Physiologically speaking, a woman is more likely to experience the negative consequences of alcohol consumption than a guy does. The same amount of alcohol consumed by a larger man will result in a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a smaller woman. A woman will become more drunk than a male, even if they are the same size and consume the same amount of alcohol. There are a number of reasons why this is so:
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Less Water is Carried About in a Woman’s Body.
Water makes up 52% of a woman’s body while making up 61% of a man’s. Therefore, alcohol is diluted more in a man’s body and retained longer in a woman’s (increasing BAC).
The way the body handles alcohol is affected by the fact that women, on average, have a higher percentage of body fat than males of the same weight. Since fat prevents the dissolution of alcohol, a woman’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises to a higher level after consuming the same amount of alcohol as a guy of equal weight.
Alcohol Dehydrogenase is an Enzyme With Lower Levels in Females.
Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is an enzyme found in the liver and stomach that aids in the breakdown of alcoholic beverages. A woman’s BAC will rise since alcohol isn’t metabolised as efficiently in her body as it is in a man’s.
There may be Hormonal Differences Between the Sexes that Influence Alcohol Metabolism.
The rate at which a woman becomes inebriated is affected by fluctuations in hormone levels that occur during the menstrual cycle. In the days leading up to menstruation, a woman’s metabolism slows, allowing more alcohol to reach her system and increasing her rate of intoxication. The oestrogen in birth control tablets and other drugs also slows women’s alcohol metabolism.
All of these Factors Contribute to Increased Dangers to Women’s Health.
- Women are more vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol drinking due to biological differences between males and women. Alcohol-related illnesses, like breast cancer, are more common in women.
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that the mortality rate from cirrhosis is around two times higher in women than in men.
- Drinking alcohol puts women at greater risk for hypertension and stroke than it does for males.
- When it comes to breast cancer, women who consume more than two alcoholic beverages daily are at a higher risk.
Last Words
Alcohol is twice as harmful for women who suffer with addiction as it is for males. Sleep: Alcohol is more likely to interrupt women’s sleep than men’s.
