We’ve all heard about alcoholism in men, but what about women? Alcoholism is on the rise, and the number of people suffering from alcoholism is growing each year. But why? And how can women be helped if they are drinking too much?
Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in America. Its long-term effects on the brain are still not fully understood, but there’s no denying that alcohol profoundly affects it. The way alcohol affects the brain depends on how much and how often one drinks, but it can lead to lifelong health problems.
It can be hard to imagine what happens when someone drinks, so this article will explore what are the long term effects of alcohol on the brain?
Alcoholism can affect anyone. It’s not just something that happens to careless drunks who drink and drive. Alcoholism can happen to anyone, and it is a mental and physical disease that primarily affects men.
Just like women and men drink for different reasons, they also experience other symptoms of alcohol abuse. These differences are what make alcoholism in women tricky to recognize sometimes. Sometimes the symptoms may even be overlooked as simple things such as PMS or the stress of daily life.
Women must try to understand how alcoholism in women can happen. If a woman suspects that she may have an alcohol problem, it would be wise to seek professional help. Sometimes just talking about issues with other people around you can be very helpful. Hopefully, the following information will encourage women everywhere to seek help if alcoholism is becoming a problem. Everyone is looking rapid detox. and quickly gt off alcohol and drugs. You can reach our rapid detox center for this.
Alcohol abuse kills more than 100,000 women in America each year, making it the third leading cause of preventable death among women. And, alcohol abuse may be one of the most under-diagnosed problems facing women today. Although men are still much more likely to have an alcohol problem than women, the number of women with drinking problems increases each year. It has been reported that more than 10 million American women have a severe drinking problem, and another 14 million women engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol-related problems.
Excessive alcohol and alcohol abuse can adversely affect women’s bodies even after relatively small amounts over a relatively short amount of time. Alcohol abuse can damage the liver, heart, and central nervous system, increasing the risk of developing cancer, particularly breast cancer in women. Researchers are not sure exactly how much alcohol must be consumed before a woman will create these conditions, but it is known that heavy drinking over many years may lead to serious health problems.
Alcoholism in women can also affect a woman’s emotional and mental health. Alcoholics may become depressed and/or anxious and may attempt to drink away the pain. They sometimes abuse other drugs or alcohol to get temporary relief from these feelings, but this only makes things worse. Women alcoholics often suffer from low self-esteem, which can lead to severe depression.
Some of the physical warning signs that a woman may be into alcohol abuse are:
- Having accidents or injuries caused by drinking, such as car crashes involving drunk driving, falls, burns, etc.
- Alcohol-related absences from school or work, including “sick days.”
- Memory lapses or blackouts.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Gastritis or other stomach problems, such as vomiting blood and/or passing out before a person has reached the point of vomiting.
- Issues with the liver, including jaundice (yellowing of the skin), cirrhosis, etc.
- Heart-related problems such as rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, etc.
- Anxiety or panic attacks cannot be explained by traumatic events in a woman’s life.
Some of the emotional warning signs of alcohol use disorder are:
- A sudden decrease in spending time with family and friends.
- Low self-esteem or an overbearing need for approval from others.
- Mood swings.
- The need to drink alone or secretively.
If you or someone you know has problems with alcohol addiction, women need to seek professional help. Drink alcohol responsibly and within recommended limits can be good for your health, but if one becomes an alcoholic, it can turn into a life-threatening disease that will get worse over time.
Young women need to seek help for alcoholism, not only for themselves but also for their loved ones affected by the behaviors that come along alcohol consumption. A serious alcohol problem can affect women emotionally, physically, and financially. Remember always to drink responsibly, and watch out for those warning signs.
If you or someone you know has problems with alcohol, young women need to seek professional help. Drinking responsibly and within recommended limits can be good for your health, but if one becomes an alcoholic, it can turn into a life-threatening disease that will get worse over time.
Why are women binge drinking or falling into alcohol abuse?
The reasons are many, but it is clear that women today face tremendous pressures and stresses that may contribute to excessive alcohol consumption. For example, the rising number of two-income families means more stress for women expected to work outside the home while continuing their traditional responsibilities in the house. Women today encounter problems with relationships at much higher rates than they did 30 years ago. In addition, many adult women are now struggling with the dual responsibilities of work and family.
As a result of these pressures, more adult women than ever before may be turning to alcohol use as a way to cope with stress. But instead of solving their problems, alcohol use disorders only create or exacerbate them, leading to a vicious cycle of long term alcohol abuse, physical and emotional issues, and relationship troubles.
The warning signs of excessive alcohol consumption in women include:
- Taking certain medications regularly, such as painkillers or cold medicine.
- Women with untreated alcoholism may also engage in high-risk behaviors, such as mixing alcohol with their prescribed medications or using street drugs. Making excuses for drinking and/or getting angry when others confront her about her drinking habits.
- Appearing intoxicated by prolonged speech and impaired coordination even after only a tiny amount of alcohol.
Kicking a drug abuse or alcohol addiction is difficult, but alcohol treatment and substance abuse treatment can be done. Seeking professional treatment advice for women and alcohol problems may be one of the most critical steps in achieving sobriety and overcoming alcohol abuse.
What Causes Women to Be at Greater Risk?
According to several studies, women who drink develop alcohol-related difficulties sooner and at lower blood alcohol levels than males for various reasons. Women on average weigh less than men. Furthermore, because alcohol is primarily found in body water, women have proportionally less water in their bodies than men. When a woman and a man of similar weight drink the same amount of alcohol, their blood alcohol levels (BACs) will differ. The higher BAC for the woman puts her at greater risk of harm including alcohol induced brain damage. Biological variations may also play a part in alcohol dependence and drug addiction and even alcohol poisoning.
What are the long-term health consequences?
Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a progressive, relapsing brain disease characterized by an inability to control or stop alcohol use despite detrimental social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD may be moderate to severe, and regardless of severity, recovery is possible.
Liver Damage
Women who drink excessively are more likely than males who drink the same amount to get alcoholic hepatitis, a potentially fatal liver disease resulting from alcohol abuse. This pattern of drinking may also lead to cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring).
Heart Disease
Over time, heavy drinking can induce a variety of health issues. Long-term alcohol misuse is one of the most common causes of heart disease. Even though women may drink less than men throughout their lives, they are more susceptible to alcohol-related heart problems.
Brain Damage
According to studies, alcohol misuse damages the brain faster in women than in males. Furthermore, recent research indicates that alcohol can impair normal brain development throughout adolescence, and there may be differences in the effect of alcohol on adolescent girls’ and boys’ brains.
According to another study, teens who reported binge drinking had less brain activity and worse memory performance than those who drank lightly or did not drink. Furthermore, teenage girls who binge drink had a more significant shrinkage in essential brain regions involved in memory and decision-making than adolescent males who got hammered.
Women may be more vulnerable than males to alcohol-related blackouts, which occur when a person’s memory of events while drunk is lost. Memory consolidation occurs when someone drinks enough alcohol to temporarily block the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term storage in the brain region called the hippocampus.
Breast Cancer
There is a link between alcohol use and developing breast cancer. According to studies, women who have about one drink per day have a 5 to 9 percent higher chance of getting breast cancer women who do not drink at all. The risk rises associated with women and alcohol rises with each additional alcoholic beverage they consume daily.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
While a few glasses of wine a week during pregnancy may not be harmful, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says drinking excessively or binge drinking is unsafe. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause physical, intellectual, and behavioral defects in children that can all be components of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). When women drink, the risk of preterm labor increases.
Women who should limit or avoid alcohol altogether include:
- Anyone who is pregnant or attempting to get pregnant
- Anyone under the age of 21 is not permitted.
- Anyone who takes drugs that could cause an adverse reaction with alcohol, such as sedatives, sleeping pills, pain relievers, or anti-anxiety medicines, should consult their doctor.
Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption when trying to conceive or while pregnant. There is also no time during pregnancy when drinking is recommended. Alcohol, whether it be wine or beer, causes the same problems in the fetus.
The FAS is preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Why Is Alcohol So Dangerous?
During pregnancy, the mother’s blood passes across the umbilical cord to her baby. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, and various long-term physical, social, and cognitive impairments.
According to a report from the World Health Organization, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) include a variety of specific impairments that may be observed during any stage of pregnancy. Following are some examples of characteristics and behaviors that children with FASDs might have:
- Facial deformity characterized by an unusually smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (the philtrum)
- Head size is smaller than average
- The height of shorter-than-average
- Underweight status
- exhibits poor motor skills
- behavior that is overly active
- Difficulty with attention
- Poor memory
- Difficulty in school (especially with math)
- Learning disabilities
- Speech and language delays
- Intellectually handicapped or having a below-average intellect
- lack of critical thinking and judgment abilities
- Sleep and feeding difficulties in infants
- Vision or hearing difficulties
- Kidneys or bones are susceptible to damage.
When Alcohol is Bad for You
Alcohol use during pregnancy is not recommended. Alcohol can cause difficulties for the fetus throughout pregnancy, including before a mother knows she is expecting.
Alcohol use in the first three months of pregnancy may affect an affected baby with unusual facial features.
Drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy can cause growth and central nervous system disorders (such as low birth weight and behavioral issues). The developing brain of the fetus is affected by exposure to alcohol at any time throughout pregnancy.
If a woman is expecting a baby, it’s never too late to quit drinking. The sooner a pregnant woman stops consuming alcohol, the better for both her unborn child and herself.
ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a “drink?”
One drink can be 1 ounce of hard liquor, 4 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.
How does drinking affect my fetus?
Alcohol can damage your unborn baby at any time during pregnancy, even before you know that you are pregnant. Heavy drinking has been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature delivery.
What if I drank before I knew I was pregnant?
It is safest to stop drinking as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. You should not drink at all during pregnancy, and alcohol may be present in your breast milk and could harm a baby who isn’t born yet.
How much alcohol can I drink before it affects my baby?
There is no known “safe” amount of alcohol to drink while you are pregnant. Since the safest choice for both mother and baby is abstinence, ACOG recommends that pregnant women or who think they could be pregnant avoid drinking.
Can my child have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder if I drank but never had any symptoms?
Studies have linked even one episode of binge drinking (4 or more drinks on occasion) to an increased risk for fetal alcohol syndrome in a baby.
Women Who Drink Alcohol and Breastfeeding
Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, whether in large amounts or occasional “toasts” with friends, can cause drowsiness in the infant, lower milk production, and interfere with the infant’s ability to suck and swallow. Alcohol is present in breast milk up to 3-4 hours after drinking alcoholic beverages.
In the United States, doctors recommend not drinking alcohol and abuse alcohol while breastfeeding. This is because: Alcohol passes through breast milk to your baby and enters his/her bloodstream more easily than it enters yours. An occasional drink is probably safe, but binge drinking should be avoided especially if you are breastfeeding.
The safest approach is to not drink any alcoholic beverages while breastfeeding. If you choose to have an alcoholic beverage, do not drink excessively and wait at least 3 hours before breastfeeding or pumping milk for your baby.
Excessive alcohol intake by women who drink can reduce milk production, which may result in insufficient milk supply for infant growth and development.
Alcohol, being a substance that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, can cause drowsiness or lethargy in your baby.
Alcohol may alter the taste of breast milk and interfere with your baby’s ability to suck and swallow while breastfeeding. Your baby may stop feeding on the side that you drank alcohol on.
Even if you drink small amounts of alcohol less than 3 hours before nursing, some of the alcohol will get into your milk. This may cause drowsiness in your baby, reduce the amount of milk he/she drinks, and delay or diminish its passing through your breast milk.
A small number of babies are born with an enzyme deficiency that makes them less able to process alcohol. If you drink slowly over a period of time, rather than drinking large amounts of alcohol all at once, these babies are more likely to experience symptoms.
Get Help from an Alcohol Use Treatment Center
Women should know that alcohol abuse is a serious issue and not be afraid to talk about it. Talking with people around you can help, but if alcoholism becomes an issue, seeking professional help may be necessary.
Alcohol use does not discriminate by gender or age; unfortunately, many women are unaware of the severity of this problem until it’s too late. The best thing we can do as women today is recognizing the signs and symptoms early on before addiction takes over our lives.
And if we think others might have a drinking problem, we need to encourage them to seek professional help sooner rather than later–we owe it to ourselves and those who love us!
