Washington, Jan 26: American researchers from the University of California, San Diego, have suggested that men are twice as likely as women to become alcoholics. Alcoholism refers to circumstances under which an individual becomes addicted to alcoholic drinks in spite of its harmful effects. Alcoholism is a disease either inherited or developed from genetic, psychological or social factors.
Alcoholism refers to circumstances under which an individual becomes addicted to alcoholic drinks in spite of its harmful effects. Alcoholism is a disease either inherited or developed from According to the study, published in the Lancet medical journal, men have a 20 percent risk developing a drink problem in their lifetimes, and 10 percent chance of becoming hooked.
However the lifetime risk for women abusing alcohol was only between 8 and 10 percent, according to the study, reported today in the Daily Telegraph of Britain.
In most countries around the world, alcoholism is a growing cause for concern. Alcoholism has a higher prevalence among men, though in recent decades, the number of female alcoholics has increased. Biologically, women have symptom profiles from their alcohol use that differ in important ways from men.
Equal dosages of alcohol consumed by men and women generally result in women having higher blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). It is attributed to many reasons, including that women have less body water than men.
A given amount of alcohol, therefore becomes more highly concentrated in a woman's body. Besides this fact, women also become more intoxicated, which is due to different hormone release.