Can you have one more?
Anything more than moderate drinking negates the potential benefits.
The Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program recently analyzed the drinking habits of more than 70,000 women. Those who had one to two drinks a day increased their risk of developing breast cancer by 10%. Women who had more than 3 drinks a day raised their risk by 30%.
Heavy drinking has been linked to an increase in blood pressure, heart muscle damage, and several cancers. It can also interact with medications and affect certain health conditions.
Don’t mix with medications
For people who take one or more medications that interact with alcohol, moderate drinking offers little or no benefit. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, you should not drink any alcohol if you are taking sleeping pills, drugs for anxiety or depression, or prescription pain medication.
“If you combine these drugs with alcohol, the effect is more intense than if you take one of them alone. It compounds the impact of the drug and the effect of alcohol if they are taken at the same time,” says Jack E. Fincham, Ph.D., R.Ph., professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and author of The Everyday Guide to Managing Your Medicines. “Depressant drugs for the central nervous system slow the thinking process down, and alcohol does the same thing.”
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain pills can interact too. “A combination of alcohol with aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen can upset the stomach and increase the potential for stomach bleeding. If you consume three or more alcoholic beverages per day, you should not take these OTC pain relievers or prescriptions that contain these drugs,” Fincham says.
“It is critically important to tell your doctor how much alcohol you consume so your doctor can dose accordingly and share any warnings about mixing prescriptions with alcohol,” says Nan Andrews Amish, M.B.A., management consultant for Big Picture Healthcare. Otherwise, “You might wonder why the drug is not working as expected, or why new symptoms show up.”
Beware of mixing with health conditions
“Many people have health conditions that make drinking alcohol a bad choice for them,” says Norman. “For example, it’s not wise for people with balance problems to drink any alcohol because it affects the balance centers of the brain.
Alcohol also slows your reaction time in the event of a fall.” The Mayo Clinic advises you not to drink if you have a history of hemorrhagic stroke; liver disease; pancreatic disease; or precancerous changes in the esophagus. The National Institute on Aging warns people that alcohol can worsen high blood pressure, ulcers, and diabetes.
“People with severe diabetes can intensify their condition if they drink alcohol,” says Fincham. “Alcohol can interact with the drugs used for diabetes, and they won’t work as well.”
Make the right decision
Health experts agree—if you do not drink alcohol now, don’t start. You can get the same cardiovascular benefits from exercise or healthy eating.
If you do drink alcohol and you are healthy, you don’t have to stop as long as you drink in moderation. Remember, “Consult with your physician about consuming alcohol, considering your individual health,” says Scalettar.
Do you have a drinking problem?
In the U.S., it is estimated that 2.5 million older adults have problems related to alcohol. “Many people experience late onset alcoholism due to loneliness, depression, isolation, and lack of activity,” says Jack E. Fincham, Ph.D., R.Ph.
To determine if you have a drinking problem, consider the following questions:
• Have you ever felt a need to cut down?
• Has anyone ever been annoyed because of your drinking?
• Have you felt guilty about drinking?
• Have you ever reached for a drink in the morning?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, talk with your doctor about your health and alcohol intake.