Try: Alcohol is the drug of choice for most older care recipients cr unfortunately it is also the most damaging drug to the human body in terms of physical health cognitive functioning and ability to live independently alcohol is the drug most responsible for diminishing the cr’s abilities alcohol impacts every organ in the body since the aging body is unable to metabolize alcohol as quickly as it once did alcohol stays in the system longer causing more damage to the organs the following is list of the ways alcoholism and heavy alcohol consumption impacts the cr’s body heart predisposes cr’s to heart conditions especially heart failure coronary artery disease defects in the heart heart’s conduction system and arrhythmia alcohol can cause high blood pressure brain alcohol has a far greater effect on cognition than does aging it impairs judgment reasoning learning coordination memory and speech prolonged heavy drinking can cause brain damage in the cr pancreas alcohol causes pancreatitis it can also be a source of secondary diabetes bones and blood alcohol contributes to osteoporosis lowers one’s ability to fight off disease causes anemia and increases the likelihood of bruising digestive tract alcohol affects the health of the esophagus stomach and intestines in the cr it can cause gastritis bleeding ulcers and colitis alcohol reduces the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals which can lead to a wide range of symptoms and health problems kidneys alcohol can cause edema and body fluid retention it can cause nephritis which can lead to permanent kidney damage bladder it can cause frequency of urination and incontinence it decreases resistance to infections liver alcohol is responsible for many serious liver conditions including jaundice hepatitis low and high blood sugar levels cancer alcohol increases the risk for several types of cancer including leukemia lymphoma breast cancer and cancer of the lung urinary track esophagus larynx and brain information references www agingandaddiction net

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Categories: Cognitive Intellectual, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

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Keywords: Addiction substance abuse

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed