Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource - Tip of the Month - September

Thursday, September 26, 2002

Biology Shows Women and Men Are Different

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Researchers are discovering that men and women are different in more ways that the obvious physical characteristics. The differences tend to be small, but could eventually lead to new developments in health care, such as sex-specific medications, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.

Here are some examples of differences:

• Women are less active and consume less oxygen than men. Rib cages are smaller in women, resulting in less lung capacity.
• Women, on average, have 11 percent more body fat and eight percent less muscle mass than men.
• Men tend to be faster than women during aerobic events due to their great muscle strength and mechanical advantage of longer arms and legs.
• Women, on the other hand, tend to have greater endurance capacity partly due to reliance on fat metabolism during long events.
• Women say "ouch!" to pain before men do, but women tolerate the pain better than men do.
• Women have lower blood pressure and higher heart rates than men.
• Women metabolize drugs differently than men, resulting in a higher incidence of adverse reactions to drugs.

Round Out Your Exercise Program With A Fitness Ball

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - There's a new tool in fitness programs that seems more like a childhood toy — fitness balls.

Fitness balls (also called stability, exercise, Swiss or therapy balls) are large, inflated balls. Most people do best with a slightly deflated 55- or 65-centimeter ball.

Ball exercises place the emphasis on the muscles in the trunk — the abdominal, chest and back muscles, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. They work (and make you work) by constantly changing the base of your body's support. By challenging your balance, just sitting on the ball becomes an exercise. The ball can be used for abdominal curls, modified push-ups and other exercises.

As with any exercise tool, use caution and check with a trainer or physical therapist for proper techniques.

Chronic Heartburn Doesn't Mean Cancer Is Looming

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - If you have heartburn, it's unlikely that you are on a path to esophageal cancer — as some advertisements for heartburn medications imply. But chronic heartburn can cause medical complications, and you should talk with your doctor about your individual situation, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.

Every day, about 10 percent of Americans have heartburn. Usually, it's fleeting and mild. Chronic heartburn — that occurs several times a week — could indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. There are several ways to treat GERD, beginning with lifestyle changes such as exercising, losing weight and avoiding foods that trigger heartburn. Medications and surgery also could help.

Only about five percent of people with GERD have Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which cells similar to the stomach's lining develop in the lower esophagus. If you have Barrett's esophagus, you are at greater risk of developing esophogeal cancer. The statistics don't indicate panic, but do check with your doctor if your heartburn is chronic and isn't controlled by antacids.

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 1-800-291-1128.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.