AUDIT-C Score

What is the AUDIT-C score?

The AUDIT-C score is a prevalent screening tool. That helps assess a person’s alcohol consumption patterns. Moreover, it determines their possible health effects.

It’s an abbreviated version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The World Health Organization (WHO) developed it for trustworthy assessment. It’s a quick drinking behavior evaluation.

However, medical professionals and individuals use this tool to determine the hazardous drinking impact and identify how individuals are at risk of liquor-related problems. Some people may become dependent on alcoholic drinks or have other health complications due to their drinking habits.

How to Use the AUDIT-C Score Calculator

You can truthfully answer the AUDIT-C questionnaire to determine your score:

Select Gender:

Choose Male or Female.

Drinking Frequency:

Just answer by heart, “In the past year, how often did you drink alcohol?”

You can select your options from the bar.

Drinks per Session:

Choose 1 or 2, 3 or 4, etc., as per your daily routine. “How many drinks did you have on an average drinking day?”

Binge Drinking (6+ Drinks):

State “How often did you have 6 or more drinks at once? Is it daily, monthly, etc.?”

Calculate Score:

Click “Calculate” to get your AUDIT-C score.

What is the AUDIT-C score interpretation?

Total scoring audit C classifies people into different levels of alcohol consumption risk. Answers range from 0 to 12 on the calculator, which means:

• 0-3 (Low Risk):
  It means alcohol consumption is within safe limits. You consume a normal amount of alcohol; there is nothing to worry about!
  
• 4-5 (Moderate Risk):
  You are in the moderate-risk category. Be careful with your drinking.
  
• 6-12 (High Risk):
  You are in the high-risk category, which means increased risk of alcohol dependence and health complications. Consider seeking professional advice.
  

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Who can use the AUDIT-C screening tool?

There are times when you worry about your drinking habits. You can perform a screening test for drinking addiction. Additionally, healthcare providers can use it to evaluate patients’ beverage consumption. It can help identify various other factors. For instance, it can indicate risky drinking behavior, alcohol misuse, or potential alcohol use disorder (AUD).

How many alcoholic beverages are risky?

The CDC report states that heavy drinking or binge drinking can be monitored. The ratio demonstrates the following:

• Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men in a single encounter.
  
• Heavy drinking is defined as eight or more drinks for women or fifteen or more drinks for men per week.
  

Standard US drinks contain 14 grams of pure alcohol. One standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol), 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits (80 proof, or 40% alcohol). Examples of liquors include brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey.

Effects of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

The World Health Organization correlates alcohol to over 200 diseases. The US has a high alcoholic-drink-related preventable death rate. Sadly, almost 178,000 people die every year from drinking overdoses.

Moreover, drunkenness can cause many other health problems. These issues include liver, heart, and cancer risk. The relationship and mental health issues also become worse. Therefore, always ask for help when needed.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) explains that alcoholism can result in harm to multiple organs and cause various disorders.

1. Liver Damage

• Grade 1, 2, or 3 fatty liver, which is curable, develops first due to liver fat accumulation.
  
• Alcoholic hepatitis: This is inflammation of the liver.
  
• Cirrhosis: it’s permanent damage and loss of liver function.
  

2. Heart Problems

• It’s a vital organ, and alcoholism causes many structural changes, so high blood pressure (hypertension) is the first one of them.
  
• The rhythm of the heart is disturbed (slow or rapid) due to irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). The heart may not be able to pump enough blood for the body.
  
• Cardiomyopathy: This condition involves a defect in the heart muscle, which can lead to stretching and drooping of the muscle. Because of this, the heart has a harder time pumping blood well. Without treatment, it’s life-threatening.
  
• Increased risk of stroke and heart attack: The blood clots form, and they can travel to the brain or heart, which causes a stroke or heart attack.
  

3. The Brain and Nervous System

• Alcohol-related dementia causes memory loss and confusion. As a result, motor or sensory receptors are affected. In addition, it causes problem-solving difficulties or miscommunications in conversations.
  
• Poor coordination and balance are common symptoms of alcohol-related brain damage. Long-term cognitive impairment can result from severe brain degeneration.
  
• Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage. It can cause weakness, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet. Eventually, it might be tough to walk or do normal things.
  
• Mental health suffers, and there are increased risks of psychological health issues like depression and anxiety.
  

4. The Digestive System

• Gastritis happens due to the inflammation of the stomach lining. The nausea, vomiting, and indigestion can become chronic if left untreated.
  
• Inflammation of the pancreas, known medically as pancreatitis, causes intense stomach pain. It can cause fatal complications if untreated.
  
• Higher chance to get ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding
  

5. The immune system

• It weakens the immune system.
  
• You become vulnerable, and infection rates rise as a result.
  

6. Cancer

There are many more organs that deteriorate due to drinking in excess, and it increases the risk of several cancers.

• It includes mouth, throat, and esophagus cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
  

7. Reproductive Health

Reproductive health is greatly affected by habitual binge drinking, which can harm reproduction.

• Men may experience symptoms such as reduced fertility, impotence, and enlarged testicles.
  
• For women, irregular periods and a higher chance of miscarriage are typical consequences.
  

8. Social and Behavioral Issues

Alcohol abuse can also lead to social and behavioral issues.

• Your chances of getting hurt or having relationship issues increase.
  
• Get in trouble with the law (like getting a DUI), or have trouble at work or with money.
  

Ultimately, a person’s health and happiness can be greatly affected.

9. Addiction and Withdrawal.

Physical and psychological dependence can develop with prolonged drinks addiction.

• Tremors, anxiety, nausea, and seizures are some of the unpleasant side effects that may occur. Professional assistance is needed for safe addiction withdrawal.
  

Alcoholism affects multiple organs.

Take the Alcohol Audit-C Score Test Today!

Learning about your drinking habits is the first step toward making healthier choices. Use our Audit-C Score Calculator to assess your risk and take control of your health today!

FAQs About the AUDIT-C Score Calculator

What is a good AUDIT-C score?

A good score between 0-3 indicates the risk is low and the amount of alcohol consumed is safe. However, remember that a value above 4 is the detection of possible risks related to alcoholic addiction.

What does binge drinking mean?

Binge drinking means consuming an excessive amount (more than 4 or 5 drinks) at once. Basically, when someone drinks heavily, their blood alcohol content (BAC) rises to 0.08% or higher.

However, there is a limit; men can drink at least five alcoholic drinks in a short time. Women can only consume four drinks. In addition, binge drinkers are more likely to acquire Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

What are the dangers of too much alcohol?

Excessive alcohol consumption significantly increases health risks. It includes fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and cancers. It can also damage the brain and organs, harm fetal development, and trigger car accidents, injuries, homicides, and suicides.