Our clinical column: Being aware of your alcohol intake

We recently marked Alcohol Awareness Week (3-9 July), an opportunity to focus on alcohol harm and how to support your health. Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can have benefits including:

In the short-term: y Increased energy y Better mental health and concentration y Brighter skin y A sense of achievement y Saving money

In the long-term: y Lower blood pressure y Lower risk of stroke, hypertension, cancer and liver disease y Lower cholesterol levels y Better mood, memory and quality of sleep y Help with weight management

Did you know?

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks: y men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis y spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week y if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week y 14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine

Read more on AlexNet >