Learn about the Risks Associated with Binge Drinking for Women
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If you are a woman who is in the habit of boozing every weekend, maybe you should sit up and take note. It’s old knowledge that alcohol can cause many problems for your health. But recent studies show that the risks associated with binge drinking could be more for a female drinker than her male counterparts. Read on to know why-
Why does alcohol affect women differently?
One reason why risks associated with binge drinking affect women more than men is that women metabolize alcohol differently. Even if a man and a woman weigh the same and are of the same age, her body contains fewer fluids than his. Which means even if they drink the same quantity of alcohol, it would impair a woman more than a man because the concentration of alcohol in her blood would be higher.
What are the adverse effects of binge drinking on women?
Damages their liver
Women are more likely to come down with liver ailments triggered by alcohol, such as the deadly alcoholic fatty liver disease. That is because alcohol is processed by the liver and as we mentioned, alcohol takes on a higher percentage in a woman’s body than a man’s. So the woman has to work overtime to metabolize the alcohol. Moreover, women have higher chances of developing alcoholic hepatitis than men, and liver cirrhosis are more fatal for women.
Brain damage
Women are more vulnerable to brain damage when they binge drink. MRI scans of an alcoholic woman’s brain showed that the part of the brain that is responsible for decision making and coordination had shrunk more, compared to the brains of non-alcoholic women or even alcoholic men. The brain of a woman who binges on drinks is also less efficient in utilizing energy needed to carry out its functions.
Risk of breast cancer
Alcohol significantly raises the risk of breast cancer in women. Even having one drink every day can make a woman prone to this deadly killer.Did you know that it’s not just breast cancer? Prolific drinking will increase the risk of other types of cancer as well, such as mouth, liver, bowel, and esophageal cancer.
It messes up women’s reproductive system
Alcoholism reduces a woman’s fertility more than a man’s. Drinking even minuscule quantities can drastically reduce a woman’s chances of conceiving. Binge drinking can also make a woman’s periods irregular.
Alcohol makes women age faster than men
As a person grows older, he/she loses muscle mass, gains more fat, and the skin starts losing elasticity. This ushers in all the visible signs of ageing. Alcohol speeds up the procedure of ageing in women, when compared to men. Moreover, once a woman reaches menopause, her body becomes even more vulnerable. If a woman drinks heavily during this time, alcohol will exacerbate the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, sweating, insomnia etc.
Makes women’s bones brittle
Women are at greater risk of bone-related ailments than men. And if you throw alcohol into the mix, it increases the risk of loss of bone density and osteoporosis in women. But alcohol does no such thing for men.
Conclusion
Alcohol in excess can have a horrible impact on women. Drinking in moderation once or twice a week can benefit you, but if you lose restraint, it can maim you for life. [av_promobox button='yes' label='Consult a doctor on MediBuddy ' link='https://www.medibuddy.in/?utm_source=blog_cta&utm_medium=blog' link_target='' color='blue' custom_bg='#f00' custom_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello']Now, now...there’s no reason to panic! There’s always something called the ‘safe limit’ when it comes to drinking. To know more, consult an expert doctor on MediBuddy.[/av_promobox] Sources:
