Alcohol – Preparing for surgery

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Alcohol is never good for your health. It can also cause your body to respond badly to surgery.

Reducing how much you drink, or quitting altogether, could make a positive difference to your recovery.

A guide to alcohol units (and signs of alcohol dependence) | NHS

Alcohol and your surgery

The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of complications with your surgery.

The UK Government recommends drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.

The NHS recommends spreading these units over 3 days or more and aim for some drink-free days as well.

Regularly drinking more alcohol than this before surgery can lead to longer recovery times, a higher risk of complications, and more.

How much do you drink?

This table shows units of alcohol in alcoholic drinks.

Type Units
Single spirit measure (25mls 40%) 1 unit
Alcopop (275mls 5%) 1-1.5 units
Small glass of wine (175mls 12%) 2.1 units
Large glass of wine (250mls 12%) 3 units
Bottle of beer (330mls 5%) 1.7 units
Can of beer (440mls 5%) 2 units
Pint of normal lager/beer/cider (569mls 3.6%) 2 units
Pint of higher strength lager/beer/cider (569mls 5.2%) 3 units

You can also use this unit calculator to work out how much you are drinking.

Top tips for cutting down on drinking

  • Set limits before drinking and stick to them
  • Set yourself a budget for alcohol
  • Take it one day at a time
  • Let your friends and family know – they are likely to support you!
  • Drink smaller measures or lower alcohol alternatives
  • Make every other drink a glass of water
  • Try to have alcohol-free days every week
  • Try to reduce your drinking to less than 14 units a week at least 6-8 weeks before your surgery.

Cutting down before surgery

Cutting down your drinking by any amount will help reduce your risk.

The aim should be to cut down to within 14 units a week.

Ideally, your drinking will have gone down to this level at least 6-8 weeks before your surgery, for the maximum benefit.

Drinking more than 14 units a week may mean you need more checks before your surgery. These will test how well your organs, such as your liver, are functioning.

In the run up to surgery, regularly drinking more than three drinks at a time can:

  • Reduce your body’s ability to fight infection. This can make your hospital stay and recovery longer. Cutting the amount you drink will help reduce the risk. It will improve your chances of a smooth recovery.
  • Weaken your heart. This makes it harder for oxygen to get around your body through the blood stream. Cutting your drinking before surgery can improve your heart’s ability to push oxygen through your body. It improves healing.
  • Make it harder for your liver to deal with medication and painkillers used during your surgery. Cutting down the amount you drink helps your liver handle these drugs better. It gives you a lower chance of side effects like nausea and vomiting.

If you are struggling with your drinking, you can search for services in your local area – see ‘where can I get help in my local area’ further down.

Drinking too much alcohol, with or without surgery planned, can cause you harm in the long-term.

If you think you may be alcohol dependent, it can be risky to stop drinking suddenly. You can get advice on how to safely reduce you drinking from your GP or local alcohol service.

Get help in your local area

Bradford and Craven
Calderdale
Kirklees
Wakefield
Harrogate

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