinking. Adult males should drink no more than four standard drinks per day and adult females should drink no more than two standard drinks per day, and everyone should have at least two alcohol free days a week. Drinking regularly above these levels will put you at a high risk of alcohol related brain damage. Understanding what a ‘standard’ drink means is very important as many people think that any size wine glass or a bottle of beer equals one drink. One standard drink means one schooner of light beer, one middy of normal strength beer, a small 100 ml glass of wine and one 30ml nip of alcohol. A person with ARBI might experience problems with their memory, thinking, physical coordination or a range other medical and neurological disorders. A younger person has a better chance of recovery because of their greater powers of recuperation. However, the effects of alcohol related brain damage can be permanent for many sufferers. The thing about alcohol brain damage is that it's slow, subtle and difficult to recognise when it starts, so by the time people think there's something wrong, the brain damage is often permanent. Just how much damage is done depends on a number of factors. These include individual differences, as well as the person’s age, gender, nutrition and their overall pattern of alcohol consumption. At an early stage of the disease, problems may be reduced or reversed if the person abstains from alcohol, improves their diet and replaces vitamins especially thiamine (vitamin B1) which limits some of the toxic effects of alcohol for heavy drinkers. If you think you have a problem with alcohol consumption or would like to speak with someone about alcohol related brain injury you can contact the Drug, Alcohol and Gambling Service at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital on 9477 9567. |
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