Do Women Experience A Greater Risk In Alcohol Abuse?

Do women experience a greater risk in alcohol abuse? Yes. Heavy drinkers, specifically women affront greater health risks than men do. Women and alcoholism can manifest unique effects that only women can undergo. Women are more inclined to have alcohol- related diseases. Most of these illnesses target the liver, the heart and the brain which are three of the most functional vital organs of the body.

This could really be a great risk. But how come women are more prone to the probability to suffer these diseases due to excessive alcohol intake? The difference in the bodily composition of men compared to women answers it all.  Reports have shown that women and alcoholism go along with each other causing a higher death rate among women. Women die due to alcohol abuse twice as much compared to alcoholic men.

Also, women can suffer from many health problems that men could not ever encounter. Heavy drinking can cause problems on menstruation such as irregular periods and early menopause. This could also cause infertility.

Women and alcoholism is one of the main reasons why women are not only prone to health issues. They may also suffer from physical violence and sexual abuse causing them to procure sexually transmitted diseases.

The following justifications can answer the question why women suffer a greater risk in alcoholism than men:

a.    The water composition in a woman’s body is lesser than the fat composition. This causes a weak dilution of the alcohol. The fat composition will likely absorb the alcohol intake and becomes concentrated in the blood.

b.    A woman’s digestive system weakly tolerates alcohol. A woman’s stomach can only handle less amount of alcohol than men do.

c.    Women become more intoxicated when there is a high concentration of alcohol flowing in the blood. Also, women are more prone to faster intoxication during menstrual periods.

Alcoholism is very dangerous to women especially during pregnancy. This could not only harm the pregnant mother but the more formidable effect is on the fetus. This happens when the mother intakes alcohol. Alcohol can pass through the barrier where the fetus is protected. It then now enters the bloodstream of the fetus.

The fetus could suffer the so- called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This is a naming classification explaining the variation of effects of alcohol in a fetus. Upon conception, the infant could suffer many disabilities as he or she grows up.

Women should not abuse alcohol or at least do drinking in moderation. Certain situations should imply or stop women from drinking heavily. Such instances are when they know that they can not control heavy drinking, if they are under medications, if they are pregnant and if they have a history of drug addiction. They should sensibly consider the different risks they should face because of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol can harm women on a greater basis than it affects men. There are many reasons why women should control their drinking habits. They should pay special attention to the possible dangers they could encounter because of alcoholism. In many cases, they are not the only ones affected. It could also badly harm an innocent child.