If your pattern of drinking hasn't changed over the last decade, the risks can be alarming. Even though you might not have seen the effects on the outside of your body, that doesn't mean they aren't hiding within your body.

And, even if you don't drink excessively, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned.

Research has shown that drinking in moderation -- no more than two drinks daily for men, one for women -- may lower your risk of heart disease.

However, that depends on how you metabolize the alcohol.

Your body can only process one drink per hour. By increasing the number of drinks in that same time period, your liver can't do its job properly.

Excessive drinking can also damage your brain health by causing your brain to age faster; not to mention what it does to your mood and inability to think clearly. It can also affect loss of muscle mass at an average rate of five percent each decade after the age of 45.

As you age, your enzymes decline, including the enzyme that helps break down alcohol, aldehyde dehydrogenase. As a result, your body can't break down booze like it used to.

Alcohol wears away the stomach lining of your gastrointestinal tract, increasing your risk of internal bleeding, heartburn and other GI conditions.

Drinking more than one or two drinks a day can also increase your risk of stroke.

What are some other risks of drinking after the age of 45?

Dr. Holly discusses why drinking after this milestone age can cause numerous health issues, as well as the specific risks and ways to manage your drinking.