Is Alcohol Mortality Rising Among Women?
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We know that alcohol use has been growing over the years, but have you ever wondered how alcohol affects women differently than men? What about alcohol-related mortality in women? What are the alcohol death rates in the U.S.? Let’s explore the recent findings on alcohol mortality among women and see if there is a gender difference in mortality rates!
A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has found that more women, especially those over 65, are dying from alcohol-related causes than ever before, and the gap between male and female alcohol-related mortality rates is closing. Researchers looked at CDC data, analyzing over 600,000 deaths from 1999 to 2020 that were related to alcohol, like alcohol poisoning, liver diseases, heart problems, severe intoxication, and mental or behavior issues.
In the past 15 years, deaths from alcohol use have been increasing in the U.S., and although more men have died from alcohol-related use, alcohol related mortality in women is increasing at a faster rate. From 2018 to 2020, deaths rose by 12.5% each year for men but for women, deaths have gone up by 14.7% each year. The study highlighted a rise in deaths among women aged 65 and older. For this age group, deaths increased by 6.7% each year from 2012 to 2020, compared to a 5.2% increase for men aged 65 and older.
Although men are more likely to consume alcohol and engage in binge drinking, women are now drinking more frequently and in larger quantities than in the past.
A survey involving nearly 18,000 college students across the U.S. found that about one in three female students participates in binge drinking, defined as consuming four or more drinks in a short period. The study also found that the incidence of binge drinking at all-women's colleges more than doubled from 1993 to 2001. Despite a higher dependence on alcohol among college men, over half of the college students who abuse alcohol are women.
These trends are concerning because binge drinking poses health risks for both genders and also heightens the risk of engaging in unintended and potentially unwanted sexual activities.
Although the JAMA study does not offer explanations for this narrowing in mortality, the study’s lead author, Ibraheem Karaye, offers a few potential theories.
There are extensive implications of rising alcohol-related issues among women, not just at an individual level but also within families and society at large. Although many drink in moderation, it's important to recognize that alcohol poses specific risks to all women. Despite men being more likely to drink and develop problems from their drinking, women are significantly more susceptible to alcohol’s damaging effects.
Women often face alcohol-related health issues and other negative consequences sooner than men, and these can arise even with lower overall alcohol consumption. Exceeding light to moderate drinking levels (more than about seven drinks per week) places women at a heightened risk of car accidents, traumatic injuries, various forms of cancer, high blood pressure, strokes, and suicide. Furthermore, high levels of drinking can lead to alcohol abuse or dependency.
The physical toll of increased alcohol consumption among women is significant. Women have a greater likelihood of developing alcoholic liver diseases such as hepatitis (liver inflammation) and are more prone to dying from liver cirrhosis (a chronic disease that impairs the liver's functioning in digestion and detoxification). Alcohol-induced brain damage, including mental function decline and reduced brain size, is more common in women than in men. Heavy drinking in women also elevates the risk of many conditions:
Regular alcohol consumption can increase a woman's likelihood of developing breast cancer. Each additional 10 grams of alcohol daily (equivalent to one 4-oz glass of wine) can increase the relative lifetime risk of breast cancer by approximately 10%.
To illustrate, a woman who doesn't drink has nearly a 9% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. This risk increases to just over 10% with two drinks per day and approximately 13% with six drinks per day.
These health challenges not only affect women’s well-being; they lead to increased healthcare costs and strain on medical resources.
Beyond physical health, women’s mental health is profoundly impacted by alcohol. Alcohol misuse is often associated with mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Women are also more prone to using alcohol and other substances to self-treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress, or to manage emotional challenges.
The cycle of drinking to cope with mental health issues, which are in turn exacerbated by alcohol, creates a detrimental loop. This not only affects women’s quality of life but also their ability to function effectively in various roles.
Ingesting alcohol while pregnant can lead to a range of physical and mental developmental issues in the unborn child, making it the top preventable reason for intellectual disabilities in the United States. Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman easily reaches the fetus through the placenta. Since a fetus’s digestive system processes alcohol much more slowly than an adult's, the alcohol levels in the fetus's blood can remain elevated for an extended period of time.
Drinking any type of alcohol in any amount can be detrimental to a fetus, especially during the initial two trimesters of pregnancy. Doctors and public health experts strongly advise against any alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
On a broader scale, the societal impacts are substantial. Increased healthcare costs due to alcohol-related health issues are just the tip of the iceberg. There's also a loss of productivity in the workplace, increased rates of absenteeism, and potentially higher instances of alcohol-related accidents and injuries. Moreover, there's a social cost in terms of the increased need for social services, law enforcement, and support systems for families affected by alcohol misuse.
Although there are specific issues of alcohol use that affect women, alcohol negatively affects everyone’s health and well-being. To protect against these harms, let’s learn how we can cut back or quit drinking.
Cutting back or quitting drinking will have many positive benefits for your health and well-being. The first step to changing your lifestyle is always recognizing the negative effects of drinking on your body, especially how alcohol can more severely affect women than men.
Anyone who has faced the challenge of recovering from alcohol dependence or abuse understands the difficulty of this journey. Alcohol has negative impacts on everyone, but some of these effects can be more severe for women than men. However, research also indicates that women have an equal chance of recovery as men once they start treatment. It’s never too late to start the recovery process or take your first step toward an alcohol-free lifestyle!
1. Is alcohol mortality among women on the rise?
Yes, a study from The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows an increase in alcohol-related deaths among women, especially those over 65. The gap between men and women in alcohol-related deaths is closing, with a sharper increase in mortality rates for women in recent years.
2. How prevalent is binge drinking among women?
A survey of nearly 18,000 U.S. college students found that about one in three female students engages in binge drinking. At all-women's colleges, the rate of binge drinking more than doubled from 1993 to 2001. Interestingly, over half of the college students who abuse alcohol are women, despite a higher dependence on alcohol among college men.
3. What are the potential causes for the rise in alcohol mortality among women?
The causes are multifaceted, including biological differences (women metabolize alcohol differently due to a higher fat-to-water ratio and less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase), sociocultural factors (changes in societal norms and targeted alcohol marketing), psychological factors (increased rates of depression and anxiety), work-life stress, and significant life transitions like menopause or loss of a partner.
4. What are the specific health risks for women related to alcohol?
Women face a higher risk of alcohol-related diseases like liver disease and brain damage. They are also more susceptible to osteoporosis, falls, hip fractures, premature menopause, infertility, miscarriages, high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of breast cancer.
5. How can women cut back or quit drinking?
Setting realistic goals, understanding triggers, building a strong support network, developing new habits, practicing self-care, and seeking medical and professional help are effective strategies. Recognizing the negative effects of alcohol and finding healthier coping mechanisms are key steps.
6. Is recovery from alcohol abuse equally likely for women as for men?
Research indicates that women have as much chance of recovery as men once they begin treatment. This offers hope and encouragement for those starting their recovery journey.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
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