By Dr David Delvin

Do you like a tipple - especially when the holiday season comes around? Well, most of us do. The great majority of British adults enjoy a drink.

But alcohol does carry some special risks for men and women who are in the over-50 age group, and it's as well to be aware of these dangers. It is just possible that you or one of your 'nearest and dearest' could be drifting into health problems due to drink. So please read on.

Why are the over-50s at special risk? The main reason is this. As the human body gets older, it tends to get more and 'used' to alcohol. Therefore, as the years go by, a person who likes a drink tends to need MORE alcohol in order to produce the same effect.

Let's take an example:

At 20: Suzie very rarely drank. If she did take (say) just ONE Babycham, it went straight to her head!
At 30: She would take an occasional social drink with her friends. But now she would need TWO glasses of wine to produce a nice feeling.
At 40: She regularly went out with her pals after work. By now, it took THREE drinks to make her feel 'nice'.
At 50: She found that she liked a drink every evening of the week. But by this period, she noticed no real pleasurable effect till she'd had FOUR.
And at 60: Well, without meaning to, she'd become really dependent on having a daily 'fix' of FIVE drinks.

One can't blame Suzie for this - it's just the way that the human body behaves if you give it regular alcohol. But healthwise, she's already at some risk.

In a minute, we'll look at what those health risk are. However, first of all let's look at the interesting question of WHY we like alcohol.

WHY DO HUMANS LIKE ALCOHOL?

Why do people like booze? Some folk will tell you that it's because drink tastes terribly nice - particularly to a person who's 'into' fine wines or (maybe) Real Ale.

But the actual reason why the grog is so fantastically popular is because it's a DRUG - and a very agreeable one. It's the effect of alcohol on the brain that makes it so pleasant.

What does it do to the brain? Well, you may have heard that it's a 'stimulant'. In fact, that's totally untrue. Booze is actually a DEPRESSANT or SEDATIVE of brain function - very like the general anaesthetics which are given to people when they're having surgery.

So if it's a depressant, why does it make you feel jolly? Simply because it begins by depressing the parts of the brain which is responsible for RESTRAINT and INHIBITION. Once these are 'damped down', you start to feel uninhibited and free-and-easy. You're much more likely to laugh, and joke, and dance - or even do something slightly silly!

But if you have a bit more booze, then the drug starts depressing the bits of your brain which deal with co-ordination and speech.

And if you have quite a bit more, then sadly the alcohol will depress your brain so much that you end up unconscious - or even dead.

Nonetheless, if used in moderation alcohol is jolly good for cheering people up, and for easing the social wheels - particularly over the Christmas / New Year holidays.

WHY CAN ALCOHOL BE BAD FOR YOU?

Unfortunately, alcohol is addictive. And it's perilously easy for a person of retirement years to find that suddenly they can't do without that nice glass of sherry - or even those FIVE glasses of sherry ….

And alas, regular drinking of substantial quantities of booze can very easily damage your liver, your heart, your brain, and other organs. Among the biggest threats is cirrhosis of the liver - which (quite honestly) is a pretty awful illness to suffer from.

Because older people generally have rather smaller bodies than younger ones, they often can't 'process' alcohol very efficiently. And this makes them more liable to get cirrhosis, and other alcohol-induced health problems.

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL CAN YOU HAVE?

A generation ago, it was common for sociable people to knock back (say) six pints of beer a day, or the equivalent - and to assume that this wouldn't hurt them.

But in recent years, it's become apparent that the 'safety limits' for alcohol intake are much lower than this. Academic bodies like the Royal College of Psychiatrists came to the conclusion that the top limit for men should be 21 units a week - while the top limit for women should be 14 units.

(A 'unit' is basically ONE DRINK - like a half-pint of beer or a single Scotch or a small glass of wine).

In the mid-1990s, the U.K. Government set these limits slightly higher: 28 units a week for men and 21 for women. But there is a feeling among some doctors that the limits may possibly have been raised in order to placate the powerful lobby which represents the alcohol producers!

CAN ALCOHOL BE GOOD FOR YOU?

A lot of people have heard about the fact that the French have less hear disease than the British. This finding has led to the belief that 'drinking is good for you'! I've met quite a few gentlemen and ladies who - on the basis of that theory - are knocking back a great deal of booze … However, the truth is that the jury is still very much out on the 'grog is good for us' belief.

But I must admit that there certainly is some evidence that about TWO glasses of red wine per day may be good for the heart and circulation. Cheers!

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEAR YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH

Tot up the number of drinks/units of alcohol which you've had in the last week. If it's more than 28 (for a man) or more than 21 (for a woman) then it's time to cut down.

However, if you CAN'T cut down - or if there's any other reason why you reckon that you may be harming your health with alcohol - then please see your doctor as soon as possible. She cannot CURE you - but she can put you in touch with counselling agencies who can help you to cut down.

In addition, some doctors are willing to prescribe drugs - such as Campral EC - which help to reduce dependence on booze. However, the fact remains that 'breaking' dependence on alcohol isn't easy, and the prime factor is your own will power. No one else can do it for you!

So all in all, it's best NOT to get habituated to grog in the first place. Throughout life, try to use it wisely, and not to go in for excessive drinking.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Having said all that, may I wish all of our Retirement Matters readers a happy holiday season - with a sensible amount of whatever they fancy! Good luck to you, and a Happy New Year in 2001.




Q. My husband (age 60) has always liked a drink, and I have never been worried about it. But RECENTLY he's been very 'slow' in the mornings. So he has taken to having what he calls an 'eye-opener' - in other words, a drink of something like Gin or Scotch at breakfast to get himself going. Is this dangerous?

A. I'll say it is, ma'am! This practice of 'having an eye-opener' is common - but only among people who are far down the road of alcoholism. Basically, anyone who drinks IN THE MORNING is already in serious trouble. So clearly, your hubby must see a doctor right away, and try to get himself into an alcohol 'rehab' programme.

Q. I'm 65 and male, and I like a nice glass of malt whisky most nights when I go to bed. This has been my habit for many years. Will it do me any harm?

A. None at all, sir. You're well within alcohol guidelines, and I hope your wee drop of Scotch is helping to give you a good night's sleep. Bottoms up!

Q. I'm rather worried about my elderly father, who lives along. Most of the year he's quite abstinent, but occasionally he goes on a real 'bender' - drinking heavily all evening till he's more or less out for the count. Is this all right for his health?

A. Young people - and particularly young men - do usually get away with being 'smashed' on special occasions. But when you're getting on in life, 'having a skinful' can be very dangerous. In later life, the body isn't really strong enough to cope with a sudden bout of drinking. And there's a considerable danger of a serious fall, a fire, or some other accident. Sadly, quite a few older folk do lose their lives in this way.

So I do think you should urge your poor Dad to seek professional help. Also, try to find out what is precipitating these heavy drinking bouts. Is it perhaps depression, or sadness about a bereavement? If things go on like this, he may not be able to continue to live on his own.

Q. Much to my surprise, I recently had a heart attack. I suppose I should give up smoking or drinking, but I can't make myself give up both! Which would you advise me to pack in, doc? Which is worse for the heart - smoking or drinking?

A. At all costs, give up smoking. In general smoking is far worse for the heart than drinking is.

Q. My partner thinks that if he has a few pints in the evening, then he is fine to drive to work in the morning. Is this true? In other words, how long does alcohol stay in the system?

A. Good point! The police are always arresting folk who are driving to work - but who are 'over the limit' because of what they had the night before. As a rough guide, most people 'break down' alcohol at a rate of about one unit per hour. So if a chap has three pints of beer (which is around six units), it will take about six hours to work it's way out of his system. However, if your partner drank FOUR pints of beer (that's eight units) finishing at one a.m., it is likely that he'd still have alcohol in his bloodstream at eight o'clock or even possibly nine o'clock in the morning. Bear in mind that what I've told you is only a VERY approximate guide. Nonetheless, it sounds as though your man is running a risk.

NON ALCOHOL RELATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q. I take a fair amount of exercise on a training machine, and my pulse is 110 at the end of the session. Is this safe? I am taking a beta-blocker called 'atenolol'.

A. For most people, a pulse of 110 per minute at the end of a training session would be find. But I don't know enough about your clinical condition to make a firm recommendation, and I think you must be guided by your GP and heart specialist.

Tens of thousands of retired people take beta-blockers (for conditions such as angina and high blood pressure). In general, these drugs tend to slow the pulse rate - even during exercise.

Q. I have suffered from 'lichen planus' for a number of years. Can I look forward to some relief from it in the future?

A. Lichen Planus (pronounced 'LIKEN PLANE-US') is a pretty common skin disorder. It affects various parts of the body, but particularly the mouth, the arms and the legs. It can also occur on the sex organs. The skin patches tend to be violet or pink, and itchy. In the mouth, there may be white streaks or ulcers. I do sympathise with you, as it's not much fund having this disease. However, there s often a tendency for it to get better after a year or two - so keep your fingers crossed.

Q. Could you tell me something about the 'new modern miracle treatment against arthritis'?

A. There are NO new 'miracle treatments' against arthritis. If there were, your doctor would be prescribing them. Unfortunately, a lot of manufacturers of products for arthritis do 'sail very close to the wind' in their advertising - making out that what they're selling is miraculous or a cure. So far, none of these claims has stood up to scrutiny. (If they were true, there would now be no arthritis in the world.) I don't say that there are no products which could give you a bit of help. But don't spend a lot of money on them - because they will NOT be cures.

Q. Can you recommend a simple exercise that can be done in the home to promote flexibility and fitness?

A. Sure. If you can't get to a gym and exercise under supervision, it makes sense to try and keep yourself fit at home. One of the best exercises is just to lie on your back on the bed, and then 'bicycle' with your legs in the air. This is good for the circulation and the muscles, as well as aiding flexibility. I recommend 20 minutes every day. But it IS rather boring, so why not listen to the radio at the same time!

Q. I frequently experience pain in my chest, between the ribs. It's a burning pain, so of course I suspect indigestion. The best relief is if I eat or drink something. Is this normal, and should I be worried?

A. Chest pain is never 'normal'. And in anyone of retirement age, chest pain must be viewed with suspicion - because of the high rate of heart trouble in this age group. However, I must say that your description (particularly the fact that the pain is eased by eating or drinking) makes me think that you're probably right - and that the pain is very likely a digestive thing. Nonetheless, you really MUST see your doc and get yourself checked out. She will listen to your heart and lungs and examine your tummy. She may well want to do some tests.

Q. My husband had a severe bout of central chest pain last night. It was crushing, and went on for about two hours. He didn't look well at all. He feels we should forget about it, but I am not so sure.

A. You're right, he's wrong. Pain in the centre of the chest, going on for more than a quarter of an hour, must be regarded as an EMERGENCY in anyone over 50. This is because there's a high chance that it's due to a heart attach (a 'coronary'). Your husband needs to see a doctor and to have an ECG (the electrical test on the heart) right away.