Alcohol And Older Women
You might not think that older women would be likely candidates for alcoholism. But it absolutely happens. And this will continue to be a problem over the years because younger women now are drinking in higher numbers than in years before. That means that more aging women will have had potentially heavy drinking experience in their personal history. Alcoholism could rear its ugly head at an older age for more women in the future.
Alcoholism Is Unexpected And Not Caught Easily With Older Women
A major problem with older women and alcohol is that it’s unexpected and not well observed. Alcohol related problems can be more easily misinterpreted with an older women. Symptoms may appear to be age-related problems when they are actually due to excessive drinking. Depression, problems with eating, falling, and heart failure.
Aging makes it more difficult for the body to process alcohol. The body’s water content is typically a bit lower, making it easier for an older woman to feel the effects of intoxication for both men and women. The body’s water content is typically a bit lower, making it easier for an older woman to feel the effects of intoxication. But also keep in mind that women generally get hit more quickly with the immediate effects of alcohol than men regardless of age.
Women have a tendancy to develop drinking problems later in life. Why? Well, one clear fact is that women generally outlive men. They are much more likely to be a widow than to die before their husband.
Widowhood can be a lonely stressful time, leading some women to consume more alcohol to deal with their overwhelming emotions.
Women Have Worse Consequences From Alcoholism
Perhaps the biggest problem with women who have alcohol addiction is having worst consequences. They end up with more and bigger health issues as a result of their drinking than men do. The alcohol hits them harder when they actually drink it, and the damage is deeper over the long haul. The death rate is higher as well as the risk for heart disease and breast cancer.
If you are a woman and you believe you have a problem with alcohol, don’t let your age dictate whether you seek alcohol treatment. Going to an alcohol rehab center or getting outpatient alcohol treatment can be effective for women of any age. It’s your readiness to change your life that matters, not how many years you’ve been on the planet. And the less time you have spent dealing with your alcohol addiction, the better your chance of recovery. Catching alcoholism in the early stages makes sobriety easier to maintain and manage.
Don’t think that you can’t be successful in alcohol treatment if you are older. Take that first step into the light and walk towards a healthier sober life.