Gender and Sex Influence on Disease Pattern

8/7/2019 Gender and Sex Influence on Disease Pattern

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Alexis R. Jones


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According to the World Health Organization,

Gender: refers to the socially constructed roles,

behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given societyconsiders appropriate for men and women

and

Sex: refers to the biological and physiologicalcharacteristics that define men and women


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Cultural norms

Many women are unable to go tohealth clinics

Higher lung cancer in men Higher number of women with

HIV/AIDs


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Women have a greater risk of developing diseases caused by

a defective metabolic and immune system (Alzheimers disease,

type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)

Premenopausal women recover from stroke sooner and withless disability than men of the same age or postmenopausal

women

Brain regions are varied in size -emotions, memory

Hippocampus larger in women effects short term memory? Size alone doesnt drive function hormones and genes


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Subject placed in a scanner with neutral scenes followed by

scenes to stimulate a response

Women tested at beginning of menstrual cycle and ovulation

Felt no mood change, but showed greater stress activity at beginning ofmenstrual cycle (adaptation?)

Men showed similar stress activity to women at the beginning of

menstrual cycle

Higher rates of depression and anxiety in women

Men with depression/anxiety less sensitive to trauma


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Men Women

Heart Heart

Cancer Cancer

Respiratory Stroke

Stroke Repiratory

Type II Diabetes Alzheimers

Type II Diabetes


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Causes 29% of total deathsworldwide

Higher prevalence in women,yet higher under diagnosis

Heart Attacks andThrombolytics

Exercise/PharmacologicStress Tests

Surgery-Balloon Angioplasty

Need for early intervention

http://www.drugdevelopment-

technology.com/projects/exanta/images/exanta2.jpg


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Schizophrenic women have

higher levels of

testosterone than men

Onset is delayed in women Female hormones protect

nerves

less maintenance on

antipsychotic drugs

Greater rate of head trauma

in men

Slower maturation of men


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Men: physical, verbal, and sexual aggression, tendency to

wander, socially inappropriate behavior

Women: emotionally unstable, hoarding, refuse help,depression, delusions

Hormones (estrogen) may play a large role, but mostly gender

related differences due to longer life span of women


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As society and culturalnorms evolve increase health

professionals' awareness ofthe role of gender norms,

values, and inequality inperpetuating disease,disability, and death

promote societal changewith a view to eliminatinggender as a barrier to goodhealth.

Sex specific treatmentsand prevention Prenatal Brain

http://www.provost.duke.edu/images/Research.jpg


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http://www.who.int/gender/whatisgender/en/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727183141.htm

http://www.womensheart.org/content/heartdisease/gender_differen

ces.asp http://www.who.int/gender/genderandhealth/en/index.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101118123840.htm

http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers/alzheimers-and-gender.aspx

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/womens-health/WO00014 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-

health/MC00013/NSECTIONGROUP=2

http://www.health.am/psy/more/schizophrenia-in-women-and-men/

Documents

Gender and Sex Influence on Disease Pattern