Researchers are discovering that men and women are different in more ways that the obvious physical characteristics. The differences tend to be small, but could eventually lead to new developments in health care, such as sex-specific medications, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.
Here are some examples of differences:
* Women are less active and consume less oxygen than men. Rib cages are smaller in women, resulting in less lung capacity.
* Women, on average, have 11 percent more body fat and eight percent less muscle mass than men. Men tend to be faster than women during aerobic events due to their great muscle strength and mechanical advantage of longer arms and legs. Women, on the other hand, tend to have greater endurance capacity partly due to reliance on fat metabolism during long events.
* Women say "ouch!" to pain before men do, but women tolerate the pain better than men do.
* Women have lower blood pressure and higher heart rates than men.
* Women metabolize drugs differently than men, resulting in a higher incidence of adverse reactions to drugs.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-351-8963, extension 9PK1.
These highlights are from the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource attribution is required. Also, you may reprint up to four articles annually without cost. More frequent reprinting is allowed for a fee. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Call toll-free for subscription information, 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
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