Alcoholism: An Epidemic in Women’s Health
When I started treating hyposexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women with the pink pill, Addyi, I was shocked by how much women of childbearing age were drinking. They were consuming way more than 3 glasses of alcoholic beverages per week. When I tried to inform them that this was too much, and extremely cardiotoxic, I got an immense amount of push back.
Then COVID happened, and things got exponentially worse, now women are showing up in severe liver failure with hepatic alcholic steatosis in emergency rooms from acute alcoholic intoxication. Additionally, primary care clinicians are dealing with a surge in liver damage from the huge amount of alcohol that is consumed by women to self-medicate, keep them mellow, and I dare say, function, post pandemic.
We must use Telemedicine to increase comprehensive wrap around care in Women’s Health, and once there is a mild elevation in liver function test laboratories, such as, AST, ALT, GGPT, LDH and T. Bili, send the patient for a liver ultrasound, and or fibroscan. A MRI of the liver may be needed, even a MRCP, may be needed. Ultimately, a liver biopsy may have to be checked.
Ultimately, primary care physicians must currently be on high alert during clinical encounters, and perform a complete physical examnination, even with Telemedicine, which would be accomplished with a video consult, not just an audio consult. Also, the follow up on the diagnostic test results is of utmost critical and clinical importance, in the continuity of care in Women’s Health.