Alcohol and the Aging Process

Vidya contributes to a variety of publications, having written for Square, Rally Health, EatingWell, TODAY and more. She was previously the global editorial lead for Uber Eats, where she created a powerful video series about immigrant chefs on the platform. Prior to that, she was the senior editor for the TODAY Show.

Why Can’t I Drink As Much Alcohol Anymore?

Don’t start drinking now, thinking it will make you healthier. If you already drink, it’s probably okay to continue enjoying the habit in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control defines “moderation” as one drink or less each day for women and two drinks or less each day for men. Drinking while taking medications across a host of drug classes also can cause serious side effects in older adults, especially drugs with sedative effects. An array of over-the-counter medications can interact poorly with alcohol. These include aspirin, sleeping pills, heart drugs, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), allergy medication, pain medication, and anxiety or depression medicine.

• Which is why the “mindful drinking” movement appeals to me.
• And, as it turns out, it’s a habit that many continue long past retirement.
• That’s where alcohol comes in — it dehydrates you and dries out your skin.
• Some of these medications can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
• There are many ways alcohol can put an extra strain on your body.

Alcohol And Its Effects On Aging

Diazepam is used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. It depresses the central nervous system by altering how neurotransmitters submit signals to the brain. Certain medications and excessive alcohol can work in tandem to suppress does alcohol make you look older or amplify the effects of the other. Alcohol can diminish the effectiveness of medications, and medications can amplify the effect of alcohol on the body. This is especially important as many adults are drinking in high amounts.

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• This can be dangerous for people who already have slower reaction times and poor balance without alcohol.
• Relaxation practices such as mindfulness meditation, visualization, and deep breathing exercises can help to combat stress without turning to alcohol.
• If distance or limitations with mobility mean you’re unable to regularly meet with loved ones, embrace technology.
• Alcohol causes your body to release more stress hormones, which speeds up the aging process.
• Look for local volunteer opportunities that interest you.

Being a vasodilator, alcohol causes your blood vessels to widen thereby increasing the blood flow to your face. This leads to redness and puffiness which, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ over time, can result in damaged capillaries and blotched red spider veins. It’s often easy to tell people who drink by their facial appearance.

Alcohol and Medication: A Potentially Deadly Cocktail

Alcohol abuse in older adults is a quiet but serious problem. It may not be as easy to recognize, but alcoholism in older adults is common. If you believe that you or a loved one has problems with alcohol, you can contact your family doctor and they can perform a substance abuse screening. Your body also processes alcohol more slowly as you age. It gets harder for the liver to remove the alcohol from your system, so it stays in your blood longer. As you age, you may notice that having the same number of drinks you had a decade (or two) ago affects you differently – even if you’ve been a regular drinker for many years.

• This decrease in bone mineral density often leads to osteoporosis, which increases fragility in bones and is a common signifier of early aging.
• And when those changes feel overwhelming, alcohol can seem like a convenient way to cope.
• Having an active social life and maintaining a sense of purpose helps older adults stay healthy and live longer.

Alternatives to Alcohol

• Promises Behavioral Health has the resources to help you through every step of your journey toward sobriety.
• If you’re blessed with genetics that resists wrinkles and other visible signs of aging, you might not notice the way that alcohol affects your appearance.
• If you already drink on occasion, it’s okay – some research suggests it may be good for your health.
• When you have a drink in front of you, take slow, small sips and appreciate the taste.
• The study was conducted in over 2,000 individuals including both healthy participants and persons living with HIV.
• However, identifying and addressing other underlying causes of insomnia can help to improve your sleep quality.

Depression in Older Adults

Alcohol and age: A risky combination