Alcohol is a drug. It's often thought of as a stimulant, but it's actually a
depressant that slows down brain functions.
The effect that alcohol has on your health depends on many factors. It affects
men and women differently. The impact on your health also depends on:
- the amount you drink
- your body weight
- your overall health and nutrition
- your drinking patterns.
Short-term effects
After one or two drinks, people usually feel a sense of well-being. Drowsiness,
dizziness, and the loss of some coordination skills go with this feeling.
Drinking more alcohol will affect speech, balance and vision. If people drink
too much, they often will have a "hangover" 8 to 12 hours after the
last drink. People with hangovers usually have a headache and are shaky and
nauseous. A hangover is caused by the body's systems as they return to normal
after drinking.
It isn't safe to drink alcohol when taking other drugs, since even small amounts
can change the effects of those drugs. Many of the overdose cases in emergency
rooms in Canada are caused by mixing alcohol with medications - even over-the-counter
medicines.
Long-term effects
Drinking heavily over a long period of time can lead to:
- stomach ulcers
- sexual problems
- liver disease
- brain damage
- many kinds of cancer.
Most people are able to drink alcohol in a responsible and safe way. However,
some people may be physically addicted to alcohol and aren't able to function
without it in their systems. People who suddenly stop drinking alcohol after
a long period of use may have withdrawal symptoms including:
- insomnia
- jumpiness
- sweating
- tremors
- hallucinations
- convulsions.
A safe level of drinking during pregnancy has not been established. Experts
recommend not drinking alcohol at all during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Seniors
Typically, people use less alcohol as they grow older. However, changes such
as the loss of a spouse, illness or retirement may put some seniors at risk
for alcohol-related problems. Some seniors may use alcohol to help cope with
emotional stresses, boredom or age-related health problems. Then, alcohol becomes
another serious problem.
Alcohol use makes chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes worse.
Because of changes in metabolism, older people are more sensitive to the effects
of alcohol, and a little goes a long way. A 65-year-old who drinks a small amount
of alcohol may experience effects similar to a 20-year-old who drinks four or
five times as much.
Seniors generally take more medications than younger adults. Mixing alcohol
with either prescription or over-the-counter drugs can result in dangerous side
effects including:
- drowsiness
- respiratory arrest
- impaired coordination
- stomach irritation
- nausea and vomiting.
Alcohol problems among seniors can be mistaken for the physical, social or
emotional changes or conditions associated with aging. To recognize alcohol
misuse in an older person, you have to question whether a change in behaviour
is due to aging or is, in fact, the result of problem drinking.
For help in your province search the treatment services in Canada database
produced by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse or contact the following
agencies:
Alberta
Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
British Columbia
Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service
Manitoba
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
New Brunswick
Department of Health and Wellness
Newfoundland and Labrador
Health and Community Services - Addictions Services
Northwest Territories
Health and Social Services
Nova Scotia
Department of Health
Nunavut
Health and Social Services
Ontario
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Prince Edward Island
Health and Social Services – Addiction Services
Quebec
Information and Referral
Saskatchewan
Mental Health and Addictions
Yukon
Health and Social Services : Addiction Services
Additional resources
The
Basics About Alcohol – Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
Decisions
About Drinking: the ABCs – Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
Alcohol
and Seniors: the ABCs – Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
| 
