Facts on Alcohol and Your Health
What is moderate drinking for older adults?
Women - no more than 1 drink a day
Men - no more than 2 drinks a day
What are the warning signs of a drinking problem?
- Drinking to calm nerves
- Losing interest in food
- Lying about or tying to hide drinking habits
- Drinking alone more often
- Getting drunk more than 3 or 4 times a year
- Needing more alcohol to get "high"
- Feeling irritable when not drinking
- Having medical, social, or financial problems as a result of drinking
Some studies suggest that moderate drinking lowers the risk for heart attacks. However, drinking is also linked to increase the risk for high blood pressure and hemorrhagic stroke.
Drinking alcoholic beverages has no net health benefit, is linked with many health problems, is the cause of many accidents, and can lead to addiction.
Heavy drinkers are often malnourished because of low food intake and poor absorption of nutrients by the body. When people age, their metabolism slows down causing alcohol and drugs to remain in the body longer.
People who are socially isolated or depressed are particularly vulnerable to alcoholism. It is a treatable disease.
For more information contact a Senior Outreach Specialist:
Roberta Williams, MS, CRC
Franklin-Williamson Human Services
(618) 937-6483 ext.7504
Linda Warner, EdM, QMHP
Heartland Human Services
(217) 347-7179
Juanita Suro, MA NCC MAC LCPC
Southeastern Illinois Counseling Centers
(618) 445-3559