Not too long ago women’s health was based on ill-founded theories, misconceptions and straight out chauvinism. We’ve come a long way since then, but there’s still a lot of room for progress. That’s why we at Vital Updates are celebrating National Women’s Health Week by bringing our readers stories that will shed light on some of the many health issues and obstacles women face today. National Women’s Health Week is an effort organized by various government agencies, aimed to empower women to take care of their health. Women’s bodies are amazing, complicated and ever-changing — they more than deserve this spotlight.
Here are just a few incredible facts you may not have known about women’s health:
- Women listen with both sides of their brain, whereas men predominantly listen with their right side. Researchers believe this suggests women “can handle listening to two conversations at once.”
- Women don’t handle alcohol as well as men because their bodies produce less stomach enzyme that breaks down ethanol. Women also have less water in their bodies to dilute alcohol, leading to a stronger buzz and a more intense hangover.
- Women have a stronger sense of smell than men because women have 50 percent more cells in their olfactory bulb, the area of the brain dedicated to sense of smell. Some researchers believe this heightened sense helps mothers bond with their children, whereas other experts think it influences how women choose a partner.
- Women have a better memory than men. In one study, women aged 45-55 performed better in all memory measures compared to their male counterparts. However, as women hit menopause, their memory does decline.
- Women are twice as likely as men to get multiple sclerosis, migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.