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Alcohol & Health...

Below are our articles on the subject of Alcohol & Health. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...

A Brief History of Alcohol

People have been making and drinking alcohol since prehistory. Regarding the current media hype about binge drinking, it is easy to forget that these problems have been with us for an awfully long tim...

A Safe Night's Drinking: Tips and Strategies

A great night out is more likely if you plan your drinking in advance....

AA Sponsorship: What it Means and How it Works

A good sponsor is the key to success in the AA programme, so finding the right one can be vital to sobriety....

About Alcoholics Anonymous and Support

Alcohlics Anonymous has been in existence for years and the 12 Step programme is used worldwide...

Acute Alcohol Withdrawal: Symptoms and Treatment.

Acute Alcohol Withdrawal has had much public attention recently - new clinical guidelines reveal the exact definition, nature, treatment and prognosis for recovery from this serious condition of alcoh...

Alateen: Support for Teenagers Affected by Another's Drinking

Young people can be adversely affected by other people's drinking but Alateen can help them understand how to thrive in difficult circumstances....

Alcohol Abuse and Denial

Denial is a characteristic of problem drinking that causes great pain to those who live with alcoholics. Understanding its cause can help manage it better....

Alcohol and Cancer Risks

The links between alcohol consumption and cancer risk are becoming clearer, even if we don't have all the answers on how alcohol contributes to the development of cancer....

Alcohol and Crime

Alcohol-related crime in Britain stands at an all-time high. What is causing this rise, and what is being done to tackle it?...

Alcohol and Diabetes: How Strong is the Link?

Links between alcohol consumption and diabetes are complex and recent research suggests that abstinence may not be the best answer....

Alcohol and Fertility

Most of us recognise that drinking alcohol when pregnant is a bad idea, but increasingly we are coming to understand that alcohol has negative effects on fertility and conception too....

Alcohol and Holidays

The average Brit consumes three times as much alcohol as recommended, during a Bank Holiday. Learn how to protect yourself from the effects of holiday drinking....

Alcohol and Links With Marketing

The advertising and promotion of alcohol is strictly controlled. Whilst there are restrictions on alcohol advertising in order to promote responsible drinking and acceptable social behaviour, the drin...

Alcohol and Liver Cirrhosis

If you or someone you know is a heavy alcohol drinker, then you should be aware of the potential for cirrhosis of liver....

Alcohol and Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues and problem drinking frequently overlap and interlink....

Alcohol and the Athlete

Balancing sports performance and social drinking can be difficult but our tips help you understand how to ensure you can drink safely and train well as an athlete....

Alcohol and the Older Person

Older drinkers are becoming an increasing focus for health professionals as injuries rise and home drinking in older people becomes more commonplace....

Alcohol and Women: New Forms of Drinking

Women are drinking more, drinking differently and experiencing different problems as a result of changes in their alcohol consumption patterns....

Alcohol and Workplace Issues

UK law regarding alcohol, alcohol dependence, and the workplace is complex and designed to help both the employee and employer manage alcohol issues....

Alcohol Around the World

Britain is just one of many countries with a tradition of producing and drinking alcohol. This article takes a brief look at the variety of other drinking cultures around the world....

Alcohol Issues 21st Century

In the UK there are a number of alcohol related conditions causing a lot of problems...

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is becoming more common and recognising the symptoms can help save lives....

Alcohol, Calories and Health

One little considered effect of drinking alcohol is weight gain, and understanding the calories in alcohol can help us moderate our drinking to healthy limits....

Alcohol, Young People and UK Law

The law governing young people and alcohol is complex and recent changes try to deal with the effects of underage drinking, especially the harm it does to children and teenagers....

Alcohol: Abstinence or Moderation?

Choosing abstinence or moderation isn't easy but most experts agree that if you meet the clinical guidelines for alcohol dependence, then abstinence is necessary for recovery....

Alcohol: What Happens to Your Body?

Long term alcohol abuse damages your body, but what actually happens?...

Alcohol's Links to Depression

The links between alcohol and depression are complex and may need specialist help if they are to be treated adequately to allow the drinker to have a good quality of life....

Animals and Alcohol: Are We Designed to Drink?

Are humans the only creatures to like a few drinks? Recent research suggests that many animals have a relationship to alcohol....

Are There Any Benefits to Drinking Alcohol?

Moderate drinking can protect you from some health risks, but balancing drinking and health requires good information about the risks and benefits involved....

Are these Lumps Caused by Alcohol?

Can alcoholism cause under arm lumps?...

Attending Your First AA Meeting

Attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings can be a mandatory part of rehab - but what happens at a meeting?...

Binge Drinking Vs. Alcoholism

Determining if your binge drinking has led to alcoholism is something best dealt with by a professional. But, you can look for certain signs and symptoms that suggest it's time to seek help....

Choosing a Rehab Centre Treatment and Support

Rehab has become a fashionable term, but how does a rehab centre work and how do you choose one for alcoholism?...

Codependency: How Families Enable Alcoholics to Function

Codependency is a classic sign of an alcoholic in the family and uncovering its causes and treating its symptoms can lead to a healthier relationship....

Different Therapy Options for Quitting Drinking

After quitting drinking and going through detox, therapy is an important factor in giving up and staying sober...

Does Family History Influence Choice of Relationships?

People with alcoholic parents are much more likely to choose an alcoholic partner for complex reasons that can be difficult to understand....

Drinking and Driving

Every week, alcohol-related accidents claim more lives on Britain's roads. Why is drinking and driving so deadly, and what are the potential consequences of driving under the influence?...

Drug Treatments for Alcohol Abuse

There are drugs and treatments that can help many people overcome their alcohol abuse. Two of them are Antabuse and Acamprosate and they work in very different ways to help people stop drinking....

DTS and Wet Brain: Two Serious Issues for Long Term Drinkers

The neurological effects of excess alcohol consumption are rarely discussed but can be disturbing and sometimes fatal....

Facing Up to Alcoholism

There are clear stages when preparing to give up drinking and become sober....

Family Therapy for Alcohol Issues Family Life

Family therapy can help an alcoholic become sober and allow other family members to explore their role in the disease of alcoholism....

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Foetal alcohol syndrome is devastating to a baby but can be prevented if the mother abstains from drinking during her pregnancy....

Gave Up Alcohol and Now Have Dizzy Spells: What's the Cause?

Dizzy spells have many different causes and it is wise to have some tests with your GP to find out what is behind them....

Genetics Versus Upbringing in Alcohol Abuse

Is alcoholism genetic, or a result of upbringing, or both?...

Giving up Alcohol at Home

Giving up alcohol can be hard and if you're doing it at home make sure you're prepared...

How Can I Talk to my Partner When he is Drunk?

Talking to your partner when they are drunk...

How does Alcoholism Affect Children?

Children of alcoholics are affected deeply by the situation at home...

How Much Alcohol is Too Much?

Too much alcohol can be dangerous, but how much is too much?...

How to Cope With a Recovering Alcoholic

Recovery from alcoholism can sometimes be as difficult as the disease itself and the support of friends and family can be crucial to an alcoholic's progress....

How to Deal with the Physical Withdrawal from Alcohol

Giving up alcohol after long term or heavy abuse will inevitably lead to some withdrawal symptoms so plan how to deal with them...

How to Drink Safely on a Night Out

A good night out can be spoilt by irresponsible drinking, so following some golden rules can ensure you have a good time safely...

Is Alcoholism Hereditary?

Alcoholism can run in families but it's not all about genetics....

Is Alcoholism Inherited?

Most experts agree that alcoholism is caused by many factors, which we have yet to fully identify. We do know that genes play a role and interact with our environment to increase your risk....

Know your Limits for Responsible Drinking

Very few people know the exact amount of alcohol they have consumed. Where the weekly recommended guidelines are concerned even fewer people know how many units of alcohol it is considered safe to con...

Living With an Alcoholic

living with an alcoholic is a rollercoaster ride, and it's a family disease that affects everyone...

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

the long term effects of alcohol can have serious implications on physical and mental health...

Multiple Substance Abuse: How Alcohol Fits In

Multiple substance abuse is likely to begin with problem drinking and to escalate into abusing difference substances - knowing the reasons it happens can help manage and improve the situation for ever...

New Year's Resolutions for a Better Relationship to Alcohol

New Year's Resolutions don't have to be all or nothing - try these life-enhancing ways to change your relationship to alcohol....

Pretending When You Have a Drink Problem

Facing up to alcoholism is hard and pretending there is no problem is common....

Preventing Alcohol Abuse

Preventing alcohol abuse can involve your own tactics as well those the government puts in place....

Questionnaire: Are You a Stress-Related Drinker?

Stress-related drinking is increasingly seen as an issue at work and at home. Defining who is a stress-related drinker is the first step to finding help....

Quiz: Heavy Drinker, Problem Drinker or Alcoholic?

The terms alcoholic, problem drinker and heavy drinker are bandied about, but what do they mean and how can you tell which one you might be?...

Recent Research on Alcohol's Links to Dementia

How strong are the links between alcoholism and dementia and what does recent research tell us about memory loss, dementia and alcohol dependence?...

Recovering from Alcohol-induced Poverty

Financial insecurity can result from alcoholism, and recovering from both drinking and debt can be a painful affair....

Rehabilitation for Recovering Alcoholics - What That Means

Giving up alcohol is part of the recovery process but rehabilitation means more than just that....

Simon, a High Functioning Alcoholic: Case Study

High functioning alcoholics often fool themselves, and the world, about their drinking problem, but sooner or later something goes wrong and they are forced to face reality....

Spotting Hidden Alcohol Issues

We tend to have a mental picture of the classic alcoholic, but many people hide their alcohol consumption or may not even recognise that they have an alcohol abuse problem....

Spotting the Signs of Alcoholism - Is It You?

there are some telltale signs when looking to see if someone is an alcoholic...

Spotting the Signs of Alcoholism - Someone You Know

There is a good chance you may know someone with an alcohol abuse problem so know what to look for...

Support for Family and Friends of Alcoholics

Alcoholism is a family disease and there is support for friends and family too...

Teenage Alcoholism

Alcohol is a commonly used substance by teens and the incidence of alcoholism in this group is growing. Find out how to spot the signs and how you can help....

The 12 Steps of AA: How They Work

The 12 Steps have become a worldwide approach to recovering from alcoholism although they are not free of criticism in some quarters....

The Nine New Categories of Binge Drinker

What is a binge drinker and how does personality type influence drinking style? Recent research and surveys reveal some interesting theories....

The Portman Group/Drinkaware

the Portman Group and Drinkaware were set up to promote safe marketing and consumption of alcohol in the UK...

The Problem of Teenage Drinking and Alcoholism

Underage and teenage drinking is worryingly on the rise. Be clear about the boundaries and how to help them...

The Rise of the Alcopop and Children Drinking

Teenage binge-drinking may be blamed on the promotion of brightly-coloured, sweet-flavoured alcoholic beverages, and is alarmingly on the increase. Mistakenly assuming these sweet drinks have little a...

The Sale of Alcohol, Who Can Buy It, When and Where

The purchase of intoxicating liquor is now possible from a growing number of retail outlets. Off-Licences no longer hold the monopoly on sales, as local corner shop staff also currently find themselve...

The UK's Relationship with Alcohol

Whilst our culture may encourage social interaction, as a nation we are not as clued up about the dangers of excessive drinking as we like to think we are. Understanding the harm increases positive he...

Understanding that Alcoholism is a Disease, Not a Choice

True alcoholism is a disease, not something the sufferer has any control over...

What Are the Initial Side Effects of Quitting Alcohol?

Giving up alcohol might be the best thing you can do for your body, but what effects can you expect to experience once you have quit?...

What Causes Alcoholism?

there might be many things that trigger heavy drinking or set off alcoholism...

What Detoxification Really Means to an Alcoholic

Detoxification is becoming commonplace: from dieters to New Year resolution makers we all 'detox' but the definition, medically, is relatively stringent and the process is demanding on the individual ...

What Does Alcoholism Recovery Really Mean?

Recovery will usually involve abstaining from alcohol or moderating it in a minority of cases. But the idea of a cure tends to be an unrealistic one....