Why Are Women More Prone to Stress and Its Consequences?
Dr. Susha John
KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum
Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine
Why Are Women More Prone to Stress and Its Consequences?
Even though science has only recently proved that women are twice more likely to experience depression and three times more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders and attempt suicide, it’s always been known that for some unknown reason women are more ‘sensitive’, to put it delicately.
While stress is commonly known to affect the mental wellbeing, it’s important to know that the body responds by releasing hormones which affect physical health too. The brain, nervous system and hormonal systems respond to stressful conditions by affecting functions of the heart, gastrointestinal system and the immune system and when the stressful situations persist, it can even lead to heart attacks and ulcers.
This gender gap in reaction to life events has been studied for many years with psychological society’s accepting the disparity in the different gender’s reactions to stressful situations. Some of the possible reasons being tossed around for these disparities are:
Hormones
A greater fluctuations in hormones in women such as those caused by premenstrual dysphoric disorders and postpartum depression are now being associated with symptoms of depression too. Women are also more prone to hypothyroidism, which in turn is associated with depression also.
Age
Women are known to live longer than men, and with old age being associated with bereavements, loneliness, ill-health and suffering, it makes women more prone to depression and stress.
Genes Genetically also women are more predisposed to stress and anxiety as detailed from fraternal twin and familial history studies.
Emotions
Women are known to be tender-hearted creatures who get more involved in personal relationships, leading to greater sorrow and suffering and depression.
Careers
Career-oriented women who are also single are at greater risk of facing stress, anxiety and depression resulting in higher incidences of heart disease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, etc.
SAD
Also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, this disorder affects women four times more than men and its incidence increases the further you move away from the equator. For example, Tromso, a city in Norway which doesn’t see the sun for about seven weeks every winter, throws up tales of people always being tired, depressed and distressed, especially women; sales of ‘pep’ pills and sleeping pills also shoots up during these dark days.
Diagnosis
What could be tipping the scale in terms of women having higher incidences of depression and stress disorders is the fact that women are more likely to seek medical help than men for this condition. Doctors are also more apt to diagnose women with stress disorders than men.
Related Blogs
Ten Effective Remedies That You Can Refer to When You Are Suffering from Muscle Cramps
Finally starting off with the gym life can get too overwhelming until you hit those muscle cramps along with the weights.
Skin Tags - Benign Tumor or Cancerous Tumor?
Skin tag if observed is a narrow stalk that hangs about your skin, bulging at the end. They are usually freshly colored and can grow anywhere on your body.
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear is a rotator cuff injury that can cause shoulder pain and loss of arm function. The rotator cuff is a set of muscles and tendons in your shoulder.
Importance of Parental Counselling
Right from the moment you tell your friends and family about your pregnancy, little hints keep coming your way on parenting your unborn child!
Taking Care of a Terminal Patient? Here Are Six Ways to Help Them to the Fullest
A terminally ill patient is someone who has a relatively short life expectancy. Terminally ill people are usually shifted from an actively curative medicinal regime
Stages of Tooth Decay and Their Treatment Options
Tooth decay refers to the degradation process of the structure of the tooth resulting in permanent damage.
12 Home Remedies for Dry Cough
The flu, common cold, asthma, cigarette smoke exposure, and other conditions can all cause a dry cough. Home remedies such as honey, peppermint, and air purifiers may be beneficial.
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder dislocation occurs when the bones of your shoulder joint are pushed or forced out of their normal positions.
5 Facts to Keep in Mind for Your Monthly Menstruation Cycle
Our menstruation indicates multiple activities within your body. Every month, your uterus forms a thicker lining for the ovary to release an egg for a possible pregnancy.
Different Types of Diabetes
Junk food and increasing physical activity are leading to a worldwide epidemic of obesity, resulting in diseases like diabetes
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a form of heart muscle illness in which the heart chambers (ventricles) weaken and stretch, becoming bigger.
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the blood flow against the inner walls of the arteries is persistently high.
3 Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures You Did Not Know About
Over the past few years, cosmetic dentistry has undergone significant evolution in society. With the increasing demand for cosmetic dentistry, it is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity.
5 Lifestyle Changes That Will Help with Your Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence is quite a painful and embarrassing condition to have. It refers to the loss of bladder control, which can vary from a slight release of urine after sneezing, coughing, or laughing, to a complete inability to control urination.
5 Tips This Summer to Avoid Heatstroke
Certain jobs demand fieldwork in the scorching heat. The warm weather, bright sun, and the blue skies are not always an excellent working environment for them at all.
6 Home Remedies for Yeast and Vaginal Infections
Yeast infection is common among women. You might have had the experience of irritating soreness and itching that prolonged for days due to not knowing about the cause.
Aortic Dissection
An aortic dissection is a tear in the aorta. This is the primary artery that transports oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss
Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is performed on individuals suffering from obesity. It involves a variety of procedures that help maintain long-term weight loss and also aid in treating obesity.
Best Foods to Cleanse Your Liver
Your liver is one of the largest organs in your body and its primary function is to filter the system by converting toxins to waste products, cleansing your blood and process various nutrients.
Infertility and its Major Causes and Treatments
Infertility is an issue that’s on the rise – not just in India but all over the world. It’s estimated that, on average, one out of every six couples has had issues with infertility.
Precautions to be Taken to Avoid Eosinophilia
Let’s begin with talking about eosinophils – they are just a type of white blood cells that are laden with reactive chemicals which get released under specific conditions to cause mayhem in the body
What is BMD Assessment and its Significance in Treating Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is that creepy monster lurking in the dark, waiting to manifest itself as you age and get less active.
Signs of Testicular Cancer
Men have a pair of testicles located in a sac-like pouch called the scrotum. It forms part of their reproductive system and are responsible for sperm production.
Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Stone
Your kidneys are very important organs in the body; they regulate water content, filter waste from blood, and produce hormones.
Treatment For Liver Failure
Treatment for liver failure depends largely on the causative agent; for example of it’s due to hepatitis virus infection, then hydration and supportive care needs to be provided while the body’s immune system fights back. If it’s due to gallstones,
Related Blogs
Ten Effective Remedies That You Can Refer to When You Are Suffering from Muscle Cramps
Finally starting off with the gym life can get too overwhelming until you hit those muscle cramps along with the weights.
Skin Tags - Benign Tumor or Cancerous Tumor?
Skin tag if observed is a narrow stalk that hangs about your skin, bulging at the end. They are usually freshly colored and can grow anywhere on your body.
