网曝门事件 Health Ukiah Valley His and Hers: How Health Differs Between the Sexes

Men and women share 98.2% of their DNA, but often experience health concerns differently, with varying risk factors, symptoms and causes. , and , internal medicine specialists, explain how health differs between the sexes.

Stroke

One in five women will suffer a stroke after the age of 55, Ross notes. 鈥淪trokes kill twice as many women as breast cancer, though the latter gets a lot of national attention in women鈥檚 health,鈥� she says.Why women are at risk: Women live about five years longer than men 鈥� and the risk for stroke increases with age. There鈥檚 also a hormonal connection, Ross says. After menopause, women experience an increase in vascular disease, which causes damage to blood vessels, including in the brain.

Alzheimer鈥檚 disease

About two-thirds of the six million people with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease are women.

Why women are at risk: Researchers believe age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. 鈥淭he disease can progress a little faster in women, and it鈥檚 more common in women,鈥� Ross says. 鈥淎lzheimer鈥檚 also tends to start earlier for women, in their 60s, whereas men are more often diagnosed in their 70s.鈥�

Osteoporosis

Ten million Americans have osteoporosis 鈥� and 80% of them are women, the reports.

Why women are at risk: 鈥淓strogen protects the bones. It helps keep the cycle of absorbing and releasing minerals in a positive balance,鈥� Ross explains. When menopause starts, those estrogen levels can drop rather quickly. Osteoporosis can also lead to risk of bone fracture and even chronic pain, which is also more common in women.

Heart disease

Nearly one-quarter of men will die from heart disease, the leading cause of death in American men.

Why men are at risk: 鈥淭estosterone has a detrimental effect on the heart and on cholesterol,鈥� Dr. Lo says. This tends to raise blood pressure and can be stressful to the heart and blood vessels. 鈥淲omen are protected by their levels of estrogen, which increases good cholesterol, at least until menopause.鈥�

Type 2 diabetes

In 2020, 15.5% of American men had diabetes, compared to 13.2% of women, according to the .

Why men are at risk: 鈥淣ot all fat tissue is created equal, as studies have shown central fat that wraps around our internal organs is more inflammatory,鈥� Dr. Lo says. Inflammation increases risk of type 2 diabetes. Estrogen, however, directs excess calories to fat in our legs and hips, which is much less prone to inflammation.

Kidney Stones

About 11% of men will have kidney stones in their lifetime, according to the .

Why men are at risk: Dr. Lo says this may come down to lifestyle risk factors. Men tend to eat more meat than women, which can lead to mild kidney stones. However, men are also less prone to more complicated kidney stones, he explains, because it鈥檚 harder for bacteria to travel up the male urinary tract.