Womens Alcohol Rehab Center Washington

Women’s Alcohol Rehab Center Washington

Traditionally, alcohol abuse has been less common in women compared to men. However, studies show that alcohol misuse is on the rise among women. And while an alcohol use disorder presents a serious risk to anyone, women who drink excessively have a higher risk of health-related problems than men. If you are a woman with problematic drinking patterns, you should not delay seeking care at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. In this article, we talk about some of the health risks women who abuse alcohol should be aware of as well as the treatment options available to them.

Safe Drinking Levels for Women

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem in the United States. An estimated 5 million American women suffer from an alcohol use disorder. However severe the condition, women battling alcoholism can benefit from treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. But first, we need to understand safe drinking levels in women. In other words, we need to understand what constitutes excessive alcohol consumption in women. How does a woman know that she needs to cut back on drinking or go to a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says heavy alcohol use 3 drinks a day or more for women. Binge drinking is drinking alcohol to the extent that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 g/dL or higher. In a typical woman, this corresponds to 4 or more drinks in roughly 2 hours. Heavy alcohol use and binge drinking are risk factors for alcohol use disorder that may require treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington.

Did you know that women can develop alcoholism after drinking less than men? That may be one reason why so many women are seeking care at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. To reflect this risk, the drinking levels in women are lower than men.

What’s more, certain women should avoid drinking alcohol altogether, such as:

  • Women whose job involves driving or operating heavy machinery.
  • Women who are taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications that can interact with alcohol, for example, sleeping pills, sedatives, anti-anxiety medications, and antidepressants.
  • Women with certain medical conditions that can be worsened by alcohol use, such as heart failure, irregular heart rhythm, diabetes, and high triglycerides.
  • Women with a history of alcohol use disorder or treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington.
  • Women less than 21 years of age.
  • Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Women Face Higher Risks from Alcohol Abuse

Excessive drinking is harmful to both men and women; however, women face greater health risks related to alcohol abuse compared to men. Also, women develop alcohol-related health problems at lower drinking levels than men. These additional health complications need to be managed along with alcohol use disorder at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington.

Multiple factors put women at higher risk of health complications from alcohol use. For one, women have lower body weight and more water content than men (alcohol is predominantly present in body water). Meaning, if a man and woman who weigh the same have an equal number of the same drinks, the blood alcohol concentration will be higher for the woman and will put her at more risk of harm. Various biological differences between men and women also play a role in women developing alcoholism faster. The healthcare team at a top women’s alcohol rehab center Washington understands these differences and has experience in treating women accordingly.

Long-Term Health Risks of Drinking in Women

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is defined as a woman’s inability to reduce or stop using alcohol despite negative effects on her social life, work life, and health. The severity of an alcohol use disorder can vary. Women with mild AUD may need a medical detox followed by outpatient treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. On the other hand, women with moderate to severe AUD may need residential addiction treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. Whatever the severity of the AUD, recovery is possible with appropriate treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington that uses evidence-based modalities.

In the following paragraphs, we discuss some of the health risks associated with alcohol abuse in women and why it is important to seek treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington.

Liver Disease: Regular abuse of alcohol can lead to alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), which are potentially fatal diseases.

Heart Disease: One of the leading causes of heart disease in men and women is long-term alcohol use. Women who misuse alcohol are at higher risk of heart disease compared to men. Women can develop heart disease at lower levels of drinking than men. Heart conditions can complicate addiction treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington.

Brain Changes: Alcohol affects the human brain quite significantly. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests brain damage as a result of alcohol use develops more quickly in women than men. Also, women are more susceptible to alcohol-induced blackouts than men. Studies in teenage girls and boys have shown that girls who drink have worse performance on memory tests as well as a greater reduction in the size of critical brain areas compared to boys. A women’s alcohol rehab center Washington may offer an addiction treatment program for adolescents to address their unique needs.

Breast Cancer: Scientists have identified a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer in women. Studies have shown that women who have 1 drink daily have up to 9% higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who abstain from alcohol completely. The risk of breast cancer increases with every additional daily drink.

Pregnancy: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing baby and may lead to physical, behavioral, and cognitive problems after birth. Children born to mothers who abused alcohol during the pregnancy are also at risk of a condition called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders due to exposure to alcohol before birth. Oftentimes, women seeking care at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington are new mothers with infants who are suffering from the negative effects of maternal alcohol abuse.

Finding a Women’s Alcohol Rehab Center Washington

Discover Recovery is a leading women’s alcohol rehab center Washington staffed by a highly experienced team of healthcare providers, including board-certified physicians with specialization in addiction medicine, masters level counselors, and registered nurses. Some of our staff members are themselves women who have battled alcoholism and understand the challenges of seeking care at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington. Our holistic alcohol rehab program has proven outcomes in helping women overcome alcohol addiction. We use a medical detox program and a range of behavioral therapies at our women’s alcohol rehab center Washington to provide comprehensive care and give you the best chance of lasting sobriety.

If you or someone you love needs addiction treatment at a women’s alcohol rehab center Washington, get in touch with Discover Recovery today and start your journey to a sober future.

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