When you consider the statistics, you may understand how severe of an impact alcohol continues to leave on our country. Based on a recent report from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, an estimated 17.6 million people in the United States suffer from a form of alcohol use disorder (including alcoholism, abuse, and dependence). That means that 1 in 13 adults are falling victim to this brain disorder. Even more disturbing, out of this ratio, approximately 100,000 people die as a direct result of alcohol consumption. Although we focus on the effects of alcohol on women’s health quite often, did you know that men are actually more likely to suffer more severely from this drug? In fact, some particularly terrible alcohol-related conditions are directly related to the male gender. Let’s take a closer look at some of these effects now.
Increased Chance of Injury
Interestingly, women have a much more difficult time than men when it comes to alcohol-related health problems. In fact, illnesses like liver cirrhosis and hepatitis develop faster in women, and fewer alcoholic men die from this disease than alcoholic women. Even more interesting, more women develop liver cancer from alcoholism or abuse than their male counterparts.
However, men do have a much higher chance of injuries and recklessness than women. For example, did you know that men are 2 times more likely to have a BAC (blood alcohol content) readout of 0.08% or greater than females? Likewise, alcohol poisoning is much more frequent and more dangerous amongst men. Also, alcoholic men are 70% more likely to inflict harm on a child than alcoholic women and exhibit aggression and carelessness far more than females. So why is this the case?
Simply put, men have a higher tolerance for alcohol and will consume more of the beverage. Women, on the other hand, feel the effects of alcohol much faster and (with hope) will quit before it’s too late. Not to say that men will not take appropriate action.
Reproductive and Hormone Problems
Perhaps one of the most terrifying results of alcohol consumption among men is the onset of sexual and hormonal problems. After consuming excessive amounts of this drug, men’s primary sex organ (testicles) will lose proper function, and the male hormone will drop significantly. As a result, male abusers and alcoholics will experience erectile dysfunction, impotence, infertility, loss of facial and chest hair, and gynecomastia (abnormal growth of breast tissue).
Always remember that alcohol does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your alcohol abuse or addiction troubles today.
