It is understandable. An ice cold cocktail on the beach at sunset or a glass of wine with your favorite show is a great way to shake of the stressors of the day, but women should be aware of the risks they are taking with each and every added sip.
The effects of alcohol use on the body are vast for men and women, but women’s bodies are more susceptible to irreparable internal damage. Though the substance is legal, there are an array of terrible consequences for overconsumption of alcohol. Here are a few ways alcohol use affects women’s health.
Added risk for dependency
It should be noted, first, that the female body does not process alcohol as quickly as a man’s body. Dependency risk comes for men when they exceed 7-8 drinks per occasion, but women who drink 5-6 drinks per occasion are faced with an added risk of dependency.
For women, the consumption of 5-6 drinks per occasion for a prolonged period of time can have noticeable effects on mental and physical health – such as cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis – that can result in a formidable dependency. In short, it is easier for women than for men to develop an alcohol addiction.
Drinking alcohol can damage your body’s cells
A study released in 2014 by the journal publication, Alcohol, asserted that even moderate drinking in women can damage DNA groups and vital cells. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that prolonged alcohol abuse in women can lead to oxidative stress and free radical damage in the body.
You could effectively damage the makeup of your body by drinking too much alcohol. Keep that thought in the back of your mind next weekend when the girls want to go to the club.
The internal damage caused by alcohol consumption
Alcohol abuse causes many negative health risks to the female body. A raised risk of several types of cancer, the risk of developing osteoporosis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver are all possible results of alcohol abuse for females. The liver is the main organ affected, for an example of this you can find an example of liver damaged from alcohol consumption here https://lnhlifesciences.org/snap-frozen-tissue. It is always a good idea to read up on the functions of each organ and how important they are to your health, to really understand how serious it can be to compromise these functions.
Added risk for the development of cancer
Breast cancer, in particular, is an added risk for women who consume more than 5-6 alcoholic beverages per week. Overconsumption of alcohol in women raises the lifetime risk for breast cancer an average of ten percent.
To put it bit more clearly, a woman who does not drink has a 9 in 100 chance of developing breast cancer. A woman who drinks in excess increases that risk to 13 in 100.
If you are someone who enjoys a drink or two every day, it may be time to consult a doctor and have a complete body checkup performed. Furthermore, researches have shown that women are more likely to suffer from chronic pain than men when prescribed pain relievers by their doctors and use them for longer periods. As a result, women suffering from substance use disorder may have unique experiences and challenges, exhibiting various issues and needs that might need to be addressed for them to achieve and maintain long-term recovery. Regardless of gender differences in addiction, seeking recovery can save a person’s life. Detox and rehab can be the first steps to a more fulfilling, healthy life. If you believe you or someone you love may need help with an alcohol use disorder, you may let rehab centers similar to Arista Recovery Kansas help you.
Reproductive issues have also been tied to alcohol consumption
Heavy alcohol consumption in women has been known to cause total infertility, but it has also been concluded that even small amounts of alcohol can affect a woman’s reproductive organs. Due to the fact that it takes a female’s body longer to metabolize alcohol, the exaggerated amount of time a woman has a higher blood alcohol content leads to higher risk of damage to the body.