It’s Not the Booze—You’re Just Getting Older

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Updated: July 2, 2020
Originally Published: April 17, 2015

Flash forward two decades—okay, maybe 25 years—and that third glass of wine during dinner leaves me feeling sluggish and irritable the next morning. Sometimes, it lingers for the entire day. It turns out, I’m not hitting the bottle like a reality star, but rather, alcohol affects our bodies more intensely as we age. Ironically, this is when we seem to need it the most.

“All the impacts of alcohol are amplified as we get older,” shares Dr. Samuel Grant, a psychiatry professor at the University of Springfield. “Withdrawal becomes a little trickier, and hangovers? They’re a whole new ballgame.”

Why Does This Happen?

So, why exactly does this happen? Let’s dive into the science behind it (yes, science!). As mentioned in The Wall Street Journal, our livers become less efficient with age, taking longer to process alcohol. Since hangovers kick in when we consume more alcohol than our liver can handle, the slower breakdown means we’re stuck feeling dreadful for a longer period.

Changes in body composition also play a significant role. With age, we swap out muscle—great for soaking up alcohol—for fat, and our bodies hold significantly less water. This dehydration contributes to that dreadful headache we all dread. Oh, and let’s not forget that alcohol disrupts our sleep patterns as we grow older. Plus, any medications we might be taking for conditions like high cholesterol, low blood pressure, or heartburn can further complicate how alcohol affects us.

Aren’t the joys of aging wonderful? Cheers to that!

Helpful Resources

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Conclusion

In summary, as we age, our bodies respond differently to alcohol. This means hangovers can be worse, and the effects more pronounced due to changes in liver function, body composition, and overall health. Cheers to navigating these changes with grace!

Keyphrase: Alcohol effects as we age
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