Researchers cited the pandemic as the biggest factor in the widening gender gap; it took a heavier toll on men. Unintentional injuries and poisonings (mostly drug overdoses), accidents and suicide were other contributors.

[–] ParsnipWitch@feddit.de 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

There are also studies that show men are less likely to got to a doctor or they go to late. In part that is because most male bodies tend to take longer before heavy symptoms are coming up but then they progress faster.

It has something to do with differences in immune system of men and women. When for example a man and a woman are infected with the same amount of viruses the women's immune system will react faster so she gets symptoms earlier and goes to the doctor earlier as well. The man won't have any symptoms but then the infection will suddenly progress fast when a critical amount of viruses is reached.

It's of course more complex and there are tons of studies about it, but I think that's something to keep in mind "in practice".

This comes on top of the gender stereotypes which make some men shun the doctor.

[–] physicswizard@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You have any sources for that? Never heard of this before; sounds interesting.

[–] ParsnipWitch@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago

There are different studies depending on the pathogen or diesease. But this one describes some of the more general effects I mean:

Sex differences in immune responses

Paywalled, but it provides a good list of additional sources via it's references and list of articles that cite it: The influence of sex and gender on the immune response

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