Dr Catherine Conlon: Health issues every woman should know about
Women think about health, and they are more likely to attend for medical check-ups compared to men.
We women are brought up to believe that men are the stronger sex. In general terms, men are bigger and stronger. They can run faster and longer, lift heavy weights, and throw things.
But when it comes to health, the opposite is true, and in general, it is in fact men who are the weaker sex.
Life expectancy continues to rise in Ireland at almost 84 years for women compared to almost 81 for men, according to CSO figures. However, the healthy life expectancy – the amount of time men and women can expect to live in good health, is 66.8 years for women and 65.2 years for men.
This means that although women on average live longer, they also spend more years, about 17.4 years in poor health.
The gender gap is not unique to Ireland. The longevity gap is a universal truth that suggests a basic difference between the health of men and women.
Genes, chromosomes and hormones play a role. Oestrogen appears to have some protective effect against heart disease, which explains why that typically appears about ten years later in women than in men.
On the other hand, testosterone may contribute to risk-taking and aggressive behaviour that causes problems for many young men. Testosterone also fuels prostate disease – both benign and malignant.
Cholesterol may account for some of the health gap. Males and females have similar LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol levels, but women have substantially higher levels of HDL (‘good’) cholesterol that is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
A significant proportion of Irish adults are classified as overweight (35%) and one-in-five (21%) are living with obesity, according to Healthy Ireland Survey data (2024). Men are generally more likely to be overweight or obese (63%) compared to women (50%), though obesity rates for both have risen in recent years.
Work stress and hostility also play a role. The stereotype of the harried, hard-driving, overworked male executive has a basis in fact, and work stress can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Social networks are good for health, reducing the risk of many problems, from depression to heart disease and stroke.
Anecdotally, women have much larger and more reliable social networks than men. In general, women are more in touch with their feelings, with a remarkable ability to express their thoughts and emotions. This seems to be a key factor in increased longevity.
Traditionally, men smoked more. This has changed. When women began to smoke in large numbers, they started to catch up with men in heart disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Like smoking, drinking and drug abuse were traditionally male problems that are increasingly threatening women as well. In terms of diet, in most cases, women eat a healthier diet than men. Exercise among men and women has fallen as modern appliances replace muscles at home and at work, and women joined men in increasingly sedentary jobs. Just about half of men (50%) and 47% of women in Ireland regularly participate in sports, according to Sport Ireland data (2024).
In terms of healthcare, women think about health, and they do more about it. They are more likely to attend for medical check-ups compared to men who are more likely to skip tests and treatments, minimise symptoms and disregard medical advice.
However, despite being the stronger sex in health terms, there are a couple of key health issues every woman should understand.
Almost three quarters (70%) of the public believe females are more likely to contract breast cancer than both heart disease and stroke, despite statistics showing they are six times more likely to die from heart disease or stroke.
Just half of women said they recognised the symptoms of heart disease or stroke, compared to almost two-thirds (64%) of women who said they recognise breast cancer symptoms. While 40% of women have spoken to a professional about their heart health, more than one-in- four (28%) have never done so.
“We are encouraging all women, but especially those in their mid-50s and beyond, to have their heart health checked, particularly if they have experienced chest pain or back pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or extreme fatigue - please don’t put it on the long finger,” urges consultant cardiologist and Medical Director with the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr Angie Brown.
Oestrogen is really important to bone health, and its production declines during the menopause, contributing to bone loss.
Low bone density doesn’t cause any symptoms, and the first sign of osteoporosis may be a bone fracture - particularly hip or vertebral fractures that can severely impact daily life.
While medications such as bisphosphonates can help maintain bone density, exercise has a major role to play. Weight training leads to muscles pulling on bones, stimulating them to become stronger. Tai Chi has also been shown to improve balance and prevent falls.
Women have disproportionately less water, more fat and less of an enzyme called dehydrogenase that breaks down alcohol.
This means alcohol stays in women’s systems for longer, increasing the length of time our organs, especially the liver and brain, are exposed to it. The result is that both short-term side effects – like poor sleep - and long- term risks, like a higher rate of cancer and poor mental health, are greater in women than men.
Overall, although most men believe differently, in health terms, women are the stronger sex. But being a woman means there are gender specific risks we need to understand.
Regular health checks, a balanced diet, physical activity, plenty of sleep, limiting alcohol, strengthening exercises and maintaining our social connections can go a long way to keeping us fit and strong, well into our elder years.
- Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork
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