Women experience adverse health effects due to gender data gaps from "summary" of Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
The failure to account for women in medical research has had dire consequences. For example, heart attacks are often misdiagnosed in women because the symptoms are based on male experiences. This oversight has resulted in women being more likely to die from heart attacks than men. Additionally, women are more likely to experience adverse drug reactions because dosages are typically based on male bodies. This oversight is not just limited to heart attacks and drug dosages. For instance, car crash test dummies are based on the average male body, which means that women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured in a car crash. Furthermore, the lack of gender data in medical research extends to conditions that primarily affect women. Endometriosis, a painful condition that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, takes an average of 7.5 years to diagnose due to a lack of research and understanding. This delay in diagnosis not only leads to unnecessary suffering but also puts women at risk for complications such as infertility. Moreover, women are more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases, yet the majority of research is conducted on male mice. This oversight results in delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatments for women with autoimmune diseases. The consequences of gender data gaps extend beyond physical health to mental health as well. Women are more likely to experience depression, yet the symptoms are based on male experiences. This results in misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments for women suffering from depression. Additionally, women are more likely to experience chronic pain, yet pain management is based on male bodies. This oversight leads to under-treatment of pain in women and a lack of understanding of women's experiences with pain.- The failure to account for women in medical research has had serious consequences for women's health. From heart attacks to autoimmune diseases to mental health, gender data gaps have resulted in misdiagnosis, ineffective treatments, unnecessary suffering, and increased risk for complications. It is crucial that medical research includes women to ensure that healthcare is effective and equitable for all.
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