Introduction
Since time in immemorial, humanity has yielded to the temptation of using chemical substances that has caused irreversible damages to otherwise beautiful, and sound human people. This has resulted to a desperate search for the ‘cure’ instead of the more noble cause of prevention.
Among all these destructive substances, alcohol is the leading one and a significant companion of the 21st century people as well as a way of relaxing to escape the difficulties of posed by life. This trend is quite unfortunate because people ‘relax’ and ‘enjoy’ only forgetting to take care of not only their health, but also the health of people around them.
This unfortunate scenario is especially so for women who are the ones expected to deliver the next generation. Research has shown that woman’s organs are very sensitive to external chemical influences such as alcohol.
It is important to understand the nature of effects of alcohol on women and possible solution. Many people do not consider alcohol as a drug but considering that a drug can affect one’s thinking, acting, and feelings, then alcohol qualifies as a drug since it does all these.
Effects of Alcohol on Women
Alcohol effects last a lifetime and therefore can change the lives of persons abusing it and those who will be subjected to taking care of them. There is difference in metabolism depending on a person’s gender. This difference has led to significant disparities on men and women response to alcohol abuse.
The mechanisms that help explain these disparities include; firstly, women have less water in their body, which would have otherwise helped dilute the alcohol in their blood stream.
Secondly, women bodies are highly concentrated with adipose tissue, which is responsible for slower alcohol absorption. Lastly, women’s bodies have very low level of a particular enzyme that is required for alcohol metabolism.
Alcohol abuse leads to alcohol dependence and a variety of long-term health complications. It is important to note that some of these health problems also occur to men who drink heavily, but women are more susceptible.
Alcohol abuse among women can cause long-term health problems like development of osteoporosis, breast cancer, reproductive problems, heart complications and attack and brain damage. Moreover, women get addicted or dependent on alcohol more rapidly as compared to men.
They are also likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver over a short period and less alcohol. Experiences of violence such as sexual assault are more common to women who are dependent on alcohol. Many women report alcohol abuse while responding to negative feelings to boost confidence or cope with pressure.
Worst of all, pregnant women have particular risks which include giving birth to a baby with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight or premature births. Furthermore, breastfeeding is not recommended if the mother consumes large amounts of alcohol not to mention that there are not safe amounts of alcohol for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
When a woman abuses alcohol consistently, it may lead to transformations on the brain morphology some of which may be permanent. The total brain tissues reduce significantly and size of ventricles grows because an ‘alcoholic’ body lacks natural vitamins produced by a healthy body. Impaired vision and loss of perception are a result of a damaged central nervous system.
Conclusion
Alcohol consumption is engraved in the contemporary culture of celebration. A Christmas party or any other social gathering like birthdays void of champagne, sounds ridiculous especially to the contemporary youth.
Even though there is nothing wrong with such a trend, there is always the grim reality that many choose to overlook. The reality is cruel to say the least.
Thus, even small doses of alcohol can do harm to a woman’s body. The only inference to this problem is to prevent people from drinking alcohol at all and such a noble move will save our daughters, sisters, and mothers from unnecessary pain of dealing with effects of alcoholism in women.