Everyone ages at different rates, so as you get older you have to re-evaluate your drinking and how much it affects you. Your body's ability to process alcohol decreases with age. This is because the water contained in your body is decreasing, which means that there is a higher concentration of alcohol in your blood.
However, evidence shows that consuming a small amount of alcohol - one or two drinks a day – might prevent the occurrence of a coronary heart disease in men over the age of 40 and in women after menopause. In contrast, consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause neurological problems and memory loss. It can also affect your balance and if you fall you are more likely to be seriously injured.
A glass a day is of course not a panacea, but if at any age you manage to follow the five instructions for a healthy heart:
- Stay thin
- Do not smoke
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and little saturated fat
- Consume alcohol moderately
- Then you increase life expectancy due to a lower risk of strokes, diabetes, and heart attack.
Research has shown that, in addition to the benefits of a healthy heart, responsible and moderate alcohol consumption in the elderly can reduce the chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer's.
Medication
- Use extreme caution when combining medication with alcohol. Consult your doctor if you are unsure.
- If you are taking medicines you should read the instructions to be sure that it is safe to drink alcohol. This applies to over-the-counter medicines as well as to prescription medicines and herbal remedies.
- Tranquilizers or sedatives are dangerous if combined with alcohol. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for any medicine you have been given or are already taking.