Alcohol Consumption: Harmful or Helpful to Women

Although there are some benefits to women who consume alcohol in moderation, there are many detrimental health risks associated with women and alcohol consumption. On the positive side, alcohol lowers a woman's risk of heart disease and stroke, while increasing her risk for certain cancers, ulcers, accidents, and impaired judgement to name a few. Is alcohol harmful or helpful to women?

We all know that men and women are not biologically created equal. Women are smaller in body size and have a lower tolerance to alcohol. In addition, women metabolize alcohol at a lower efficiency rate than men (a woman's body produces less Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) than men do), resulting in women having a higher blood alcohol level.

Benefits

• Lowers risk of heart disease
• Decreases the risk of strokes
• Alcohol raises the amount of "HDL" (good cholesterol) in the blood

Risks

• Alcoholism
• Ulcers
• Liver Damage (cirrhosis)
• High Blood Pressure
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Impaired judgement
• Drunk Driving
• Accidents

Alcohol Facts

Fact: "Drinking during a woman's earlier years has the greatest effect in promoting breast cancer." Charles S. Fuchs, New England Journal of Medicine, 332 (19):1245 1995.

Fact: "Women alcoholics have a higher rate of cirrhosis of the liver than men alcoholics." Charles S. Fuchs, New England Journal of Medicine, 332 (19):1245 1995.

Fact: "The menstrual cycle affects alcohol consumption, it is much easier to get drunk right before your period. In addition, the birth control pill increases the rate of alcohol absorption." Katie Yavorka, HealthWorks, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Educator.

Fact: Women who drink heavily have more gynecological problems: greater risk of developing alcohol-related diseases, more likely to deal with infertility, higher occurrence of miscarriages, still births and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Fact: People who drink heavily may be substituting alcohol for nutrient-rich, cancer-protective foods. 1996 Guidelines on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention

There are many reasons for women not to drink. However, should you choose to consume alcohol, please consider the following recommendations.

1. If you drink, drink moderately one to two drinks per day advised.
   
2. Women who are classified as a high risk for breast cancer should consider not consuming alcohol.
   
3. Based on scientific studies, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and women taking certain medications should not consume alcohol.

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