Alcohol Treatment Elderly
Alcohol Treatment Elderly
Scientific research shows that prolonged Alcohol Abuse causes a wide variety of health problems later in life. Initially, the most basic concern is that older drinkers show deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients. That is because chronic alcohol abuse results in abnormalities in how the body processes nutrients. In fact, reduced levels of essential vitamins and minerals are common in heavy drinkers, along with abnormal zinc metabolism.
Further, alcohol abuse can decrease vitamin B12 absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and block thiamineor vitamin B1 absorption — causing neurological and mental symptoms. These include memory loss, mental confusion, nervousness, poor concentration, headache, damage to the central nervous system, and numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. Alcohol even impairs the abilities of kidneys to conserve magnesium.
Over time, continuous drinking causes sleep disturbances with frequent awakenings, which is associated with daytime fatigue. It can result in gastritis (a burning sensation in the stomach), as well as pancreatitis (the inflammation of the pancreas), along with diarrhea. Prolonged drinking even promotes osteoporosis (a loss of bone density), which is a growing problem in the US.
Advanced brain imaging has shown that alcohol negatively impacts the brain, affecting memory, emotions, abstract thinking, and concentration. Alcohol also depresses the immune system and the body’s ability to destroy cancer cells. For men, alcohol is directly toxic to the testes, as it produces reduced testosterone levels. In some cases, this contributes to breast enlargement in men. Although small amounts of alcohol may help protect the heart by cutting the risk of blood clots, continuous drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. Finally, excessive drinking leads to liver disease, fatty liver, hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis.
The process of aging seems to reduce the body’s ability to adapt to, and process, alcohol. In fact, older adults reach higher blood levels of alcohol, even when drinking the same amount as younger people. This is because, with aging, the amount of water in the body is reduced and alcohol becomes more concentrated in the bloodstream.
As people age, they readily turn to prescription drugs and over-the-counter products to remedy health conditions and allay aches and pains. Currently, more than 2,800 prescription drugs are available in the US, and physicians write 14 billion prescriptions annually. In addition, approximately 2,000 medications are available without a prescription. All the while, more than 70 percent of the adult population drinks alcohol. Yet, mixing alcohol with certain medications is a very serious concern. The resulting chemical reactions can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, and loss of coordination. Moreover, it can put one at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and breathing difficulties. Mixing alcohol with certain drugs such as sleeping pills, painkillers, and antihistamines, can be very dangerous, and even fatal. At the very least, alcohol decreases the effectiveness of some medications or it can render them totally ineffective.
These revelations are especially troublesome for professionals in the healthcare profession. Surveys indicate that 20 percent of elderly patients in psychiatric wards, and 14 percent of seniors in emergency rooms, have drinking problems. Yet, hospital staff members are significantly less likely to recognize Alcohol Dependence in older patients and often misdiagnose alcohol-related symptoms as age-related diseases. This can have grave consequences when it comes to medical treatment. For the heaviest of drinkers, long-term alcohol consumption can lead to a serious brain disease called Korsakoff Syndrome, which causes periods of confusion and impaired memory that can be misdiagnosed as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Given the widespread health problems continual drinking can bring about in seniors, it is vital to carefully monitor and moderate alcohol consumption. When you consider the rapid rise in prescription medicine, over-the-counter products, and prolonged hospital stays among people over 65, family members must take a closer look at drinking behavior. Doing so may prevent additional complications and needless fatalities.
The author, Kamran Loghman, is the Executive Director of the National Institute For Alcohol Recovery (NIFAR®). He is an addiction researcher and expert on alcoholism, specializing in alcohol abuse, recovery, and prevention. NIFAR is dedicated to helping alcoholics quit drinking and providing support for loved ones impacted by alcoholism through its campaign STOP DRINKING 411. To learn more about drinking problems, alcohol abuse, or how to stop drinking as well as the latest recovery options, please go to NIFAR at http://nifar.com.
Why you shouldn’t give alcohol to the elderly…
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