GPs now to order liver scans for ‘heavy drinkers’

News was recently released just before Christmas that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are considering a new measure to tackle ‘harmful drinking’. Women who drink more than 35 units a week and men who drink more than 50 should be sent for scans to detect liver scarring known as cirrhosis. The document, which is in consultation until February, also stated that cirrhosis sufferers should undergo regular ultrasounds to check for liver cancer.

The benefits of a booze-free January

Many of us might have decided to join Cancer Research UK in their January Dryathlon and enjoy a month without drinking. As well as 31 days without a hangover, there are a myriad of benefits associated with not drinking for a month. As well as increased energy, dryathletes can expect to sleep better, lose weight and save money.

Consuming too much alcohol on a regular basis increases the risk of a number of serious health concerns, such as stroke, liver disease, heart disease, dementia, as well as cancer of the throat, mouth, stomach, liver and breast.

In a small-scale study carried out two years ago, a liver expert at the London Royal Free Hospital studied 10 participants who underwent a dry January. The volunteers lost 40% liver fat, 3kg in weight and significantly reduced their cholesterol and glucose levels.

However, it is important to realise that just stopping drinking for one month will not address excessive alcohol consumption for the other eleven months. As with all things, moderation is key.

Considering cutting back on the booze for the long term?

At Wimpole Aesthetics, we’ve spent many years working with patients who are keen to control their drinking, offering the clinically-proven Sinclair Method. Most patients we see do not want to abstain from drinking completely, but wish to continue drinking safely. The Sinclair Method takes a unique approach to alcohol consumption; Naltrexone, a short-acting opiod inhibitor is administered while you continue to drink normally and, over time, the urge to drink to excess is eliminated.

Many critics of these new guidelines believe that NICE are employing heavy-handed scare tactics against those who simply enjoy a drink, but if you’re interested in bringing your drinking under safe limits, call 020 7224 2247 to speak to one of our team about the Sinclair Method.