Did you know that alcohol affects women and men differently? Research has found that females are more susceptible to the damaging effects that excessive drinking causes.
Why is this?
Well, because men have more water in their bodies than women, females will experience much higher alcohol levels in their blood, even if they have the same body weight.
This makes women who drink excessively more at risk for picking up alcohol-related illnesses such as liver or heart disease and brain damage.
There has been a big debate on whether alcohol increases the chances of picking up breast cancer, however recent studies has shown that drinking daily does not make women more susceptible to developing the disease.
It’s been found that men drink more regularly than women and are more likely to become addicted to alcohol.
However, females between the ages of 20 – 30 are more likely to drink and in some cases, the drinking may get worse especially when they have to deal with stress at work or at home.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines the safe drinking limits between the two genders as follows:
Low risk drinking limits are:
- Women: No more than 7 drinks per week and no more than 3 drinks on any single day
- Men: No more than 14 drinks per week and no more than 4 drinks on any single day
To stay low risk, you must keep within both the single-day and weekly limits. Low risk does not mean no risk. Even within these limits, you can have problems if you drink too quickly or have other health issues. Drinking slowly and making sure you eat enough while drinking can help minimise alcohol’s effects.”
Another factor to how alcohol affects women differently to men is drinking during pregnancy.
- Drinking while pregnant can cause serious damage to the health of the mother and unborn child.
It’s been said that when a pregnant mother drinks, her baby drinks as well. Alcohol is a substance known as a Teratogen, which affects growth, which is especially important for the foetus developing inside of the womb.
When a women drinks excessively during pregnancy, it increases the chances that the baby will develop a condition known as Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which causes physical and psychological defects in newborn babies.
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We strongly urge all pregnant women to refrain from drinking during the 9 month period.
If you or a loved one has a drinking problem, then it’s important to get professional help immediately.
The best way to treat alcohol abuse and alcoholism is by staying inside a rehabilitation centre for a length of time dependent on the severity of the symptoms suffered.
In rehab, patients will receive a supervised medical detoxification – which minimises any cravings for alcohol, 24-hour medical assistance and various counselling and therapy to help educate the addict about their addiction and how they can avoid drinking in the future.
Outpatient treatment is also available for those fresh out of rehab or who cannot stay inside the clinic. It does not involve a residential stay inside the centre but patients will have to attend counselling and therapy sessions on a daily basis.
For those looking to continue their alcoholic treatment, tertiary care is available. Tertiary care is very effective in helping addicts achieve long term sobriety from alcohol.
We provide access to the best alcohol rehabilitation centres in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Thailand. Call us now and let one of our qualified addiction counsellors assist in finding the right treatment for you or your loved one.
