Alcohol abuse among the elderly :: essays research papers

Alcohol Abuse Among the Elderly PopulationAlcohol abuse among the cured is a widespread problem through the United States. It is hard to call by mendeleviums and medical providers, because many of these people collapse been abusing alcohol on the Q.T. for years. The population is extremely unlikely to admit that they have problems with alcohol, especially during a routine health c atomic number 18 visit. As many as 15% of the population over 65 may be heavy drinkers, although this second is hard to pin down. Elderly people usually drink collectible to depression, loneliness and lack of social support. Most alcohol abuse comes from a lifetime history whereas others develop alcoholic drinking patterns later in life. Alcoholism accounts for more than 15% of health care costs in the elderly. It is associated with an estimated 100,000 deaths per year in the United States. Alcohol consumption can go both benefits and risks. In terms of benefits, men who drink two to sextette alco holic beverages per week have fall mortality rates and set down cardiovascular disease when compared with abstainers. On the negative side, two studies of 300,000 men exhibit increased mortality among those consuming more than 2 to 3 drinks daily. Women, are more affected by less alcohol than men, perhaps because they have a lower blood volume, and so its distribution and decreased activity for gastric alcohol dehydrogenase are increased. The primary care physician plays an important role in making the diagnosis and in dowery the older alcoholic receive proper medical and psychological care.As patients grow older, and develop conditions that require prescription and over the counter medications, opportunities for wild alcohol/drug interactions increase.