Image: WOLDCnews.com
CNN Health has just published a nice article outlining many conditions that can be overlooked in women, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and several autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Included in the article is a quote from Virginia Ladd, founder and executive director of the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association:
“More than 40 percent of women eventually diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disease have basically been told by a doctor that they’re just too concerned with their health or they’re a hypochondriac.”
The resounding message of the article is to trust your (possibly irritable) gut; if you feel off somehow, keep pursuing the topic with your doctor or get a second opinion.
PS- Look for our blog entry on Wednesday about autoimmune disorders and X chromosome inactivation. It will be a more in-depth entry about the genetic reasons women are more at risk for these conditions.
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11 Comments
40%? Wow! Hopefully through this blog we can educate women by providing sound evidence that reflects on the sex and gender differences in health and disease. We suffer from diseases differently than men. This is OK. However, as a population, we need to be more aware of what the signs and symptoms of diseases are in women.
I’m shock with the statistic/fact that 40% of women eventually diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disease. Great information all women should know.
The medical profession should be embarrassed with a 60% success rate in identifying that women are ill. This is not even identifying the illness and is just the confirmation step that the patient is ill. This information needs to be presented to doctors to let them know that their rate of success isn’t so good.
At the same time, it would be interesting to know if communication approaches are part of the problem and whether there is a significantly difference in the rate of illness confirmation between women and men.
Thyroid disease is one of the most often undiagnosed and misdiagnosed diseases. It may affect up to 27 million Americans, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; more than 50% of them go undiagnosed. In fact, 1 in 8 women will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime.
40% of women eventually diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disease seems like a very high number to me.
I wonder if we will ever figure out a way to eliminate false positives and false negatives.
Women should be very aware of their body. We sometimes thought that we don’t have diseases not until we notice some symptoms. Still, it is very appropriate to always have a physical examination every now and then.
Just to clarify: the statistic is NOT that 40% of women will eventually be diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Rather, that of those diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, 40% had been told that they were overreacting.
You know your body best. If the Dr says theres nothing wrong with you then dont hesitate in seeking a second opinion.
Drs. are great but they don’t know it all. You know your body best for sure.
Doctors should be treated with respect for sure, even though there are always misdiagnoses.
Still I also agree with Thuey.
A lot of women do go see a doctor until the problem is evident. Women should get a routine check.
Very informative.