Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:
of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
Drinking by a pregnant woman can
harm her unborn baby, and may
result in a set of birth defects called
fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Alcoholic liver disease: Women are
more likely than men to develop
alcoholic hepatitis (liver
inflammation) and to die from
cirrhosis.
Brain disease: Most alcoholics have
some loss of mental function,
reduced brain size, and changes in
the function of brain cells. Research
suggests that women are more
vulnerable than men to alcoholinduced brain damage.
Cancer: In addition to breast cancer, .
Alcohol is linked to cancers of the
digestive track and of the head and
neck (the risk is especially high in
smokers who also drink heavily).
Heart disease: Chronic heavy
drinking is a leading cause of
cardiovascular disease. Among heavy
drinkers, women are more
susceptible to alcohol-related heart
disease, even though women drink
less alcohol over a lifetime than men.
Finally, many alcoholics smoke;
smoking in itself can cause serious
long-term health consequences.
Stay safe…
FAS is the most common known
preventable cause of mental
impairment. Babies with FAS have
distinctive changes in their facial
features and they may be born small.
It can cause a range of
developmental, cognitive, and
behavioural problems, which can
appear at any time during childhood
and last a lifetime.
The brain damage that occurs with
FAS can result in lifelong problems
with learning, memory, attention,
and problem solving. These alcoholrelated changes in the brain may be
present even in babies whose
appearance and growth are not
affected.
Becoming Alcohol Dependent:
Another risk of drinking is that a
woman may at some point abuse
alcohol or become alcoholic (alcohol
dependent). Drinking four or more
drinks on any given day OR drinking
eight or more drinks in a typical week
increases a woman’s risk of
developing alcohol abuse or
dependence.
Culled with permission from:
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/wom
en.htm#drinking
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/wom
en.htm#drinking
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/womensfact/womensf
act.htm
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/FASDFactsheet/FASDf
act.htm
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/research/niaaa-researchhighlights/scientists-rethink-alcoholbreast-cancer-relationship
The following are the health effects
JASMINE'S PLACE
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