On the road of health science popularization, we always uphold a scientific and rigorous attitude to bring you the most practical health knowledge. Today, let's talk about a topic that many people care about: what unexpected changes will happen to the body of the elderly after they quit drinking? How will these changes affect their lives? Let's demystify this topic together.

Alcohol: The "Invisible Burden" of Health in Older Adults

Have you ever wondered? How big is the health impact of drinking alcohol? Many people may feel that there is no harm in drinking in moderation, especially some elderly people may have become accustomed to having a small glass every day, and feel that it is not only soothing for the body and mind, but also has some social effect. However, the physical effects of alcohol on older people are not as easily visible as those of younger people, but the effects are subtle.

It's like a car that has been on the road for many years, and although it looks okay on the outside, the internal parts are almost worn out. The same is true for the body of the elderly, with age, the metabolic function gradually weakens, and alcohol, as a stimulant substance, long-term large intake, poses a hidden danger to the health of the elderly.

Sleep quality "counterattack"

There are many elderly people, especially those with long-term drinking habits, who face a common problem - poor sleep. Every night, they always rely on a little alcohol to help them fall asleep, feeling that alcohol has a soothing effect. But as everyone knows, although alcohol can make people feel relaxed temporarily, and even feel that they can fall asleep quickly, this is not the same as a really good sleep.

In the long run, alcohol can disrupt the sleep cycle of the elderly, causing them to fall into light sleep and even wake up frequently at night. There was an old man in his seventies who had been in the habit of having a glass of wine every night to fall asleep for nearly a decade, and as a result, he gradually found it increasingly difficult for him to fall asleep without alcohol. Also, when I wake up in the morning, I always feel very tired, as if I haven't rested at all.

It wasn't until he was told that he had mild sleep apnea during a routine check-up that the doctor advised him to stop drinking for a while to see if it could improve his sleep quality. Although this uncle was reluctant in his heart, he still decided to give it a try. Three months later, he was amazed to find that not only was he able to fall asleep without alcohol, but he also woke up refreshed in the morning and no longer groggy during the day. What's more, his apnea symptoms have also been alleviated.

It turns out that alcohol is not only a substance that makes people "drunk", it can also disrupt the regular work and rest of the elderly body, making people fall into light sleep, and real restorative sleep cannot be achieved. For the elderly, good sleep quality is the key to maintaining good health, and if they don't drink alcohol for a long time, their deep sleep will gradually recover, and the whole person will look more energetic.

"Self-repair" of body organs

Did you know that the damage caused by alcohol to the body organs of the elderly, especially the liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart, etc., is very profound? Many elderly people who have been drinking alcohol for many years often face alcoholic liver disease, gastritis, and even cardiovascular problems. The problem is that acetaldehyde, a metabolite of alcohol, can irritate the liver and gastrointestinal tract, causing an inflammatory response that builds up chronic damage over time.

而酒精對於心臟的影響更是被很多人忽視，長期飲酒容易導致心律不齊、心力衰竭等問題。有一個患者，年約七十，他一直以來都有酗酒的習慣，幾乎每天晚上都要喝上一瓶啤酒。直到有一天，他去醫院體檢時，醫生發現他的肝臟有輕度脂肪變性，胃部黏膜也有明顯的損傷，他聽從了醫生的建議，開始戒酒。

It didn't take long for his body to undergo significant changes, firstly, the fat content of the liver began to gradually decline, and according to the examination report, the doctor pointed out that after three months of abstinence, the liver function returned to the normal range. What's even more amazing is that the symptoms in his stomach have also been significantly relieved, and he no longer feels sick to his stomach and no longer feels that heaviness. In terms of heart, his heart rate has become more regular, and the symptoms that he used to feel abnormal heartbeats have no longer appeared.

In fact, this is not a miracle, the damage of alcohol to human organs can be repaired by abstaining from alcohol, especially in the body of the elderly, the self-repair ability of organs is often stronger than we think. Although you can't expect to get back to health overnight, over time, the damage to the liver and gastrointestinal tract will gradually repair and the body will become healthier.

"Moderation" of arthritis

You may not have noticed that many elderly people often have some joint problems, whether it is the knee joint, hip joint, or shoulder joint, many elderly people have some discomfort to a greater or lesser extent. The most common is arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, many older people get older, the more painful the joints become, and the mobility becomes inconvenient, and these problems are often related to long-term drinking.

有一位七十多歲的患者，她的膝蓋和雙肩關節一直都不太好，特別是在下雨天時，關節疼痛特別嚴重。她從年輕時開始就有飲酒習慣，尤其在飯後，喜歡來上一小杯葡萄酒，她的家人曾多次勸她戒酒，但她總覺得“酒對身體好”，並沒有真正意識到酒精對關節健康的影響。

It wasn't until a few months ago that the woman started trying to quit drinking, and after three months, her knee and shoulder pain had been significantly reduced, especially in the face of climate change, and she felt that her joints were less stiff and painful than before. After the examination, the doctor found that her bone density had increased and the symptoms of arthritis had improved significantly.

It turns out that alcohol has a non-negligible effect on the bone density of the elderly, and long-term drinking will inhibit the absorption of calcium, increase bone loss, and lead to a decrease in bone density, which is one of the reasons why many elderly people who drink alcohol for a long time are prone to fractures and joint lesions. After quitting alcohol, the body begins to return to normal metabolic function, bone density gradually recovers, and joint pain can be effectively relieved.

Psychological "liberation"

In fact, quitting alcohol is not only a simple health choice for the elderly, it can improve physical function in many ways, bringing unexpected benefits. As we age, the body's ability to repair itself weakens, and alcohol becomes a heavy burden, but fortunately, as long as you can continue to abstain from alcohol, your body can gradually recover and your health can improve significantly.

Of course, quitting alcohol is not an easy thing to do, especially for some seniors, it takes not only determination, but also time. As we have seen, many elderly people who have been off drinking for a long time have not only recovered their physical health, but also gained great psychological relief, and the whole person looks more energetic and youthful.

So, senior friends, if you still insist on having a drink every day, you may want to consider quitting alcohol and give your body a chance to bring health back into your life.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu