Alcohol Abuse - One of the main thing which affects Mental Health

Recent studies have suggested that when taken in small amounts for example, a glass of wine with dinner or an occasional shot of whiskey alcohol may be physically and psychologically beneficial for some older people.But it's important to establish the difference between sensible drinking and problem drinking. In general, you shouldn't drink more than two drinks a day, and some experts say you shouldn't drink every day. Note: One drink equals a regular beer (12 oz. or 340 mi. 5 percent alcohol) or one glass of wine (5 oz. or 145 ml. 12 percent alcohol) or one shot of liquor (1.5 oz. or 45 ml. 40 percent alcohol).There are several reasons why people should curtail their drinking as they age.You become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, especially alcohol-induced cognitive impairment such as memory loss and poor concentration.You are more prone to illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes later in life. Because these ailments can be aggravated by drinking, your doctor has probably told you not to drink.You are more likely to be taking medication to control illnesses and have been warned not to mix these drugs with alcohol.But many experts believe that the true extent of alcohol abuse among older adults may not be known for the following reasons:Older drinkers tend to be middle class and don't conform to the popular image of the alcoholic.Older adults tend to be more isolated from those who typically recognize and report problem drinking in younger people for example, co-workers and employers.Doctors may believe that older people "don't do that" and miss symptoms of alcohol abuse.The older person's family may excuse excessive drinking ("What else does he have to do at his age?") and actually supply him with brandy or wine. As well, relatives may be so embarrassed about an older family member who abuses alcohol that they deny or hide the situation.If you suffer from alcohol-related problems now, it's likely that you started drinking when you were younger. But about 30 percent of older drinkers start abusing alcohol after age 60. These late-onset drinkers tend to explain their drinking as a reaction to retirement, the death of a spouse or other stresses of older age. Some may turn to alcohol in an effort to relieve symptoms from chronic pain, insomnia, depression and anxiety that occur later in life.However, it's not clear why some older people who are under stress begin to abuse alcohol, while many others who face similar or even more severe stress never develop a problem. In fact, researchers still aren't clear what causes alcoholism at any age.Some studies have suggested that alcoholism tends to run in families either because of a genetic factor or because drinkers saw alcohol consumed at home and learned that this was an acceptable way to handle stress. In recent years some experts have put forward the idea that alcoholism is a disease that shouldn't be blamed on the victim. Others disagree, saying that this view discounts any notion of individual personal control.