I want to reduce my drinking. This is my Health Priority!
To reduce your drinking, the Pharmacie Principale suggests the following approach :
1. I want to understand before I act
Alcohol consumption is the second leading cause of preventable disease. (The 1st is tobacco, the 3rd is obesity.)
How does it work?
Alcohol is one of the oldest psychoactive substances. It affects self-awareness, perception of reality, behaviour, mood and motor function. It has disinhibiting, antianxiety, sedative and intoxicating effects.
In Switzerland, about 85% of the population consumes moderate amounts of alcohol and 15% do not drink. 4% suffer from alcohol dependence.
As illustrated in the figure below, a moderate consumption of alcohol may be beneficial (by reducing the risk of mortality). Consumption at a rate of 0.5 to 1 standard drink per day for women, and 1 to 2 standard drinks per day for men, has a protective effect, especially for cardiovascular disease. This amount of alcohol has a positive effect on HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), improves insulin sensitivity and decreases inflammation. Beyond these amounts, alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or cancer.
Alcohol and diseases
In 2011, 1,600 people died in Switzerland as a result of alcoholism.
Excessive consumption of alcohol causes or contributes to the occurrence of many diseases.
Alcohol is notably the cause of:
- Liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis)
- Liver cirrhosis
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Peripheral nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy: loss of sensations such as touch or vibration in the feet, ankles and calves)
Alcohol consumption paired with other factors (sex, age, genetic profile, smoking, viruses, etc.) particularly contributes to:
- Problems at birth (in both mother and child, such as low birth weight and foetal alcohol syndrome) or miscarriage
- Cancers (liver, mouth and pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, and women's breast cancer). The risk of mouth and throat cancers is greatly increased in people who smoke tobacco and consume alcohol
- Mental and neurological illnesses (depression, epilepsy)
- Cardiovascular diseases (stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure)
- Diabetes
- Psoriasis (a skin disease)
Some specific examples:
- A woman drinking two standard alcoholic drinks per day is 1.4 times more likely to have breast cancer and 2 times more likely to have high blood pressure than women not drinking alcohol
- A man drinking 3 to 4 standard drinks per day is 3 times more likely to have liver cancer and 2 times more likely to have high blood pressure than men not drinking alcohol
- 75% of throat cancers (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx) and head cancers are due to a combination of tobacco and alcohol. Tobacco and alcohol also increase the risk of oesophageal cancer and cardiovascular disease
- Alcohol consumption can induce risky behaviour and lead to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections
- In men, alcohol can cause erectile dysfunction and impotence
High-risk drinking
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (2014), 'high-risk drinking' is “when alcohol consumption significantly jeopardises the drinker’s own health or that of others, with possible or actual damage.”
High-risk drinking can be acute—more than 4 drinks in a short amount of time for women and more than 5 drinks for men.
There is a chronic risk with consumption of more than an average of 2 standard drinks a day for women and 4 standard drinks per day for men.
Some studies consider the risk to begin at 1.3 standard drinks per day for women and 2.5 for men.
Blood alcohol levels and driving
In Switzerland, the maximum allowed blood alcohol level when driving is 0.5 grams per kilogram. Considering that a standard drink contains about 12 grams of alcohol, this is approximately two standard drinks for a man weighing 70 kg and one standard drink for a woman weighing 50 kg.
What should one do if one is an excessive or addicted drinker?
While it is difficult to stop drinking when one is addicted, it is easier to stop drinking than smoking. It is essential to have support when making the decision to stop drinking and to remain motivated.
«Alcoholics need to know that there are solutions and they will find hope. The association is there and its only purpose is to reach out to those suffering from the same disease.». Alcoholics Anonymous Presentation. Alcoholics Anonymous has been in Geneva since 1956.
Read more about this subject in our article: http://www.pharmacie-principale.ch/themes-sante/alcool/reprendre-espoir-avec-les-alcooliques-anonymes
Permanence téléphonique : 0848-848-846
info@aasri.org
Case Postale 2077 – 1211 Genève 2
1200 Genève
Additional tests to understand and measure one's progress:
To find out where you stand in terms of your alcohol consumption, we recommend taking the WHO Audit (2001).
If you are looking for advice, you can go to any of our 8 pharmacies Geneva and Chavannes.
2. I want to know my health status
One can only improve that which can be measured.
What are the steps that will allow me to know my status, and whether or not my lifestyle contributes positively to my heath?
The Pharmacie Principale suggests the PP Health Audit, a simple and effective tool developed with the help of specialists, to establish the state of one's health and track one's progress.
With the PP Health Audit that we make available to our customers, it is now possible for anyone to calculate their PP Health Score online in 10 minutes.
Your PP Health Score (72% in this example) will be your reference point for assessing the impact of your new lifestyle choices.
- If your Health Score improves, it shows that you have made the right choices.
- If your choices are unwise, your Health Score will decrease.
If you already have done a PP Health Audit and you already know your starting point, choose an objective and method below. If not, we recommend you complete a PP Health Audit before proceeding.
3. I want to set a goal
- Controlling my consumption
- Stopping
- Preventing alcohol-related diseases
- Improving my Health Score
4. I want to create a personalised approach
To reduce your drinking, the Pharmacie Principale has 12 suggestions. We recommend that you choose the 3 that you find relevant and easy to implement, and start them today. The following suggestions are for your information. They are not intended to replace a consultation with your doctor.
- I will test my alcohol addiction
- I will talk with my family, my doctor, my pharmacist
- I will go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
- I will learn about different treatment options
- I will download the free ‘stop-alcool’ app
- I will take supplements to reduce the negative effects of alcohol
- I will not buy any more alcohol and I will throw away what I have
- I will try to avoid being in the presence of people who drink
- I'm a woman—I will drink at most one standard drink a day, always with food
- I'm a man—I will drink at most two standard drinks a day, always with food
- I will buy half-bottles
- I will adopt a pet
5. I want to be walked through every step
How can we help you improve your health?
Based on your Health Audit results, we recommend:
- Express advice offered in one of our 8 pharmacies in Geneva and Chavannes (walk-in service)
- A 30-minute interview (costing CHF 30.-, with the first 10 minutes free) in the dispensary of the Pharmacie Principale at 7, rue de Coutance to analyse your PP Health Audit results and help you develop a real health strategy
So that we can respond to your support request in a personalised manner, please click the following link: I want assistance, and complete our contact form.
6. I just want to buy a product that will be good for me
Changing one's drinking habits takes time. In the meantime, you can partially offset some losses by consuming targeted, quality food supplements.
Below are some products that are known to reduce the negative effects of alcohol:
- Plants and plant extracts
- Vitamins, trace minerals, antioxidants
- Amino acids
- Probiotics
The body's perception and reaction to alcohol are different for each individual. Therefore, an ‘alcohol’ programme must be custom-designed with quality products from a known source. To guarantee the outcome, the advice must be customised.
In each of our 8 pharmacies in Geneva and Chavannes, you will find nutrition and micronutrient specialists able to help you to make the right choices.
If you have completed the PP Health Audit, bring your results with you so we can make our advice even more relevant.
7. I want to track and manage my health progress
For several years, Pharmacie Principale has developed an approach to manage and improve health capital called the PP Health Audit. This approach was originally developed primarily for our pharmacists. We have now made it available to our customers who want to optimise the management of their health online.
In 10 minutes, using your answers to the questionnaire, the PP Health Audit gives you a PP Health Score. Your score consists of 10 key health indicators that you can control and improve, either on your own, or with the assistance of a professional.
Among the key indicators, there are 7 test results that you probably have in your medical records. If you do not have them, you can have the tests done for only CHF 30.- at our partner lab, Dianalabs (no appointment is necessary).
The goal is to gradually bring your Health Score up to 100%, because this means that you are doing everything in your power to be and remain healthy.
We recommend performing the PP Health Audit at least once a year.
To take or retake the PP Health Audit click on the following link: http://www.auditsante.ch/
Many professionals focus on disease. Since 1912, the Pharmacie Principale has been focusing on your health.
Thank you for your trust. – JPh Toledo
