Alcohol and Older Adults – What You Don’t Know
- You can become more sensitive to alcohol as you get older. The same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect on an older person than on someone who is younger.
- Heavy drinking can make some health problems worse. Common health problems that can be made worse by alcohol include stroke, high blood pressure, memory loss, and mood disorders.
- Some medicines and alcohol don’t mix. Many prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal remedies can be dangerous or even deadly when mixed with alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Read the warning labels on all of your medicines.
Get your FREE copy of Older Adults and Alcohol, a booklet from the National Institute on Aging at NIH. Order online or call the information center at 1-800-222-2225. Bulk copies are available! Share this booklet with your friends and family – there is a special section on how friends and family can help. Use it to start talking about how drinking may be affecting your life. Get the facts about older adults and #alcohol from the National Institute on Aging.