Since industrialization and new forms of production, the degradation of the ecosystem is an increasingly evident reality. The toxicity of the environment is not only leaving noticeable marks on natural landscapes and fauna, but also directly on human health. This pollution, caused by the production and constant exposure to chemical agents, tests our vulnerability.
In 1962, Rachel Carson already warned with her work “Silent Spring” the effects of this situation on people. And it is that, it is estimated that approximately 80,000 chemical substances have been introduced into daily life, of which between 4,000 and 8,000 can be highly harmful.
All of these enter the human body in ways as simple as air, through microparticles that are suspended and we end up breathing, water, or food (by pesticides or other chemical products), making it practically impossible to escape from they. In addition, another important factor to take into account, and which has gone unnoticed until recently, is the risk posed by exposure to radiation (whether from antennas, mobile phones, computers …).
But does this toxicity affect everyone equally?
According to numerous studies, pollution is not equal . In fact, factors such as sex or age are decisive in the consequences that a person can suffer. The writer and endocrinologist, Carme Valls LLobret, explains in her book “Health and the environment” that women , due to the condition of their body, suffer to a greater extent from this contamination.
What is clear is that the action of human beings puts their own health in ‘check’. The polluting activities of recent years are the main causes of the diseases of this new century. And although it cannot be stopped, it is possible to work to achieve and adopt prevention policies that follow a more respectful line with the environment and, ultimately, with any way of life.
In this way, it is useful to know the biological differences between women and men to understand why certain diseases (caused by external or internal factors) affect one sex more than the other.
Leaving aside the physical evidence, one of the main distinctions is that associated with the composition of chromosomes , whereby men (with XY chromosomes) are more likely to contract genetic disorders than women (with XX chromosomes). Hormonal differences also represent an important point, since women synthesize a greater amount of estrogens, causing greater fat storage. In addition, the changes that women experience during menstrual cycles also significantly influence their vulnerability, even affecting areas such as the brain, which becomes more sensitive to exposure to certain chemicals.
Many diseases affect both men and women. However, as explained, some in particular have a higher incidence in female patients. We show you the five most common in the following gallery.
