4 Diseases that Strike Women Differently than Men

It’s not news that women are different than men. So it should be no surprise that gender differences apply even when it comes to health and disease.

These 4 major diseases affect men and women very differently:

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both women and men, but that doesn’t mean they get it the same way.

Men develop heart disease an average ten years earlier than women. Yet, more women die each year of heart disease than men. In addition, although men have a higher incidence of heart attack, women are less likely to survive their first heart attack than men are.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile, seems the opposite of heart disease: According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), osteoporosis is three times more common in women than in men, yet more deadly in men.

Men are less likely to be treated for osteoporosis, and it ends up takes a greater toll on their health. For example, men are more than twice as likely as women to die within one year of a hip fracture, a common result of osteoporosis. So, while men are less likely to have osteoporosis, it is more deadly for those who do.

Depression

Depression is so common that it is called the “common cold” of mental illness. But this “bug” does not infect everyone equally: Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

While, traditionally, depression has been considered an under-diagnosed condition in men, recent studies have found evidence that men report less depression because they respond to stress differently than women. In situations where women are likely to become depressed, these studies find, men are more likely to develop alcohol or drug dependencies.

Autoimmune Disease

There are over 80 known types of autoimmune disease, a condition in which a person’s immune system mistakes a person’s own cells as foreign intruders, and attacks them.

In general, autoimmune diseases are twice as common in women as in men. However, three of the most common autoimmune diseases: lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are three times more likely to strike women than men.

Vive la difference? While the difference between men and women has been celebrated since the beginning of time, when it comes to health, this difference requires serious attention.

At Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center, in the scenic beach town of Keansburg, NJ, our program includes attention to every aspect of care, including nutrition. Our pledge is to provide superior health care services in the most compassionate way. We put in place individualized care plans, robust post-acute rehabilitation, and recreational activities for every one of our residents, whether they are short-term or long-term.

Our short-term rehabilitation program is designed to get our patients back to their optimal level of functioning and independence as quickly as possible, post hospitalization. We provide a tailored program of physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as all types of specialized care under one roof.

We include our residents and families in the development and progress of their individualized care plan up until the day of their discharge, when we ensure their smooth transition back into the community.

Our long-term care program offers 24/7 skilled nursing care of the highest caliber for our residents. In addition to a varied selection of stimulating activities and recreational programs, our residents benefit from our specialty health services, exquisite dining and social services.

We offer specialized health services and programs for our residents suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s. This includes our sensory programs and activities provided in a secured environment.

Need a break to recharge? No problem. We provide an amazing Respite Care program with 24/7 medical services.

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