Effects of Alcohol for Older Adults

Older people are more likely to fall, get into a car accident, and have other kinds of accidents when drinking alcohol. Seattle home care knows that some older adults may not realize the effects that can occur when combining alcohol with any of the medications that they may be taking. People need to be very careful when they are mixing prescription drugs with alcohol. Seattle Elderly Care states that not only are the medicines older adults take dangerous when combined with alcohol, too much alcohol can make the conditions they were intended to treat worse. Ulcers, diabetes, osteoporosis and high blood pressure can be worsened by alcohol, so those who have certain conditions should ask their doctor what could happen if they drink. As people age they begin to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly, so they might not need to drink as much as they would have needed to earlier in life. However, those who have been drinking throughout their lives are at a higher risk of cancer, liver damage, brain damage and certain immune disorders. Seattle Home Health Care understands that people at any age can develop a problem with drinking. By the time people are in their older years, they may be dealing with the negative effects of drinking their entire lives. It can more deeply affect the body in older adults, so considering getting help with a drinking problem can be beneficial at any age. The National Institute of Health recommends that people over the age of 65 should not drink more than seven times per week and avoid having more than three drinks in one day.