Womens' Health: Alcohol?

(Editorial comment: In the interest of seeing my hypertension and my weight better-controlled, I've worked to cut back my beer intake to no more than two a day. That, tracking my food intake, and continued running...fingers crossed for better results when my lab work comes back after the new year. MB)


I Gave up Drinking Alcohol (Mostly)—Here’s What Happened
One woman explores how the “mindful drinking” movement is helping people get high on being dry. Joy Manning/Women’s Health/December 27, 2017


A glass of wine at the end of a workday. A cocktail before a social event. For 20 years, my drinking had been moderate. But maintaining moderation was a struggle. There were plenty of nights I’d promise myself I wouldn’t imbibe but end up indulging, or have four drinks instead of the planned one.


These behaviors are red flags for problem drinking, and they’re alarmingly common. Between 2002 and 2013, the number of women engaging in high-risk drinking (four or more in a night) rose by nearly 60 percent. The spike may be driven in part by the quest for gender equality: keeping up with men in politics, careers, and even alcohol consumption, says psychologist Sharon Wilsnack, Ph.D., a professor of behavioral science at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. That's dangerous, since women are more vulnerable to alcohol-related health problems...


(Link to article)