{"id":1045,"date":"2020-03-14T11:53:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T11:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/?p=1045"},"modified":"2023-04-25T10:08:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T10:08:04","slug":"mens-and-womens-health-the-gender-gap-in-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/trogolo-obstetrics-and-gynecology\/mens-and-womens-health-the-gender-gap-in-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Health – the Gender Gap in Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

We live in the age of technological and medical advancements, which has considerably improved people\u2019s health and longevity. However, biological differences cannot be ignored. When it comes to health issues, it\u2019s not possible to claim that the gender gap doesn\u2019t exist. For instance, women are more likely than men to experience breast cancer. What\u2019s more, different conditions and actions seem to have different consequences on women and affect the fairer sex in a different manner compared to men. It\u2019s important to be aware of the risks in order to prevent more serious health problems as well as have your medical team help you effectively if need be.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Issue of Alcohol Abuse<\/b><\/h2>\n

Everyone knows that alcohol is bad for you. Of course, that doesn\u2019t mean you cannot indulge yourself and enjoy a refreshing alcoholic beverage from time to time. But, when things get out of hand and you start consuming alcohol excessively, you don\u2019t only put yourself at risk of becoming alcohol dependent, but also increase the risk of developing some very serious health conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to the gender gap and alcohol, it\u2019s true that men are more likely to get addicted to alcohol than women. That still leaves millions of women around the world who consume alcohol in dangerous amounts. A woman who abuses alcohol for long actually has a higher risk of suffering from <\/span>breast cancer<\/span><\/a> and heart disease compared to men. Also, women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk of giving birth to babies who show signs of fetal alcohol syndrome, such as brain damage and difficulty learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, women have to be much more responsible with their alcohol consumption compared to men, even though alcohol has adverse effects on everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Heart Disease<\/b><\/h2>\n

Heart disease is the world\u2019s leading cause of death, regardless of gender. However, women are more likely to pass away after suffering a heart attack compared to men. What\u2019s more, dealing with the necessary emergency care and cholesterol treatment associated with heart conditions seem to show certain delays when the patients are female.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s not easy to pinpoint why the situation is like that. The issue might stem from the fewer number of ladies who choose to seek medical treatment due to their own inability to recognize the issues, which are sometimes more obvious in men. Also, it\u2019s not uncommon for women to suffer from heart conditions that have been triggered by other underlying conditions that don\u2019t show an obvious connection with typical heart problems such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Heart<\/p>\n

Mental Health<\/b><\/h2>\n

Fortunately, people are more aware of the importance of their mental health in this day and age. The taboo of seeking professional help when you\u2019re mentally unwell has pretty much diminished. Still, the reports show that more women than men are diagnosed with anxiety and depression. This could be due to the still existing social stigma that men shouldn\u2019t show weakness. On the other hand, it\u2019s also possible for women to deal with these mental disorders due to the disrupted hormonal levels. In that respect, women\u2019s health and their mental well-being are more dependent on balanced hormonal levels in their bodies compared to men.<\/span><\/p>\n

Osteoporosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis<\/b><\/h2>\n

Osteoporosis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, are all different types of the umbrella term <\/span>arthritis<\/span><\/i> that involves bone and joint disorders. Essentially, bones and joints become weaker, they swell up and become stiff, all of which causes pain. This is one of the most common diseases in women, even though men can suffer from it once they reach a mature age.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though there\u2019s no 100% clear reason as to why this is, it\u2019s believed that the higher risk in females to suffer from arthritis is due to their bone alignment and movement. Women have wider hips, which leads to more movement in bones altogether and laxer joints. This also affects the knee alignment later in life. What\u2019s more, hormonal changes that women go through after menopause can lead to a faster loss of cartilage, which has adverse effects on bone density and prevents smooth movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections (STDs\/STIs)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Again, sexually transmitted diseases and infections are conditions that both men and women can experience. However, the effects of STDs\/STIs could be a lot more serious in women than men, especially considering that leaving the condition untreated could lead to complete female infertility. Another reason why women tend to deal with STDs\/STIs issues more than men is the fact that sometimes it\u2019s more challenging to spot disease or infection in females, as the symptoms can be very similar to less dangerous and more common issues such as yeast infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress<\/b><\/h2>\n

When it comes to men\u2019s and women\u2019s health, stress is still enemy number 1. Due to constant exposure to stress, people could end up suffering from a range of different health conditions, both physical and mental. For instance, being under an excessive amount of stress and pressure without allowing yourself to relieve all that tension could literally skyrocket your blood pressure and even lead to capillary bursts, which can then make your nose, ears, or gums bleed. In the worst-case scenario, this can lead to a stroke or heart attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering the gender gap, it seems that more women suffer from stress and stress-related health issues compared to men, especially in recent years. This might be due to personal and professional responsibilities that women have to deal with on a daily basis in this day and age, which often includes family, work, and taking care of the elderly parents. A very female-unique effect of stress is the inability to get pregnant, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Stress\"<\/p>\n

Stroke<\/b><\/h2>\n

In general, stroke risk factors are pretty much the same for both men and women. However, the reports show that more women suffer strokes compared to men. The most probable culprit has everything to do with other underlying conditions that tend to be unique to women or pose more problems to females than males. These risk factors include:<\/span><\/p>\n