Alcohol use in elderly
Alcohol is part of our culture- it helps us celebrate and socialize and it enhances our religious ceremonies. In one word is social drug and in other word is depressant drug. Depressant drug because it slows down the messages travelling between the brain and the body.
How does alcohol affect older adults? * When adults age 65 and older drink the same amount of alcohol as younger people, their blood alcohol levels are typically 30 to 40 per cent higher. The higher blood alcohol concentration results from an age-related decrease in the amount of body water in which to dilute the alcohol. Therefore, although they can metabolize and eliminate alcohol as efficiently as younger persons, the elderly are at increased risk for intoxication and adverse effects. * One reason for this is that older bodies tend to have less alcohol dehydrogenase available. This is the enzyme in the stomach that starts to break down alcohol before it reaches the bloodstream. * Women in general have less body water than men. * A higher blood alcohol level is associated with a higher risk of intoxication, cognitive difficulties and problems with balance and co-ordination. * Older adults’ sensitivity to alcohol may also be heightened by medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or dementia or by medications. Signs of alcohol problems in older adults * Focusing on how much alcohol an older person is consuming is not overly helpful in determining if a problem exists. What’s most important is how alcohol use affects the person’s life. * The stigma experienced by people with alcohol problems is particularly severe in older adults, which may make some older patients reluctant to disclose how much alcohol they use and how it affects their lives. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the many red flags that indicate alcohol may be a