A study from Idaho State University says that alcohol causes more physiological stress in women than in men. According to the study by Dan Selvage, women release higher leels of stress hormones. This means the hormones could mask other illnesses.
“If you have an infection, you won’t notice the symptoms of it until it gets much worse because the stress hormones are blocking the way your body would respond to it and take care of it,” Selvage told the Idaho State Journal.
Selvage says that women suffer damage from alcohol abuse more rapidly not only because of their metabolism, but because the alcohol activates body stress responses more acutely in women.
The effect is magnified in pre-menopausal women, increasing estrogen production. Excess estrogen production is linked to increased stress responses, and stress suppresses the immune system, which can lead to other health problems.
“Stress responses originate at the level of the brain, and of course, the brain communicates with the pituitary, which then sends signals to the adrenal glands that release what’s called cortisol,” Selvage said.
Cortisol also increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
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