Alcoholism: A Serious Female Problem

Alcohol abuse is not just a male problem – it is an under-recognized problem among many women of all ages. In fact, the effects of alcoholism are more serious in females than in males because of the way their bodies handle the drug. Yes, alcohol is just like any chemical that is considered a drug, a substance that affects the way the body and mind work.

Some studies suggest that consuming some alcoholic beverages, particularly red wine, may have some health benefits. Red wine, which is made from the fermented grapes, contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that can help prevent heart disease and other chronic diseases. However, experts warn that for women who drink, consuming just one five-ounce glass of wine per day is enough to obtain these benefits.  Furthermore, health experts do not encourage women who do not drink to start drinking alcohol, since there are other ways to prevent heart disease and other chronic diseases. On the other hand, consuming more than what experts consider moderate drinking may have serious health risks. These include:

• Changes in menstrual cycle and increased risk of infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, and stillbirth.
• Increased likelihood of risky behaviors which may lead to having unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, unintended pregnancies, and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).  They are also more likely to be victims of sexual assault and rape.
• In pregnant women, they may have babies who may suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which is associated with birth defects and mental retardation. Their babies may also die from SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Compared to men, women are also more likely to develop alcohol-related diseases, even with comparatively lower consumption and shorter periods of alcohol abuse.  Compared to non-alcohol addicted women, alcoholic women are four times more likely to die prematurely, while alcoholic men are only twice as likely to die. Why are women more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol compared to men? Women tend to absorb more alcohol, because they have more body fat and less water. Their bodies also take longer to break down alcohol and eliminate it.

Therefore, they have an increased risk of:

• Developing chronic liver disease such as fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.
• Brain shrinkage and memory loss
• Heart disease
• Developing breast cancer and other cancers of the mouth, esophagus, throat, and colon.

Recommendations

To lower your risk for alcohol-related disease, health experts recommend limiting your intake of alcohol to just one drink per day (or up to two drinks per day for men), which is defined by the USDA as moderate drinking. A standard drink, which contains 14 grams of alcohol, is found in 12 ounces (oz) beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits. The NIAAA defines low-risk drinking limits as no more than three drinks on a single day and no more than seven drinks per week for women. Men may take up to four drinks per day but no more than 14 drinks per week. However, these recommendations do not guaranteethat there is no risk in drinking any amount of alcohol.

See Also: Overcoming Alcoholism: What To Expect

Some health professionals would even recommend not drinking at all.