By: Hello Doctor
By: Hello Doctor
Although alcohol consumption can be harmful for people of all ages, older adults are at greater risk.
This is due to the physiological and morphological changes that age brings, which, among other things, affect the metabolism of alcohol and reduce tolerance to beverages that contain it. Here we review its main consequences for health.
An alcoholic beverage is any one that contains ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol.
This can be found naturally or acquired, the important thing is that it is equal to or greater than 1% of the volume of the drink. Alcoholic beverages can be differentiated into:
The recommended consumption of alcoholic beverages is up to 2 daily drinks for men and 1 for women. One drink is roughly equivalent to a glass of beer, a glass of wine, or a measure of distilled beverage.
The difference between the sexes is that men have more water in their bodies, therefore, if they drank the same amount, the concentration of alcohol in blood for women would tend to be higher.
Alcohol is a legal drug, easily accessible, socially accepted and that acts as a depressant of the central nervous system. This means that it can:
In addition, drinking a lot of alcohol for long periods of time can lead to serious problems:
Worsen conditions such as stroke, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, memory loss, mood disorders, or ulcers.
How it affects older adults
The consequences detailed above may be more common or serious in older adults than in young people, because They have a lower tolerance to alcoholic beverages.
The reason? When we drink alcohol, it immediately passes into the blood, where it is transported to the liver, which releases enzymes to metabolize and eliminate it.
If the liver does not function properly, something more common among In older adults than in young people, the purification process will be less and the body will suffer dehydration.
Older adults also tend to have less water in the body, so they tend to have a higher concentration of alcohol in the blood when they drink compared to younger people.
Alcohol is a responsible factor in 30% of suicides, 40% of motor vehicle crashes and burns , 50% of drownings and homicides, and 60% of falls, as reported by the National Institute on Aging ( NIA ).
In older adults, too much alcohol can also cause balance problems and falls, which can cause hip or arm fractures and other injuries, warns the NIA.
This is because older adults have thinner bones than younger ones, so they break more easily. There is evidence that the rate of hip fractures in older adults increases with alcohol consumption.
Although people of all ages who drink and lead have a greater risk of having traffic accidents and related problems, compared to those who do not drink, in older adults this problem is even greater.
Drinking makes reaction times and coordination are slower and interferes with eye movement and information processing (functions that are already limited in older people).
Older drivers also tend to suffer more damage after being in a car accident. traffic, due to the fragility of your bones and joints, and muscle weakness.
Another problem derived from alcohol abuse is the tension in relationships with family, friends or acquaintances.
If you feel that alcohol is controlling your life or that of someone close, do not hesitate to seek professional help immediately. It is never too late and the earlier you start treatments, the more likely you are to reduce the consequences of alcohol abuse.
Sources consulted : US National Library of Medicine. USA, Mayo Clinic, National Institute on Aging.