Women and men are affected differently by alcohol, such as how they become addicted, i.e., the causes and what happens as a result of alcohol abuse, i.e., the consequences. First of all, let’s take a look at the contributing factors or causes of alcohol abuse in women. Sometimes, women may begin drinking alcohol due to hormonal changes. This stage is called perimenopause. This causes alcoholism due to stress and emotional trauma stemming from perimenopause.
Another factor is how women process alcohol. More alcohol goes into a female’s blood when they drink, and also, they can get addicted quicker than men.
Genetics is another major factor. This cannot be changed or influenced, so it is the woman’s responsibility to stay away from alcohol consumption altogether if they want to rest assured that they will not become addicted to alcoholic beverages. Family history plays an important role, as they often hint that their child may also have an addictive behavior.
Next is coping with depression or emotional issues (mood swings, anxiety, bipolar). Women may self-medicate in order to deal with these issues. This also applies to stressful situations or environments where they drink in order to distract themselves from nervousness or insecurity issues.
The consequences of alcoholism in women are unique from that of men. There is premature menopause: this means if they abuse alcohol, it could speed up the perimenopause stage by five years, which then results in reaching menopause in a shorter time period.
Alcohol has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in menopausal women by up to 50%. Alcohol abuse also increases the loss of calcium in menopausal women, disrupting regular activity. Finally, alcoholism not only increases the chance of getting heart disease but memory loss and reproductive problems. As a result, some studies show that women have more health risks than men when abusing alcohol. If a women drinks while pregnant, there could be birth defects or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which impairs the child mentally and physically.
It is important to take note of these causes and consequences when dealing with alcohol addiction. As stated earlier, women have more health risks than men when abusing alcohol, making the situation all the more dangerous serious. Today, with so much going on in the world, it is hard to tell who is abusing alcohol and who is not. Both men and women are dealing with difficulties in their own way, some in secret, others oblivious to their own self-abuse. But for those who are sober and around this person, it is up to them to step forward and have a friendly talk about their friend’s developing problem.If you know any woman who is into heavy drinking, she is supposed to be explained about the consequences of alcohol addiction. In the United States of America, every year, the number of women who need to seek help from professional alcohol rehab centers has been increasing. Remember that alcohol rehabilitation centers are the only and the best choice to get rid of alcohol addiction.