By Mary Desaulniers - Special to the Southside Reporter

It is New Year’s Eve.

You have one drink, then another, then a third.

You used to be able to chug down 6 drinks without consequences.

But lately, you’ve noticed that things are a bit different. Before dinner is over, you are wobbly; your speech slurs. Before the night is over, you are spread out on the floor.

You’ve only had three drinks. What happened?

Research shows alcohol has a much stronger effect in the senior population than in younger people.

As you age, you absorb alcohol more readily.

So what used to be standard twenty-something fare is way too much for you now.

There are reasons for this change.

1. Your body’s ratio of water to fat decreases as you age; so there’s less water to dilute the alcohol.

2. Your aging body does not metabolize alcohol as easily as it did in your youth; your body produces less liver enzymes that help break down alcohol.

3. If you are on prescription or over-the-counter medication, alcohol can compound the risk of collapse and falls.

In fact, alcohol can produce an impaired effect with about half of x  the 100 drugs used frequently by seniors.

4. The aging body has more body fat which does not absorb alcohol.

Changes in body chemistry that accompany the aging process can certainly be seen as one factor to explain the prevalence of alcoholism in seniors.

The AMA estimates that about 3 million Americans over the age of 60 have a drinking problem.

At least 10 percent of patients who go to an emergency room with alcohol related problems are over 60 years of age.

As much as 20 percent of elderly patients( 55 and older) in emergency rooms exhibit symptoms of alcoholism. And in many nursing homes, the problem of drinking is even more acute, as high as 49 percent in some studies.

Yet studies have also shown that moderate drinking confers benefits to the aging population.

Alcohol consumed in moderate amounts can raise HDL levels of the so –called “good” cholesterol; it can also prevent blood clots, heart attacks and ischemic strokes.

Despite these benefits, the dangers of alcohol are considerable. The incidents of driving problems are high in the elderly population.

What can seniors do to understand their own threshold of alcohol consumption?

Here are a few guidelines:

1. If you don’t drink, don’t start. The risks far outweigh the benefits.

2. If you do drink, limit yourself to one drink a day (4 to 5 drinks over the course of a week).

3. Do not engage in binge drinking which can bring about irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, increased risk for heart disease and strokes.

4. If you are on medication, do not drink at all.

Mary Desaulniers has been a runner for 27 years. She is also a retired schoolteacher and writer, and is now helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. Contacting her at www.GreatBodyafter50secrets.com, or visit her Web site at www.GreatBodyat50.com.
 
 San Antonio Express-News