According to the study, women who drink eight or more alcoholic drinks a week had a 33–51% increased risk of coronary heart disease..............
Digital desk: Women who enjoy frequent binge drinking should be a little cautious about the results since recent studies have connected alcohol consumption to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Young to middle-aged women who drink more than one alcoholic beverage per day, on average, have a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than those who drink less, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
According to the study, women who drink eight or more alcoholic drinks a week had a 33–51% increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Also, the research findings showed that moderate drinkers had a 68% lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who binge drink, which is defined as consuming three or more alcoholic beverages in a day.
India Today spoke with medical professionals and experts to get their opinions on what is and isn't safe.
Alcohol use has a variety of consequences on women's heart health, ranging from beneficial to detrimental depending on the amount drank.
For both men and women, moderate drinking (one to two drinks per day) is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
However, after a few drinks, the story takes a dramatic turn. Drinking too much alcohol has been connected to several negative health effects, including cardiac problems.
Dr Binoy Poddar, a Lucknow-based hepatologist, said, “Women who engage in heavy drinking are at increased risk for high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and cardiomyopathy—a disorder affecting the heart muscle. Notably, women develop these conditions after consuming less alcohol over a shorter period than men, indicating a higher vulnerability to alcohol-induced heart damage.”
Are there distinct alcohol limits for men and women? If so, what is the upper limit that women can go? These are some of the most commonly asked questions since an increasing number of people are showing a desire to lead healthy lives.
Dr Uday Sanglodkar, senior consultant hepatologist at Gleneagles Hospital Parel, Mumbai, said, “Those drinking alcohol should be extremely cautious as it is a no-brainer that it has various health implications attached to it. When it comes to per day, a half glass of diluted wine with water for women works. Talking about the weekly alcohol consumption, not more than 4 glasses of wine is recommended for women. Women should avoid drinking alcohol daily or even every week. It is advisable to drink once in two months.”
One drink a day is considered moderate for healthy women of any age by experts.
People who say things like, "Oh, I didn't touch alcohol for a month, but last night at a friend's party, I drank like a fish," are common. So the issue is, which is worse: overindulging in one night or having a glass of wine every day?
According to experts, there are serious risks associated with each scenario, but they also have varied long-term effects and physiological effects.
Over time, regular alcohol consumption might result in long-term health problems. Consistent intake, even at mild dosages, is linked to a higher chance of developing malignancies of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and rectal regions.
Moreover, chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive issues can all be attributed to regular drinking. It also increases the chance of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, memory and learning disorders like dementia, and social problems including family troubles and unemployment.
Notably, even moderate drinking carries some danger—for women, the risk of breast cancer can rise with just one drink per day.
However, if you binge drink or drink too much alcohol in one sitting, you may face dire repercussions right away. Alcohol poisoning is a potentially fatal condition that impairs the body's involuntary reflexes, such as breathing and the gag reflex, and increases the risk of choking on vomit.
Dr Sanglodkar said "Gulping down alcohol in large quantities can cause immense stress on the body and lead to alcohol poisoning. But, even 1-2 glasses daily may seem harmless but can cause liver problems such as cirrhosis and liver damage in the long run and one may also require a liver transplant to improve the quality of life. By causing liver disease, constant drinking has negative effects on the kidneys, and one can suffer from acute kidney failure."
Under some conditions, women should think about avoiding alcohol to reduce health risks and possible harmful effects.
Senior consultant Dr. Bhushan Bhole of the liver transplantation department at PSRI Hospital in New Delhi stated, "Women who are planning a pregnancy, expecting a child, or nursing a nursing mother should avoid alcohol." If alcohol is still necessary, it is best to have enough water and eat a balanced meal before drinking.
There is no established safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Consuming drinks during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which include a variety of behavioral, cognitive, and physical issues in offspring. Pregnancy-related alcohol consumption also raises the risk of stillbirth, early delivery, miscarriage, and SIDS.
Medication interactions: Women who take prescription drugs that hurt alcohol should abstain from drinking. Alcohol can have negative effects or change how well a drug works.
Medical conditions: Drinking alcohol should be avoided by those who are managing ailments including liver disease, heart disease, and some mental health issues like anxiety and depression. These conditions can all be made worse by drinking.
History of alcohol use disorder (AUD): To prevent relapse, women recovering from AUD or those who are unable to control their alcohol intake should abstain from alcohol completely.
Higher risk of breast cancer: Research indicates that even occasional drinking raises the risk of breast cancer. To reduce their risk, women who have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors may decide not to drink.
Older adults: Since the body's capacity to metabolize alcohol changes with age, older women may want to abstain from alcohol to reduce the risk of falls, injuries, and prescription interactions with common medications.
Thus, the common opinion among specialists is that alcohol consumption is harmful to both genders, although with different effects. It's crucial to drink sensibly and to know when to scale down or stay away from alcohol. Nothing like it, if you can get rid of it completely, but if you want to continue, you should be aware of the repercussions and be prepared with a shield to face whatever obstacles you may encounter.
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