Women at Higher Risk for Alcohol Related Complications
By the staff of Heartland Human Services
A newsletter published recently by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism cautions that women may be at increased risk relating to alcohol consumption. The report, issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted several areas of concern.
Alcohol use is most prevalent in women between the ages of 26 and 34 and those who are divorced or separated. Binge drinking (defined as having 5 or more drinks per episode 5 or more times per month) is most common in women 18-25. Additionally, women's bodies carry less water than do men of similar weight which means women achieve a higher blood alcohol level when consuming the same amount of alcohol.
Women also appear to be at an increased risk of alcohol related body damage compared to their male counterparts. Women develop liver disease in a shorter period of time and after drinking less alcohol. Studies also suggest that women may be more likely to suffer from alcohol-induced brain damage. Lastly, of significant concern is the finding that women who are moderate to heavy drinkers are more likely to develop breast cancer than women who abstain or drink infrequently.