Women are known to have a higher risk as compared than men due to drinking of alcohol. According to different studies women after drinking gain higher concentration of alcohol in blood and become more debilitated as compared to men when both are taking an equivalent concentration of alcohol. Women after drinking are more susceptible than men for organ damages and other traumas. It is also seen that females who are prone to alcohol have more death rates than men because of some incidents like suicide, accidents, or other health troubles. The higher risks of drinking may be due to gender differences such as differences in brain chemistry or metabolism. The absorption and metabolism in females are different than men.

Why do women like drinking alcohol?

Women of different cultures love drinking alcohol because of a number of reasons:

• For relaxing
• For gaining confidence in a social situation
• For gaining sleep
• For relieving stress and tension

Many women drink responsibly keeping in mind all harmful effects. But alcohol usage poses unique risks among women. Men drink more than women but women are more prone to the harmful effects of alcohol. With smaller amounts of alcohol, they have the alcohol-related disorder. They tend to become alcoholic abuse because of problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Drinking at higher rate increases the chances that females become dependent over alcohol.

Some risks associated with alcohol over GI tract in women:

Alcohol above the 40% is known to damage your mucous membrane. Strong alcohol triggers gastritis, esophagitis, and gastro-duodenitis. Constant usage of alcohol in women can cause chronic inflammatory disorder as well as cancer of esophagus and stomach. Ethyl alcohol is known as a natural toxin that causes the destruction of cells which are lining on esophagus, intestine, and stomach. Alcohol randomly enters the mucosa and quickly enters blood and organs causing a toxic effect on her. The regular usage of alcohol causes the destruction of the cell wall of vessels that moves towards the stomach.

Deformation of salivary glands: There are increasingly atrophic changes in salivary glands due to the usage of alcohol.

Reflux esophagitis: With alcohol, your esophagus suffers from its burn, it is because the valve in between the esophagus and stomach relaxes under Ethanol usage. Small doses of food and liquids can trigger sharp pain behind breast bone.

Alcoholic Gastritis: There is swelling of the tongue, the face of the victim gets pale and there is a quickening of the pulse. Nausea and uncontrollable vomiting can happen. Post-vomiting there remains bitter bile taste inside your mouth. With the first attack of alcoholic gastritis, you should stop using alcohol.

Liver Disorders: Alcoholism brings lessening of enzyme systems that are responsible for the breakdown of alcohol inside the liver. There is inflammation of mucous membrane, an increase in the frequency of drinking among women. There is a speedy degradation of parenchymal tissue of the liver. There occurs frequent acute alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. This can sometimes lead to death also. There is also an increase in the probability of development of biliary dyskinesia. Through the use of sweet wines and liquors, rocks are formed.

Effect on pancreas: With alcohol use in women, there can be the development of acute or chronic pancreatitis, and the start of type-1 diabetes. In some cases, surgical treatment is required.

Effect on intestine: Alcohol use in women upsets the acid and alkaline balance, fluid in the intestine. This leads to constipation. Sometimes problems get severe and fecal stones are formed.

Biological factors that tend to make women more sensitive to alcohol are that women body has more fatty tissue and less water than men. It is known that fat retains alcohol and water causes dilution, therefore, alcohol remains in women body for a longer duration. Changes in hormonal level during the menstrual cycle of women also affects the metabolism process, and women have a lesser amount of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase thus metabolism of alcohol is slow that tend to increase alcohol absorption.

Warnings Associated with Alcohol Drinking

• When her driving is affected due to alcohol.
• When she is having a strong urge to drink.
• When she begins to miss her work.
• When she increases her alcohol consumption more than before.
• When she drinks more than 7 drinks within a week.

Recovery from Alcohol

People believed that women with alcohol abuse are less likely to recover than men. Females with drinking problems may feel shy in approaching treatment plans because of the social stigma attached to women drinking. Females often turn to alcohol because they are struggling emotionally such as job loss, medical diagnosis, and loss of a loved one or other issue. There are various treatment centers that help women who have gone alcohol addict. It is her who should take a step and find the best treatment center for her or she can take a pledge from now itself to never drink alcohol. Developing a good habit is in her hands. If she overcomes her addiction, she becomes free of gaining any adverse effects related to alcohol drinking.

Every woman should understand that alcohol is not only a way of getting a support. You can seek medical or emotional support from others. There is various medication, treatment centers, and psychotherapy that can help a person to limit or stop alcohol usage. Ultimately it is your health. If you are healthy, you can achieve much. Keep alcohol miles away from you and never let it affect your mind and body. Your willingness and determination to leave alcohol will only help you. In all pathological problem of your GI tract on consumption of alcohol, immediately seek the help of a gastroenterologist for advice.