One in two women of childbearing age use alcohol, and 18% of these women binge drink, according to national polls. Women absorb alcohol more quickly than men do, despite the fact that men are statistically more likely to drink due to differences in chemistry and physical structure between the sexes. Women may therefore be more susceptible to the negative effects of heavy alcohol use. Read on to learn how exactly alcohol affects women differently than men.
Why Does Alcohol Affect Women Differently?
Female bodies take longer to metabolize (break down and eliminate) alcohol than men’s, which is why they absorb more alcohol and attain higher blood alcohol concentrations. The reasons include the following:
- Women have less body water than males do (alcohol resides mainly in body water)
- Our biological structure and chemistry vary
- Women generally weigh less than men
Major Health Issues
According to studies, drinking alcohol raises a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by 15% for every three drinks she consumes weekly. Women who don’t drink have a lower risk of developing heart disease, liver disease, stroke, stomach bleeding, and brain damage. Besides increasing the risk of health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure, excessive alcohol consumption also raises the risk of getting STDs during unsafe sexual interactions.
Addiction
Women progress from substance abuse to substance dependence and addiction more quickly than males do, and they are typically more vulnerable to the physical or interpersonal effects of dependency. They frequently experience greater difficulty quitting and are more likely to relapse or experience stronger urges.
The Reproductive System
About 12% of adult women binge drink three times each month. Excessive alcohol consumption can affect the menstrual cycle in addition to increasing the risk of infertility. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Even a modest amount of alcohol during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus, and excessive alcohol usage can affect a child’s physical, behavioral, and developmental health. 10% of pregnant women drink alcohol, and its consumption during pregnancy can cause brain damage and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
If you’re worried that your alcohol use may be impacting your health and increasing your risk of developing chronic diseases, follow the tips in this section.
Guidelines
Remember that the following factors affect how quickly alcohol enters your system:
- Your drinking habits
- The rate at which you consume it
- The concentration of the alcohol
- Whether or not you have food in your stomach
You can also seek out professional assistance from your community’s resources if you need help regulating your alcohol intake.
Final Words:
Review your usual alcohol intake before you add alcohol to your next night out. By now, you know that drinking excessively could result in more than just a hangover. Alcohol abuse and consumption may have a more negative impact on women than on men, but anyone can get the assistance they need.
There are organizations that can assist you if alcoholism affects you or a member of your family. Christian’s Drug Rehab will provide your family the ability to overcome the traumas from your addiction. The most significant benefit is that it will deepen your bonds as a family as you work through a challenge together. Christian addiction treatment will ensure that your family is not in danger as a result of your addiction and give you another chance to make amends.
