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How Alcohol Affects A Woman's Body

How Alcohol Affects A Woman's Body

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Explore the surprising connection between alcohol consumption, obesity, and health risks.

Highlights:
  • Excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of liver disease and plays a significant role in the development of obesity-related health issues
  • Alcohol affects various aspects of the body, including liver health, brain function, heart health, and the risk of developing certain cancers
  • Women are more susceptible to alcohol-related health problems, and factors like estrogen levels, body fat proportion, and alcohol metabolism contribute to this gender-dependent difference
Lifestyle choices are one of the major causes of obesity. What you feed your body determines the fate and health of the body. In this post, we will discuss one of the most common causes of obesity: alcohol consumption (1 Trusted Source
Alcohol Consumption and Obesity: An Update

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). Yes, you read that correctly. Alcohol not only harms your liver and other organs, but it can also lead to major health consequences.
Dr. Sharwari Dabhade Dua, Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist, said, "Excessive and long-term alcohol consumption is a major cause of liver disease." According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 70% of persons worldwide who suffer from liver problems are primarily classified as patients who consumed far too much alcohol."

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How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?

Obesity and obesity-related health issues plague India. Alcohol alters normal liver morphology, resulting in fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Although alcohol is a direct hepatotoxin, not everyone develops alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Drinking habits, nutrition, obesity, and gender all have a role in the genesis of ALD. People should now comprehend how alcohol can harm the body when ingested in an inappropriate or excessive amount.

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Effects of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol use, particularly heavy drinking, is a substantial risk factor for numerous health conditions and hence contributes significantly to the worldwide disease burden (2 Trusted Source
The Risks Associated With Alcohol Use and Alcoholism

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).
  • Liver disease
  • Affects brain health
  • Heart blockages
  • Increases the risk of developing breast and other cancers
  • High blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Stroke
  • Digestive issues

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Alcohol Affects Women Differently Than Males

"Women are more vulnerable to alcoholic liver disease than men." They acquire ALD with far less alcohol consumption.

"Men are more likely to develop ALD if they consume more than 14 drinks per week, whereas women are more likely if they consume more than 7 drinks per week (more than 20g alcohol/day)," stated Dr. Sahrwani. She went on to say, "Multiple factors, such as estrogen, body fat proportion, and alcohol metabolism in females, appear to be responsible for this gender-dependent difference." Other than gender, factors such as obesity, a high-fat diet, and drinking patterns such as every day and binge drinkers also play a part in triggering liver damage."

Side-Effects of Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Women

Before overindulging in alcohol, women should be aware of the following (3 Trusted Source
Alcohol and Women: A Brief Overview

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):
  • It raises the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, and early birth.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy raises the chances of having a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
  • It has an impact on your menstrual cycle.
  • Can cause breast cancer.


    • References:
      1. Alcohol Consumption and Obesity: An Update - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25741455/)
      2. The Risks Associated With Alcohol Use and Alcoholism - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3307043/)
      3. Alcohol and Women: A Brief Overview - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30779446/)

      Source-Medindia


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