Many people assume that women are more greatly affected by alcohol than men because they generally weigh less and have lower rates of drinking. While this is true, researchers have found other ways in which women are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.
One important finding is that the enzyme responsible for breaking down alcohol is less active in women. This means that more alcohol winds up in a woman's bloodstream. Additionally, a woman's higher ratio of body fat makes alcohol spread through her body more slowly.
This greater sensitivity to alcohol leaves women more prone to alcohol-related illnesses like cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol-induced brain damage. Other worrisome results show a correlation between heavy drinking among women and their rate of sexual victimization and
domestic5 violence. While there have always been reasons for women to be careful when drinking alcohol, this new research gives them even more cause to be aware and play it safe.