How Health Issues Differ Between The Sexes

Thursday, March 1, 2001

oun! nee a” OF WOMEN’S HEALTH How Health Issues Differ Between The Sexes (NAPSA)—When it comes to health, men and womenare different in ways beyond the obvious. Diseases often affect men and women differently—and medications may not work the samefor both sexes. For example, did you know: Heart Disease—Heart disease kills 500,000 American women each year—over 50,000 more women than men. Women are also more likely to have a second heart attack within a yearof the first one. Depression—Women are two to three times more likely than men to suffer from depression. Osteoporosis—Ofthe patients suffering from osteoporosis, a loss of bone mass, 80 percent are women. Lung Cancer—Women smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than men smokers. STDs—Women are two times more likely than men to contract a sexually transmitted disease and 10 times morelikely to contract HIV during unprotected sex with an infected partner. Anesthesia—Womentend to wake up from anesthesia more quickly than men. Drug Reactions—Even common drugs like antihistamines and antibiotics can cause different reactions and side effects in women and men. Multiple Sclerosis—Two to nail @ $) SOCIETY FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH three times as many women as men suffer from MS, but mentypically have worse symptomsof the disease. Alcohol—After consuming the same amount of alcohol, women have higher blood alcohol content than men—even allowing for size differences. The Institute of Medicine (IOM), a federal research group that advises Congress, recently released a report on the health differences between the sexes called Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter? Sex does matter, and according to the report, these differences begin in the developing fetus and occur throughout the lifespan; from “womb to tomb.” The IOM called for more research, saying a better understanding of how men and womenare different will help in the prevention and treatment of disease. For more information on women’s health and health differences between men and women, visit the Society for Women’s Health Research at www.womenshealth.org.

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