Sex can impact health

Yes, Mary’s sex could have played a role in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s;
• Medical trials do not always record the sex of the subject. Research findings for females and males are not always analyzed separately—which means important differences may not be detected;
• Women and men may respond differently to medications and treatments for heart disease; and,
• Women are less likely to present the “typical” physical symptoms associated with heart attack (e.g. chest pain). Not accounting for these differences can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

The research above highlights the different physiological responses of women and men experiencing heart disease.

Gender can also impact health

Mary’s gender could have played a role in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s. Male-dominated researchers may have assumed that treatments would be equally effective for women and men or that women were less likely to suffer from heart disease; and,
• Women may under-report symptoms to their doctors if they do not associate atypical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, back pain, nausea) with heart-disease.

This research demonstrates how assumptions related to gender led to women’s exclusion from research on heart disease, leading to a higher risk of ineffective diagnosis and treatment. It also indicates that women may under-report their symptoms.

Gender can impact health

Yes, Mary’s gender could have played a role in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s. Male-dominated researchers may have assumed that treatments would be equally effective for women and men or that women were less likely to suffer from heart disease; and,
• Women may under-report symptoms to their doctors if they do not associate atypical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, back pain, nausea) with heart-disease.

This research demonstrates how assumptions related to gender led to women’s exclusion from research on heart disease, leading to a higher risk of ineffective diagnosis and treatment. It also indicates that women may under-report their symptoms.

Sex can also impact health

Yes, Mary’s sex could have played a role in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s;
• Medical trials do not always record the sex of the subject. Research findings for females and males are not always analyzed separately—which means important differences may not be detected;
• Women and men may respond differently to medications and treatments for heart disease; and,
• Women are less likely to present the “typical” physical symptoms associated with heart attack (e.g. chest pain). Not accounting for these differences can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

The research above highlights the different physiological responses of women and men experiencing heart disease.

Yes, both sex and gender can impact health

Yes, both Mary’s sex and gender could have played roles in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s. (This is sex.);
• Male-dominated researchers may have assumed that treatments would be equally effective for women and men, or that women were less likely to suffer from heart disease. (This is gender (assumptions) and sex (physiological differences).);
• Medical trials do not always record the sex of the subject. Research findings for females and males are not always analyzed separately—which means important differences may not be detected. (This is sex.);
• Women and men may respond differently to medications and treatments for heart disease. (This is sex.);
• Women may under-report symptoms to their doctors if they do not associate atypical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, back pain, nausea) with heart-disease. (This is gender.); and,
• Women are less likely to present the “typical” physical symptoms associated with heart attack (e.g. chest pain). Not accounting for these differences can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. (This is sex.)

Sex and gender factors combined may have influenced both Mary’s diagnosis and the medication prescribed, leading to a poor outcome.

Actually, both sex and gender can impact health

Actually, both Mary’s sex and her gender could have played a role in why she suffered a second heart attack.

Research on heart disease has revealed that:

• Women were excluded from medical trials for heart disease medication in Canada until the late 1990s. (This is sex.);
• Male-dominated researchers may have assumed that treatments would be equally effective for women and men, or that women were less likely to suffer from heart disease. (This is gender (assumptions) and sex (physiological differences).);
• Medical trials do not always record the sex of the subject. Research findings for females and males are not always analyzed separately—which means important differences may not be detected. (This is sex.);
• Women and men may respond differently to medications and treatments for heart disease. (This is sex.);
• Women may under-report symptoms to their doctors if they do not associate atypical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, back pain, nausea) with heart-disease. (This is gender.); and,
• Women are less likely to present the “typical” physical symptoms associated with heart attack (eg. chest pain). Not accounting for these differences can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. (This is sex.)

Sex and gender factors combined may have influenced both Mary’s diagnosis and the medication prescribed, leading to a poor outcome.