🍺 How much is too much?C*A*G*E*

🍸 Do you enjoy a drink every now and then?

“CAGE” is an acronym for a questionnaire designed to identify suspected alcohol abuse. It was originally developed by Dr. John Ewing at the University of North Carolina. It’ s a combination of 4 simple questions that can be used as a screening tool for alcoholism.

1) 🤔 Have you ever felt the need to cut down on consumption?

2) 😒 Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

3) 🙁 Have you ever felt bad or guilty about drinking?

4) 🤒 Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning for a hangover?

✔Answering "yes" to 2 or more on the questionnaire indicates a possible drinking concern and should be investigated further.

The questionnaire is completed as part of the medical history. If it’s completed as part of their baseline examination, the patient is much more likely to be truthful and less defensive. When a physician asks about the number of drinks consumed per day/week, the following guideline is helpful to assess the amount of alcohol that would be considered as “one drink.”

🍺1 bottle of beer = 12 oz = 1 Drink

🍷1 glass of wine = 5 oz = 1 Drink

🍸1 shot = 1.5 oz distilled spirit = 1 Drink

Alcohol abuse can have numerous negative consequences:

🔻 Brain - change mood, behavior, and co-ordination

🔻 Heart - arrhythmias, stroke, and increased blood pressure

🔻 Liver - alcoholic steatosis leading to cirrhosis

🔻 Cancer - increased risk of mouth, esophageal, liver, and breast cancer

🔻 Immune system - weakened system leading to chronic infections (eg. pneumonia, TB)

🏥 Alcohol-related problems, from drinking too suddenly and/or long term consumption, are among the most significant public health issues in the United States. Approximately 17 million adults ages 18 and older have an alcohol use disorder and 1 in 10 children live in a household where a parent has an alcohol abuse problem.

👥 If you or a loved one needs assistance, seek help. Feel free to contact us!

Image by Michal Jarmoluk

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