As we age, our bodies' ability to handle certain foods, exercise routines, and environments does as well. This is no surprise to anyone who’s developed allergies or a sudden sensitivity to hot climates. However, did you know that our bodies’ ability to handle alcohol also changes with aging? Here, we’ll discuss reasons for this, along with how to have a healthier approach to drinking.
Alcohol dependence can sneak up on anyone, but older adults are especially vulnerable. An article by the National Institute of Aging says that friends, family, or even healthcare workers might overlook concerns about older people drinking, mistaking it for other conditions or balance issues.
How Drinking Can Damage the Body
Drinking once a day does not mean you have an alcohol use disorder, but it’s important to be mindful of how much you consume and if that is increasing with time. With aging, many bodily functions slowdown, including the ability to break down alcohol. This means alcohol remains in an older person’s system for longer.
In the previous article, the National Institute of Aging reveals the effects of drinking over the long run. The first listed are cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage. Drinking over time might create health conditions or worsen existing ones. Some conditions mentioned are diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, and/or memory loss. The article also mentioned that alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels, possibly making it difficult for doctors to diagnose medical conditions.
Drinking and Medication
It can be easy to ignore doctors’ recommendations to restrict alcohol use when taking medication, but the dangers of mixing alcohol with medication are severe. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism writes that some effects of this include nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination.
The article also mentions that mixing alcohol with medication can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. This includes some over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and acetaminophen.
Drinking and Safety
We should all know by now that drinking affects our physical health and can put us in dangerous situations. Drinking causes our judgment to be off, along with our coordination. This is especially harmful for older adults, as medical conditions might already be the cause of balance issues.
Alcohol is the cause of many fatal accidents, such as car crashes, drowning, or burn injuries. You should never drink and drive, no matter the amount, as it slows reaction times. Older adults are also at greater risk for severe injuries in the case of a car accident and take longer to heal.
Cutting Back on Drinking
We’re heading into an era where more knowledge about the dangers of drinking is available, and there exists a multitude of companies and organizations seeking to end alcohol abuse. There are many nonalcoholic beers, seltzers, and cocktails, widening the opportunity to be alcohol-free.
Here are strategies for cutting back on drinking:
- Plan ahead: decide how many drinks you’ll have that week
- Keep track of the number of drinks you’ve had each day
- Remove alcohol from home
- Ask a friend or family member to keep you accountable
Reducing alcohol is difficult, as it’s made to be addictive. However, it’s important to increase knowledge about its impact on your body, as well as strategies to reduce consumption. By doing so, you’ll be able to restrict its tenacious hold.
