Alcohol and Older Adults: What You Should Know About Drinking As You Age

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Alcohol’s effect on respiratory health, mental health and more

This is due to a combination of factors, including poor sleep quality, dehydration, and liver stress, all of which are common in those who abuse alcohol. The skin under the eyes is particularly thin, making it more susceptible to the effects of alcohol, leading to a more tired and aged look. As you age, the body’s mechanisms that protect you from free radicals diminish.

It can also aggravate other skin conditions.

The shorter telomeres were equivalent to 3-6 years of biological ageing. When a person drinks large amounts of alcohol, it is easy to make poor decisions. He or she may stuff themselves with food or simply pass out in bed at the end of the night. In the moment, it becomes easy to forget to practice a normal hygiene routine. For instance, a person may forget to wash their face or brush their teeth. Habitual actions like these will lead to cavities, acne, and similar issues.

Neglecting sleep

Instead of lulling you into a restful night, alcohol can actually keep you from getting to sleep and lead to restless slumber. That can be particularly hard on seniors, who are already more likely to wake up often or have a sleep disorder like insomnia. People who drink may notice that they’re “feeling no pain” sooner as they get older. That’s mainly because our bodies gain fat and lose muscle in our senior years and it takes longer for us to break down alcohol and get it out of our system. Ultimately, Alcohol Use Disorder alcohol and aging go hand in hand, but making smart choices can help you slow down the process.

It also helps reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality, both of which positively impact your skin, she said. On top of collagen, the dermis (inner layer of your skin) also thins as we age. “That’s one of the reasons why we see a lot of wrinkling,” Castilla said. The blood flow from exercise also improves circulation, which helps build collagen and elastin, Cohn said. Spikes in blood sugar — caused by eating sugary foods or processed carbohydrates like white bread — make it harder for your body to produce more collagen, Castilla said. Good sleep also balances hormone levels, such as lowering cortisol, the stress hormone that also contributes to faster aging, Cohn said.

Socializing without a beer in your own hand will help to break the mental link between having fun and consuming alcohol. Miami real estate agent Alina Freyre said she and her husband, Andy Freyre, stopped drinking two years ago. Not only did they lose weight — 50 pounds for her and 80 pounds for him — but she said it was the “best thing that has ever happened” to them.

• Most alcohol is also high in sugar and just as the food you eat can affect your mood, memory and behaviour, so can alcohol.
• Protein, zinc, and vitamin C are all essential for boosting collagen production, which declines as we age.
• As you get older, you have less muscle mass and your liver isn’t as strong.
• With assistance and support, it is possible to return to a sober life and to enjoy a more youthful appearance.

Oxycodone: Subtle and Overt Signs of Aging

In one small 2017 study, when participants were given 20 mg of oxycodone, the amount of air entering their lungs decreased by 28%. When participants also were given an infusion of alcohol, this decreased by another 19%. As you age and your metabolism decreases, eating like you used to as a teenager or young adult can lead to weight gain. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective.

If you’re blessed with genetics that resists wrinkles and other visible signs of aging, you might not notice the way that alcohol affects your appearance. Many people don’t realize that alcohol can alter your sleep patterns. Although drinking too much can make you fall asleep more easily, it also reduces the amount of time that you spend in the rapid eye movement, or REM, stage. If you’re missing out on it, you could exacerbate health issues or just feel extra drowsy and mentally foggy throughout the day. Broken capillaries, the tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin, tend to crop up as you get older. If you drink too much, the blood vessels can burst, causing red spots and spidery splotches.

Alcohol Consumption Changes the Aging Clock

Of course, this amount may vary depending on your own health and body type. This can be dangerous for people who already have slower reaction times and poor balance without alcohol. As a diuretic, alcohol causes the increased excretion of zinc through more frequent urination. Extreme alcohol consumption habits also further deplete its levels as zinc is a major contributor to the metabolism of alcohol.

Alcohol and Aging Effects: Does Alcohol Make You Look Older and Cause Wrinkles?

Make the habit enjoyable or pair it with something you already like. Finally, track your progress and celebrate small wins — visible progress (e.g. looking and feeling better) particularly reinforces motivation and helps the habit stick. An imbalanced gut microbiome (dysbiosis) is linked to acne, eczema, and rosacea. Diets rich in fiber and antioxidants help maintain a balanced microbiome, supporting clearer skin. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and fermented vegetables may also improve skin by supporting gut health. Between nutrient deficiencies, compromised hormones, and cell regeneration issues, alcohol gradually decreases bone mineral density does alcohol make you look older and overall mass.