Alcohol & Women's Health

Let me begin this post with full disclosure of my own personal bias... I do not drink. Not even a little. Long story short, I had a great time drinking until I didn't. I also do not judge anyone else on their decision to drink if that's what they choose to do. Drinking culture has so many different reasons for existing, so many ways that it is integrated into our society, and so many emotions both negative and positive surrounding it that it is much too complex for me to dig into. My focus with this post is to highlight what is happening, in particular, to women's health in regard to alcohol.

Our society is bombarded with positive drinking associations and advertising that your glass of wine, or beer, or however many cocktails or shots at the end of the day is just as normal as a glass of water. Women "deserve" it. We "earned" it. It is "empowering".

Here's one personal example I can think of where there was a normalization of drinking behavior. When my daughter was around three years old, I joined a "mom group" to meet some other moms and kids. I showed up for the first get-together and everyone was drinking wine. It was 9:00 in the morning. Everyone drank their wine (2-3 glasses each) and socialized while the kids entertained each other and then all the half-buzzed moms got in their cars and drove their kids home. No biggie. I had already given up drinking at this point, so I couldn't help but notice that if I had still been drinking, I would have gladly (excitably) partaken in some morning wine with my playdate and not have thought twice about it. I wouldn't be surprised if every single person reading this can come up with a story where alcohol doesn't really fit in to the situation but was "normalized", and therefore, accepted.

I share this story because I think it sums up the glorified view of alcohol that we all face as women on a daily basis. What would you do in that situation and why? All women should understand the risks of drinking so that they can make an informed decision on drinking in any situation. Let's get into it.

Research shows that alcohol use and misuse among women is increasing. Alcohol misuse can harm anyone, but women have a higher risk of a number of alcohol related problems in comparison to men. Alcohol affects women differently than men in several ways.

Alcohol - induced deaths for females have increased approximately 35% from 2000-2021. This is an increase higher than what was seen during the pandemic from 2019-2020.

Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use — United States, 2016–2021 | MMWR (cdc.gov)

More than one drink a day raises risk of heart disease more for women than men. Alcohol at a high intake in women is reported to raise heart disease risk by 45%. Alcohol at a moderate intake in women is reported to raise heart disease risk by 29%. In comparison, alcohol at a high intake in men is reported to raise heart disease risk by 22%.

Alcohol Raises Heart Disease Risk, Particularly Among Women - American College of Cardiology (acc.org)

There are several differences in the way alcohol is processed in women versus men. These differences explain why women develop alcohol-related health problems at lower intakes, and on average, show why women are more susceptible to the effect of alcohol than men. First, women have a higher body fat percentage and lower water content which causes women to absorb more alcohol and take longer to metabolize it (alcohol diffuses primarily into lean tissue). This means that after drinking the same amount of alcohol, a woman will have a higher blood alcohol concentration than a man. The alcohol remains in a woman's body longer (alcohol tends to be more concentrated in the lean body mass of women), which increases the long term negative health effects of drinking for a woman more than men.

Second, there is an enzyme which breaks down alcohol in the stomach called alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme is less active in women than in men, resulting in a higher percentage of alcohol entering the bloodstream before it can be metabolized. This leads to women having higher alcohol levels for longer.

The health consequences that women can face in relation to alcohol consumption include, but are not limited, to the following:

• cardiovascular health and disease

• compromised GI functioning

• gastritis

• ulcers

• immune system damage

• pancreatitis

• liver disease

• increased breast cancer risk

• engagement in risky and harmful behaviors

• changes in brain structure and function

• increase in several forms of cancer (liver, head, neck, gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, colorectal)

• decreased sleep quality (frequent waking, daytime fatigue)

• fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

It is important to note that many of these risks are tied to excessive drinking, but in early 2023, the World Health Organization has made it clear that there is no safe amount that does not affect human health.

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (who.int)

I hope that this helps educate and clarify the dangers for women when it comes to drinking. I will admit that I spent the better part of my 20's barhopping and having a great time all while not knowing any of the risks that I'm currently aware of. I may have made some different decisions if I would have done the research. Just remember that drinking hits women hard, and it's worth thinking twice about.

If you are a non-drinker, good for you. If you have never drank, good for you. Don't start! If you are someone that has balanced drinking in your life and can enjoy it responsibly, good for you. If you are someone that has started a new positive health behavior, you may have become aware that you are drinking a little too much and naturally adjust your intake to a healthier level. Good for you.

If you feel like you have a problem with drinking, there should be no shame. Alcohol Use Disorder is real, and there are resources out there to help . Addiction is characterized by the following:

• A compulsive drive to use an addictive substance or perform an addictive activity

• A loss of control over the substance use or performance of the behavior

• Harmful consequences

• Distorted perceptions and denial concerning the addiction and its consequences

If you are struggling with alcohol, please reach out to someone for help. A trusted family member or friend is a good place to start. A google search on help in your area can be beneficial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offer a lot of useful information and help.

Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC

Prioritize your health!