Men and Women are Different Why is Our Health Care Not
On the heels of February, Heart Month. I came across this article about how doctors may have been using the wrong metrics when taking women’s blood pressure. The metrics that are normal for men, which are the current ones being used, may not be normal for women.
Not until now, did I actually really think much of this.
Men and women, are very different and have different needs. Of course, this makes sense.
This is concerning for women because according to the study, the normal range of blood pressure may be too high.
Even, more concerning is that Heart Disease is still the number one killer in North America and we all know that blood pressure is controllable through diet and exercise.
Many women may think they have normal blood pressure and aren’t taking action. But, in reality they don’t have healthy blood pressure due to the wrong metrics being used and should be taking action and just don’t know it.
Another concerning issue is the symptoms for a women’s heart attack are very different than a man’s and are often missed.
The article goes on to point out the that this study is the beginning for more research into other sex based differences in health care. This article solidifies, for me, the importance of personalized health care and the importance of being both involved in our health care and our own advocates.
The days where we gave over full control of our health care to our GPs are done. Being Canadian and having Universal Health Care is something I am both proud of and am grateful for. However, we all need to take ownership of our own health, and take steps with a healthy diet and exercise. We all need to control the controllables.
It is important to find health care professionals that work collaboratively with their clients towards improved health and wellness.
If you need help with either improving your diet or to learn how to incorporate more movement into your day, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, I am happy to help.
Take Care,
Sarah
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