Educating women about the hidden dangers of alcohol.
1. There is mounting research evidence that alcohol use and abuse affects women much differently than men. 2. Research indicates that women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently than men, partly due to body composition differences and the production of less gastric alcohol dehydrogenase by women. 3. Women of child-bearing age who engage in binge drinking are at increased risk of bearing children with fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related neurological deficits. 4. Psychiatric nurses are often in the position to provide education and counseling to women regarding the hidden dangers of alcohol use and abuse.
Cook
Linda J
LJ
Department of Nursing, Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania 17815, USA. lcook@bloomu.edu
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000451:nursing; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health