THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON WOMEN

The Effects of alcohol are stronger in women than in men, and women who drink too much alcohol are more likely to suffer from significant alcohol problems than men, studies show. In addition, women who have alcohol problems have higher death rates due to suicide, accidents, and other health related issues- more than twice the rate of men. Given these facts, you may be wondering: Why do women drink, and what can you do to enjoy alcohol without risks to your health?

Understanding Why Women Drink

Women drink for many of the same reasons that men drink: to relax, to gain confidence in social situations, to get to sleep, and to relieve stress. Other reasons why women drink alcohol include the following:

1. Women tend to drink more likely if they have problems with a loved ones. Alcohol problems are more common in women who are unmarried, divorced, or separated.

2. Women whose husbands have alcohol problems are more likely to drink to themselves.

3. Women who have been sexually abused are more likely to drink to excess. They may start out drinking more. Seventeen percent of ninth grade girls admit that they had more than five drinks at one time in the past month. This is a higher rate of drinking than for boys of the same age.

Alcohol Affects Women Differently Than Men

The blood alcohol level in a woman who just drank the same amount of alcohol as in man will be higher because women are usually smaller, have less water in their bodies, and metabolize alcohol more slowly than men. This means that the brain and liver of a woman who drinks are exposed to more alcohol pound for pound than a man's brain and liver. Women who have alcohol problems may drink less than men but still experience the same level of impairment. They can also develop liver damage and other alcohol-related health problems more quickly than men, even though they may be drinking less.

BENEFITS OF ALCOHOL IN WOMEN

If you are over the age of 55, one drink per day may lower your risk for heart disease. Moderate drinking for a woman is defined as one alcoholic drink per day. This translate to one 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce bottle of beer, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.