Should be read by every young person, both those in college and those who are not. Evidence based arguments have a way of piercing one’s sense of invincibility.
Nice work Ellen, I think you’ve hit a beautiful balance of the science, culture, a glimpse into the personal all with a gentle hand saying, “come this way”.
Enjoyed this piece! And as an inpatient cardiology nurse practitioner, I can absolutely attest to the increased incidence of arrhythmias in younger people!
Thank you for chiming in from experience...even adolescence does't protect one from alcohol-induced episodes and it helps to be educated in order to know how to mitigate the triggers
Agree, Nance, that it's good to be thinking of how to pace the celebrating and not be 'influenced' by the more liberal drinkers in your gang. Going in with a good game plan can help!
At the extreme other end of the age spectrum from Isabelle, I find that I and most of my remaining friends and colleagues drink much, much less than we did in our 30's to 50's. Back then it was customary to down a bottle of wine between two people at dinner and if it was a party probably a lot more. But along about 55 or 60, you (or I) become aware that it's not going down so well, it's staying with you a lot longer, it's messing up your sleep, and even your ability to think straight and get the job done. That's when many of us cut back. It's rare to find an alcoholic in his 80's--they just don't live that long!
Thank goodness evolution has designed us to get a little wiser as we age. I can't imagine staying upright after 4 beers and a hard seltzer (what I'm hearing goes down easily at a frat party) let alone today's 'borg.' I'll settle for kids being aware that its not just a matter of getting sloshed, but binging has some very real long-range effects not much better than chronic drinking. As far as us post 60's, I must admit the pandemic sparked a discovery that I could ship small vineyard bottles from CA to MA and get better quality wine. But, I'm paying attention and keeping the reins on--just one glass 2 or 3 nights and the rest of the bottle goes into a braise.
Should be read by every young person, both those in college and those who are not. Evidence based arguments have a way of piercing one’s sense of invincibility.
A home run of an article - perfectly timed for the holidays!! I really appreciated the thoughtful, practical tips on drinking during celebrations.
Wishing you peace and light at hanukkah! One, maybe two drinks- but, yes, worth keeping pace!
"Holiday Heart Syndrome": Who knew! Wisdom abounds.
Worth knowing...we all let our guard down
Nice work Ellen, I think you’ve hit a beautiful balance of the science, culture, a glimpse into the personal all with a gentle hand saying, “come this way”.
I would say that is very high praise - grateful for all your support, Lisa
Enjoyed this piece! And as an inpatient cardiology nurse practitioner, I can absolutely attest to the increased incidence of arrhythmias in younger people!
Thank you for chiming in from experience...even adolescence does't protect one from alcohol-induced episodes and it helps to be educated in order to know how to mitigate the triggers
Thank you for sharing this info. I particularly like the tips at the end and have used a few myself.
Agree, Nance, that it's good to be thinking of how to pace the celebrating and not be 'influenced' by the more liberal drinkers in your gang. Going in with a good game plan can help!
Yes, I usually have a glass of water between drinks 🍸 and I have found that holding a glass of seltzer while mingling helps as well.
At the extreme other end of the age spectrum from Isabelle, I find that I and most of my remaining friends and colleagues drink much, much less than we did in our 30's to 50's. Back then it was customary to down a bottle of wine between two people at dinner and if it was a party probably a lot more. But along about 55 or 60, you (or I) become aware that it's not going down so well, it's staying with you a lot longer, it's messing up your sleep, and even your ability to think straight and get the job done. That's when many of us cut back. It's rare to find an alcoholic in his 80's--they just don't live that long!
Thank goodness evolution has designed us to get a little wiser as we age. I can't imagine staying upright after 4 beers and a hard seltzer (what I'm hearing goes down easily at a frat party) let alone today's 'borg.' I'll settle for kids being aware that its not just a matter of getting sloshed, but binging has some very real long-range effects not much better than chronic drinking. As far as us post 60's, I must admit the pandemic sparked a discovery that I could ship small vineyard bottles from CA to MA and get better quality wine. But, I'm paying attention and keeping the reins on--just one glass 2 or 3 nights and the rest of the bottle goes into a braise.
Food for thought 💎. Thank you 🙏
Ibrahim- I'm wishing you a happy holiday season and New Year filled with peace and health!
💐