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Responses To Alcohol: How Do Men And Women Differ?

Alcohol affecting men and women differently

Men and women are physically different, so it only makes sense that alcohol affects the genders in different ways. Therefore treatment should reflect that.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, Vertava Health’s alcohol addiction treatment can help. You may benefit from our men’s rehab center or women’s rehab center. Both are specifically tailored to meet the needs of each gender. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs, ensuring that you have the best chance of achieving long-term recovery. Contact us today at 844.470.0410 to learn more about our alcohol rehab programs and how we can help you or your loved one start on the road to recovery.

How Alcohol Affects Men and Women Differently

Physically, women and men are different. Women are generally smaller than men and possess less overall body weight. While smaller, women have higher storage of body fat than men. Alcohol is stored in body fat, so women retain more alcohol than men, leading to more prolonged effects of alcohol when drinking. Additionally, alcohol resides within the water in our bodies. As women are generally smaller, they generally have less water and experience higher concentrations of alcohol in their blood when consuming similar amounts to their male counterparts.

Alcohol affects women:

  • More quickly
  • More intensely
  • For a more extended period of time

Men affects men:

  • More slowly
  • Less intensely
  • For a shorter period of time

These physical differences can result in different symptoms of intoxication for each gender. As alcohol affects men and women differently, tailored addiction treatment is essential for effective long-term recovery.

Alcohol-Related Health Risks for Women

  • Women who drink at least one glass of alcohol per day are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who do not consume alcohol.
  • Women who drink suffer more significant risks of heart disease and liver inflammation than men.
  • It takes less alcohol to affect a woman than a man, making women more vulnerable to sexual assault and other alcohol-related violence or disease.
  • Women who drink alcohol regularly may experience changes in their menstrual cycle.
  • Since one in two women who consume alcohol are of childbearing age, women face an increased risk in unintended pregnancy and health risks to babies born to drinking mothers.

Alcohol-Related Health Risks for Men

  • Men who consume alcohol are more likely to commit suicide than women who consume similar quantities.
  • Alcohol use can cause sexual dysfunction as well as reduced fertility in men.
  • Men are likely to behave more aggressively while drinking, increasing the risk of physical or sexual assault and related legal consequences.
  • Men are significantly more likely to be involved in and injured or killed in motor-related accidents than women when they drink.
  • Men are more likely to engage in binge drinking, which carries a whole host of adverse health effects, including brain damage, ulcers, nerve damage, and increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications.
  • Men tend to see elevated blood pressure before women when consuming alcohol.

Find Treatment at Vertava Health

Alcohol affects men and women differently, and treatment should reflect that. Vertava Health’s gender-specific alcohol addiction treatment can help address the unique needs of each gender. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs, ensuring that you have the best chance of achieving long-term recovery. Contact us today at 844.470.0410 to learn more about our alcohol rehab programs and how we can help you or your loved one start on the road to recovery.