While the physical effects of alcohol on everybody can take their toll, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that even in small amounts, the effects of alcohol on women differ drastically. Heavy drinking is especially dangerous for women.
Digestion
The NIAAA reports that women are at higher risk of developing abuse problems and addiction because of the rate of absorption in the digestive system. Alcohol spreads through the body as water after it passes through the digestive tract. Higher water contents in the body mean the alcohol is spread across a greater area. Since men typically weigh more than women, they have more water and more space in which the alcohol can be dispersed. As a result, women's brains and organs receive exposure to a higher level of toxins that haven't been digested.
Heart Benefits
Research provided by the NIAAA shows that moderate alcohol drinking might lower the risk for heart disease in both men and women. The positive benefits are related primarily to women over the age of 55. Women should not drink more than one drink per day to avoid harmful side effects. A standard drink is considered to be one 12-ounce bottle of beer, 1.5 ounces of liquor or one five-ounce glass of wine.
Side Effects
There is some research reported by the NIAAA that suggests even one drink a day can increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. The risk is even greater when a woman has a family history of breast cancer or is post-menopausal. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a devastating condition that affects the fetus when pregnant women engage in moderate to heavy drinking. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a mental defect that also causes babies to be born small with disfigured facial features. The brain damage results in lifelong memory problems, difficulty learning and diminished attention span.
Dependence
The NIAAA says that women who drink four or more drinks a day or more than eight drinks a week is at risk for developing a physical dependence on alcohol. In addition to the addiction, alcoholism can cause liver damage, cancer, brain disease and heart problems. Women who drink heavily are at more risk of being raped or sexually assaulted and of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The Marin Institute estimates that the death rate for female alcoholics is 50 to 100 percent higher for women than for men. Most common causes of death are suicide, alcoholic injuries such as car accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and circulatory disorders.
