As you age, you may notice that a lot of aspects of your life begin to change. You may have thought that you could handle your alcohol in the past but find it increasingly difficult at an older age. The truth is that alcohol can become more dangerous as you age. Your body goes through different physical and mental changes throughout the course of your life that can affect how you process alcohol.
According to American Addiction Centers, it can affect your ability to perform tasks.
How does alcohol affect your ability to drive?
One thing to keep in mind about alcohol is that alcohol depresses the central nervous system. It can alter your vision, impair judgment, inhibit your balance, reaction time and reduce your hearing. Young people suffer the same effects of alcohol but have a higher tolerance.
For instance, as an older person, you may only have one glass of wine and lose competence to drive a vehicle or to operate heavy machinery. Smaller amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to walk and to follow a conversation. You may feel these effects long after you reach sobriety.
How does alcohol affect your health?
In addition to your ability to drive a car, you have to think about your health too. For instance, some health conditions, like diabetes, can affect your driving if your blood sugar increases while behind the wheel. Some conditions that alcohol can exacerbate include:
- High blood pressure
- Stomach ulcers
- Mood disorders
You may become more prone to anger or other mental health conditions that could pose a danger while driving.
