Alcohol advice Flashcards
How is alcohol metabolised
in the liver
acetaldehyde –> acetate –> water
What is the effect of alcohol intoxication
Mild sedative
Mild anaesthetic
Stimulates dopamine and serotonin
What is the safe limit of alcohol
14 units
Over how many days should drinking be spread
3 +
What does the risk of developing health problems increase with
the more you drink regularly
What are oral problems in chronic drinkers
Oral cancer (concurrent tobaco use) Oral ulceration Dental neglect Dental trauma (falls) Lost dentures Dental erosion
What does (alcoholic) liver disease result in
Reduced synthesis of clotting factors in damaged liver
Combined with reduced absorption of vitamin K and hence effecting vitamin K clotting factors
Thromboytopenia (splenomegaly)
Fewer platelets
Platelet aggregation reduced
What analgesic should be prescribed with caution with heavy drinkers
aspirin/NSAIDs
Why must we be cautious on giving NSAIDs to heavy drinkers
Both gastric irritant, both have effect on bleeding
What are the 3 types of drinking
hazardous drinking
harmful drinkings
dependent drinking alcohol
What is hazardous drinking
risks for problems are likely
What is harmful drinking
problems associated with alcohol are actually present
What types of drinking are amenable to brief intervenetion
hazardous + harmful drinking
What is dependent drinking
drink needed to function
What alcohol screening tools are there
FAST
AUDIT
PAT
What is the gold standard screening tool
AUDIT
What sort of questions does AUDIT ask
How often How many units How many units on a single occasion Guilt for drinking? Injured someone because of drinking? Anyone concerned about your drinking? And a few more but these are easiest to remember
What is a patients readiness to change
What change are they considering
How important is the change
How confident are you that you can make the change
What is the cycle of change
precontemplative contemplative preparation action maintenance relapse
What is precontemplation
dont see a problem
What is contemplation
Sees the problem, but says things like ‘i enjoy drinking though’
What is preparation
Discussing possibility of cutting down in the future
What is action
Cutting down right now
What is maintenance
Keeping it going