As people age, they can become more sensitive to alcohol’s effects. Older adults metabolize alcohol more slowly than younger adults, and the amount of water retained in the body decreases with age. As a result, water stays in the body longer and can cause older adults to have higher levels of alcohol in their blood. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a great time to understand the effects of alcohol and aging.
Older adults are sensitive to alcohol’s effects.
Aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol. This means older adults can experience the effects of alcohol, such as slurred speech and lack of coordination, more readily than when they were younger. An older individual can develop problems with alcohol even though his or her drinking habits have not changed. This can increase the likelihood of serious accidents like falls, fractures and car crashes.
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Alcohol and medicine
Mixing alcohol with medication can be dangerous and even deadly. Many older adults take medications each day, making this a special concern. Many medicines interact with alcohol and can cause sleepiness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, headaches and other more serious health problems. Speak with your doctor to see if you can safely drink alcohol while taking prescription and over-the-counter medications.
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Some problems that can result when taking medicines and drinking alcohol:
· Aspirin or arthritis medications can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach.
· Painkillers can increase the chance of liver damage.
· Cold and allergy medicines (antihistamines) can impair coordination and cause fatigue.
· Medications that aid sleep, reduce pain, or relieve anxiety and depression can cause breathing issues, rapid heartbeat and memory problems.
· Medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers, gout, and heart failure can worsen those conditions when mixed with alcohol.
Remember, there can still be problems if you drink alcohol hours after taking medicine. Medications can stay in the body for several hours. Speak with your health care provider to see what options are best for you.
How much alcohol is too much?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends that people over the age of 65 should have no more than seven drinks per week and no more than three drinks in one day. You might want to seek help if you or a loved one hide or lie about drinking, have more than the recommended amount of drinks, or get hurt or hurt others when consuming alcohol. Speak with your doctor to determine the amount of alcohol you can safely consume.
No one wants to get hurt or hurt others as the result of consuming too much alcohol. To continue to live a happy, healthy life, be aware of how your body changes with age and adjust the amount of alcohol you can safely drink. If you need to stop drinking alcohol due to health problems or medicines you take, there is help. Start by talking to your doctor.
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