Advise patients to abstain from alcohol under certain conditions:

when pregnant or considering pregnancy
when taking a medication that interacts with alcohol
if alcohol dependent
if a contraindicated medical condition is present (e.g., ulcer, liver disease)

If a patient is at risk for coronary heart disease, discuss the potential benefits and risks of alcohol use:

Light to moderate drinking is associated with lower rates of coronary heart disease in certain populations . Infrequent or nondrinkers are not advised to begin a regimen of light to moderate drinking to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease because vulnerability to alcohol-related problems cannot always be predicted. Similar protective effects can likely be achieved through proper diet and exercise.

 

 

Certain conditions which contraindicate a patient's consumption of alcohol include: 1. pregnancy 2. a patient considering pregnancy 3. when taking medications that interact with alcohol 4. if they have liver disease 5. a female under the age of 25 a. all of the above b. only 1, 3, & 4 c. only 1, 2, & 3 d. only 1, 2, 3, & 4 e. only 2, 3, & 4

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