Alcohol and aging
- Dietitian.Lauren Hmede
- Mar 15, 2019
- 2 min read
A Bad Mix
Alcohol is linked to poor mental and physical health in addition it makes you old faster.
It Can Dehydrate You
Drinking alcohol pull more water out of your body and increase the risk of dehydration. In addition with age you will feel less thirsty which is big problem that increase your risk of dehydration.
It Can Dry Your Skin
Intrinsic age is when the skin get thin and dry and it is normally occurring and we cannot change it. Extrinsic aging is when your skin ages faster than it should and it is due to environmental and bad healthy lifestyle like drinking alcohol.
It Can Make Vital Organs Weaker
Heavy drinking leads to cirrhosis but also moderate drinking lead to fatty liver.
It Can Slow Your Brain
Heavy drinking over a long time can shrink brain cells and lead to alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) and certain types of dementia. Symptoms of that include lack of judgment, organization, or emotional control, trouble staying focused, and anger issues.
It Can Weaken Your Immune System
Alcohol affect your immune system and how your body fights illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia and this can be big issue in elder people.
It Can Affect Your Heart
Red wine contains a powerful antioxidant that improve heart health when it is consumed in moderation but studies have been shown that high intake of alcohol is linked to irregular heart beat and high blood pressure.
It Hits You Faster
People who drinks may feel no pain as they get older and this is due to fat gain and muscle mass loss as alcohol need more years to break down.
It Can Complicate Things
Alcohol increase risk of sickness as you get older and make it difficult with osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, ulcers, memory loss, and certain mood disorders.
It Can Change How Your Meds Work
Alcohol is more likely to stay in your body as you get older so it can interact with your medications.
For example, drinking alcohol when you take aspirin can raise your chances of stomach problems or internal bleeding. Mixing it with certain sleeping pills, pain medications, or anxiety drugs can be life-threatening.
It Can Make you more likely to fall
Heavy drinking may lead to broken bones and affect senses of judgement and movement. Over time, it also can damage the cerebellum, the area in your brain that handles balance and coordination.
It Can Keep You Up at Night
Drinking alcohol is linked with disturbed sleep and it can be a problem with people who have insomnia.
You Can Drink:
Moderation is the key and people who are older than 65 and don’t take medications should take an average 1 drink per day so 7 per week and have no more than three at one sitting. A drink is one 12-ounce can or bottle of beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of an 80-proof or less liquor. Talk with your doctor to find out what’s right for you.
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