Studies have shown that alcohol consumption affects men and women in different ways. According to standard dietary guidelines, women that consume two drinks per day are drinking at a rate that is above the “moderate” level. Just two drinks a day will put a woman at a greater risk for health related issues than a man who drinks the same amount.

Let’s take a look at the facts. Alcohol is a depressant that slows the functioning of the nervous system. As alcohol is consumed, it enters the body where it is absorbed through the stomach and small intestine. It then enters the bloodstream creating a measurable blood alcohol content. Blood alcohol content or BAC is the standard measure of intoxication.

Men and women metabolize liquor at a different rate. If a man and woman sit down and have a drink together, the woman’s brain and organs will be exposed to more concentrated alcohol than her male companion’s will. This plays a significant role in both the long and short-term effects that alcohol has on women. What this means to women is that they are at a greater risk to have their driving impaired by alcohol. One drink on an empty stomach will put a 130lb woman at a significantly higher risk of being involved in a single car accident due to an increase in her blood alcohol content. Forty-one percent of all alcohol related deaths are due to driving while intoxicated.

Having more than one drink a day can increase the risk of a woman developing breast cancer. Consuming more than four drinks a day almost doubles a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer as well as increasing her chances of developing stomach cancer.
Frequent drinking while pregnant will put an unborn child at risk of developing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Women also have to be concerned about how drinking while taking prescription medication. Alcohol is a depressant and drinking while taking a medication that can cause drowsiness can be deadly.

It is important for women to know the facts on how alcohol can affect their physical and mental well-being. A glass of wine every now and then with friends isn’t going to cause great harm and in fact it may be heart healthy, but it is especially important for women to be in control of their alcohol consumption. If you or anyone you know is having trouble controlling their alcohol intake, it is important for them to seek the proper professional treatment.