Supplied
Alcohol 620x360
In high school, you’re told how alcohol can severely damage your still-developing brain. During college, everyone warns you about the dangers of binge drinking. But as you age the threat of other issues – Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer – begin to take center stage, and the effects of alcohol no longer seem relevant. However, alcohol remains a major health factor for those who partake.
As we age, our metabolism changes, altering the body’s response to everything, from food to exercise. People often become more sensitive to alcohol as they get older because they metabolize alcohol more slowly and it stays in their bodies longer. “This, combined with the fact that the amount of water in the body goes down with age, results in older adults having a higher percentage of alcohol in their blood than younger adults after drinking the same amount of alcohol,” reported Randall J. Ryder on ElderParentHelp.com.
This means that the same amount of alcohol will have a stronger effect on an older person when compared to their younger counterpart. Furthermore, those over 40 are less likely to acknowledge their impairment than the younger set, according to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Similarly, heavy alcohol consumption after age 50 greatly increases the risk of developing cirrhosis, heart disease, alcoholism, pancreatitis, depression, diabetes and/or high blood pressure. It can also make pre-existing conditions, such as those listed above, worse, even if they weren’t initially caused by alcohol.
It is important to monitor your alcohol intake, and honestly evaluate how strongly each drink affects you. However, recognizing and acknowledging the consequences of alcohol as you age doesn’t mean to lock up the booze for good. In fact, moderate drinking does offer some health benefits, including reduced risk of stroke and lowered risk of developing gallstones, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The bottom line is that alcohol affects you differently as you get older. Take note of the consequences and always drink responsibly.