Women's Health - why the "Small Difference" has a Big Impact

 Not only do women suffer from other diseases than men, they are also ill differently. They describe pain differently, assign it differently and treat illnesses differently. So it know about Women's Health- why the "small difference" has a big impact

The realization that "women are different - men too" took a long time to find attention in medical research beyond reproductive medicine. Only for fifteen years, there is even a term for gender-based medicine: Gender Medicine - coined in 2001 by the World Health Organization.

Gender Medicine: the Science of the "Small Difference"

 Men and women perceive health and illness differently - and speak differently about it. While men are usually embarrassed to be in pain, women report more often about their pain, fears, and irritations. According to a Forsa survey commissioned by TK, eight out of ten women have serious concerns with friends, partner, and family. And that's good. Because the exchange with caregivers relieves and thus contributes to well-being.

How do Women Deal with their Wealth?

 The figures are clear: according to the Federal Statistical Office, women have five years longer life expectancy than men. However, the subjective feeling is different: women value their own health worse than men do. Only one in six thinks they are in good health, one in four men.

One possible reason: women are much more sensitive to disease symptoms and behave more preventively. "They want to really get to the bottom of problems, instead of getting complaints only in the short term," explains Maria Schwormstedt, a doctor at TK. But that does not work for every disease - the heart attack is the best example.

Heart Attack is not just Men's Business

 Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer - in both men and women. Still, there are differences: Men are more likely to have heart attacks than women, but women are less likely to survive. This could be due to the less specific symptoms that women experience. The tightness of the chest, shortness of breath and radiating pain in the left arm - the classic textbook symptom applies primarily to men. Women, however, complain increasingly about nausea, unusual tiredness and dizziness as well as back or neck pain. Therefore, not every woman suspects a heart attack immediately, allowing valuable time to pass until the right treatment.

After Menopause, the Risk Increases

 Until the menopause women have a kind of hormonal protection and therefore have a lower risk of suffering a heart attack. Later, the risk is similar in the two sexes. Therefore women, as well as men, should be aware of the risk factors (for example high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus or smoking) and try to minimize them. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and not least nicotine waiver significantly reduce the risk of heart attack in both sexes.

Men or Women - Who is Stressed?

 Only those who spend at least ten hours a day in the office and climb the career ladder with big steps are really stressed out? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! According to the TK survey, housewives and working mothers are just as stressed as managers: nearly 40 percent feel at the limit. "Increasing pressure in the workplace, increasingly linked to the expectation of being constantly available via e-mail or mobile phone, makes it more difficult for women to reconcile work and family life, and the consequences are often stress-related diagnoses," says TK. Doctor Schwormstedt.

Regardless of the choice of career, unfortunately, women are more likely to be under stress: 35 percent of women are frequently or constantly stressed, but only 29 percent of men. Mostly it is their own claims that burden women. They want to perfectly master all tasks in their family, job, and social environment - and forget their own needs.