Is alcohol worth the risk?

Women are not only less sensitive to the sedating effects of alcohol, researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that the cycling hormonal levels of women can mediate alcohols effects, making them more vulnerable to negative consequences of drinking.Binge drinking increases risky sexual behavior particularly for womenBinge drinking is linked to risky sexual behavior for everyone, but that behavior is particularly dangerous for women.Drinking and breast cancerWomen who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy and who drink just one drink a day double their chances of developing breast cancer, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.Alcoholic liver diseaseWomen are more likely than men to develop alcoholic hepatitis (liver inflammation) and to die from cirrhosisFemale drinking and brain damageThe latest studies show that females face more brain damage and memory loss than men who drink the same amount for the same period of time.Heart diseaseChronic heavy drinking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Among heavy drinkers, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related heart disease, even though women drink less alcohol over a lifetime than men.