The Effects of Alcohol and Aging

The Effects of Alcohol and Aging

            Alcohol has made a tremendous impact throughout the United States, in both good and bad ways.  From its presence for social events to lighten up peoples’ moods and serve as a gateway to relax with others, to the polar opposite and people getting drunk to the point of blacking out and void of remembrance of the night before. Most people will admit that in settings where they are required to make conversation with strangers, it is better to have alcohol beforehand so that it can distract you from the initial pressure and discomfort of having to make conversation with a total stranger. But research has come out stating that depending on what age you decide to start drinking can have an impact on how likely you are to become dependent on it.

            MedicineNet.com posted an article titled Aging and Alcohol And Abuse. In this article, discussed is how at any age, anyone can develop an addiction to alcohol and develop cravings for it.  Specifically talked about in this article is the effect it can have on more elderly people. “The fact is that families, friends, and health care professionals often overlook their concerns about older people's drinking. Sometimes trouble with alcohol in older people is mistaken for other conditions that happen with age. But alcohol use deserves special attention. Because the aging process affects how the body handles alcohol, the same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect as a person grows older” (MedicineNet.com 2006). Most people will not consider these effects, but with alcohol consumption at an older age is the possibility of many unfortunate medical conditions. These can include higher blood pressure, lessen pains that signal heart attacks, can increase the chance of certain cancers in the esophagus, and cirrhosis of the liver.

            These effects can be avoided by limiting how much alcohol is consumed on a daily basis. Statistics show that a person who consumes 3-4 drinks in a day increases their chances of getting all the conditions listed above. So by limiting an individual’s consumption, in theory, can help reduce those chances.

Abstract

Aging and the Effects of Alcohol on MedicineNet.com. (2006, March 20). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=60502&page=2.