Alcohol

There’s been a lot of Government focus recently on the British drinking culture and how to promote safe levels of alcohol. Quite rightly, the official statistics point out that regular, excessive alcohol consumption damages your liver, stomach and brain as well as increasing your risk of certain cancers, heart disease, depression and sexual difficulties. However, it’s easy to overlook the physical injuries due to poor coordination when you’ve had too much to drink. If you’ve ever woken up with a hangover and had trouble remember- ing how you twisted your ankle, hurt your neck or got that bruised elbow then read on.

A survey by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and The Drinkaware Trust revealed that a large number of people regularly exceed the recommended daily guidelines, hurt themselves as a result and, then, lie about the cause of their injury to the people trying to help them. Warm weather and lighter nights exacerbate the situation with over half of the population admitted to drinking more during the summer months, whether they are at home or away.

The BCA and Drinkaware’s survey worryingly reported that 90 per cent of BCA chiropractors have treated patients with injuries sustained under the influence of alcohol. Along with superficial injuries such as bruises and grazes, the three most common alcohol induced injures among the general public are to hands, knees/ legs and ankles. But many chiropractors are reporting more serious incidents. Of the 2,400 patients that chiropractors treat each month for alcohol fueled injuries, the three most common injuries relate to backs, necks and ankles.

Drinking leads to lowered inhibition levels, reduced motor coordination and impaired judgement. The18-29 year old age group are the most alcohol injury prone – nearly half have sustained injuries after hitting the booze.
Despite a fifth of people surveyed admitting to injuring themselves when drunk, only a tiny per cent have been put off alcohol permanently as a result. However, Drinkaware’s advice is not to avoid alcohol completely but to enjoy it in moderation. It’s really about avoiding health problems and keeping yourself safe.

The British Chiropractic Association and The Drinkaware Trust have provided some guidelines for making sure alcohol does not get you into trouble with injury:

  • Stick to the Government’s recommended unit guidelines (2-3 units per day for a woman and 3-4 units per day for a man). You don’t have to drink to excess to enjoy yourself. Drinkaware have a handy units calculator to help you work out how many units are in each glass or bottle. In all honesty however, I would still tend to drink less than this. Research is coming out on a daily basis for and against alcohol consumption. If you are going to drink steer clear of alcohols derived from grain. I personally if I am drinking drink dry cider, red wine, or my favourite, the infamous NorCal marguerite. One shot tequila, a fresh squeezed lime over ice topped up with soda water.
  • Make sure you drink plenty of water and always eat a meal before drinking. Pace yourself with water or a soft drink after every alcoholic drink.
  • Mixing drink with sports, from volleyball to rock climbing, can lead to injuries. So play it safe and avoid alcohol before exercise. Likewise, midnight swimming and drinking is never advisable.
  • Avoid mixing your drinks (eg drinking different types of alcohol).
  • Keep steady on your feet by wearing practical shoes when you go out.
  • Remember that bars abroad often serve larger measures of spirits than British pubs, so just two G&Ts could be the same as four or five at home.
  • If you injure yourself, make sure you give the full and accurate background to whichever medical professional you seek help from; it could make a lot of difference to the diagnosis and treatment of any injury or other problem.
  • Pain is a warning sign – do not ignore it. If you do injure yourself seek advice from your local chiropractically trained health professional or medical practitioner.

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