Dr Sarah Jarvis
While more young people are going alcohol-free, older women are taking up the slack, putting their health at risk.
What does “drinking too much” mean? Alcohol is measured in units – a pint of “standard” (3.5%) beer has about 2 units; a single pub measure of spirits 1 unit; a “standard” 175ml glass of wine 2.3 units, and a large glass of wine has 3. The Chief Medical Officer recommends a maximum of 14 units a week, spread over several days and with at least two alcohol-free days a week.
When you drink also affects your risk. Who hasn’t tutted at drunken people staggering round the streets making an exhibition of themselves? This is the very public consequence of “binge drinking”, defined as more than 6 units in a day for women, or 8 for men.
We tend to associate this sort of drinking with young people. It’s linked with a higher risk of accidents and alcohol poisoning than spreading alcohol through the week. But there are lots of different drinking patterns, and smaller quantities more often can cause even greater harm in the long term.
In years gone by, problem drinking was largely a male reserve. Drinking tended to be limited to pubs, and drinking at home was the exception. But our habits have changed, and alcohol is much cheaper. Also, more of us eat out regularly, and women-friendly wine bars have sprung up on every corner. It’s perfectly normal to see a group of women on a “girls’ night out” enjoying a bottle of wine or two between them.
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Older women in particular are more likely to drink “little and often”, but the more often you drink, the more of a habit it becomes – just two standard glasses of wine a day puts you twice over the recommended limits. You may not realise the damage you’re doing because you don’t drink enough to feel really “drunk”.
There are also reasons it’s more important not to drink to excess when you’re older than in your youth. As you age, the ratio of fat to muscle increases. That means less water in the body for the alcohol to be diluted in, so higher levels in the bloodstream when you drink the same amount. Your liver isn’t as effective at breaking alcohol down, so it leaves your system more slowly.
Your brain responds differently to alcohol, so you’re likely to be affected by a smaller amounts. You’re more likely to be taking medicines that interact with alcohol. And your balance isn’t what it was, so you’ll be more prone to falls. Then there are the long term risks of alcohol…
It increases your risk of heart attack and stroke – and no matter how well you look after yourself those risks rise anyway as you get older. And unfortunately, too much alcohol also increases your risk of dementia, depression and several types of cancer, as well as liver damage. The good news is that if you cut down you feel the benefits within days. You’ll have more energy and better concentration, feel less irritable and your skin will feel fresher. Within weeks, your risk of depression drops, you could shed weight and your blood pressure may improve.
In the long term, lowering alcohol intake will reduce your risk of some cancers, including breast cancer, as well as heart attack and stroke. If you’re concerned about your drinking, your GP will advise in strict confidence. Next week: Watch Out – It’s Summer
IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH YOUR WEIGHT, YOU’LL BE AMAZED HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS TO LOSE IF YOU CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL!