By: Erika Edwards
Binge drinking is drinking five or more drinks at one time for men, and four or more drinks at once for women. Many people think that binge drinking is a problem faced mostly by young people, but as many as 1 in 10 older adults binge drinks.
Binge drinking can be a problem for older adults because alcohol affects their bodies differently than it did when they were younger. As you age, your body becomes more sensitive to alcohol. People who are 65 and older, are healthy, and do not take medications should limit themselves to no more than 3 drinks per day and no more than 7 drinks per week. Binge drinking can make some conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, worse. If you take blood thinners, drinking regularly could increase your risk of bleeding in your stomach.
Binge drinking can also lead to other issues. You may forget to take your medications, or take the wrong dose of your medicine, which can be dangerous. Binge drinking may also lead to falls, which can be very dangerous for older adults.
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