HEALTH TRENDS

Women more prone to allergies than men, report finds

According to a new research, women are at a higher risk of allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases than men, due to genetic differences between the sexes. But as children, more boys suffer from rhinitis, asthma and food allergies than girls.

Allergy specialist Dr Renata Engler noted: "More prepubescent males have rhinitis, asthma and food allergy than females. However, roles change. When females enter young adulthood, they outnumber men in these chronic illness categories."

Presenting the findings at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Dr Engler said: "The importance of sex differences in the practice of allergy-immunology cannot be overstated. Improved sex or gender-based medicine and research practices will benefit men and women alike."

The team behind the research wants to see more personalised gender-based medicine which addresses the health differences between men and women.

Scientists hope their findings will improve the understanding and impact of gender diversity on diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

Women prefer sleep than sex

Nearly 80 per cent of women would rather get a good night's sleep than have sex, noted a survey by the Better Sleep Council, the consumer arm of the International Sleep Products Association.

The survey also revealed that more than half of Americans - over 157 million people - don't get enough sleep, and this can have dire physical and mental consequences.

Also, nearly half of Americans fall asleep somewhere other than their bed at least once a week, and about 11 per cent fall asleep somewhere other than their bed every day.

BSC Director of Communications Karen Mahoney stated, "We were stunned by some of the survey responses. One man fell asleep on a rooftop. Another man fell asleep while interviewing a job candidate. There was a teacher who fell asleep at the podium in front of her class. Clearly, people are sleeping just about everywhere except where they should be - in their own beds."

LOTUS donates to breast cancer awareness

The Ladies Organization to Uplift Self (LOTUS) donated proceeds from cupcake sales to the Jamaica Cancer Society last month, in their bid to help bring awareness to breast cancer in Jamaica. The handover took place at an event hosted by LOTUS to signal the culmination of the club's activities for the month where students and staff of the University Hospital of the West Indies had the opportunity to learn about breast cancer from a social and medical point of view.

The guest speaker for the evening was consultant general surgeon at the UHWI, Dr Leo-Paul Powell, who gave a witty, informative and academic presentation on the topic. Health professionals were implored to educate their patients about the importance of mammograms and pap smears.

Established three years ago, LOTUS is a women's health initiative group, which hosts various charitable events and engenders the furthering of education about women's health in Jamaica and abroad. The organization is directed by Drs Agatha Pinder-Foulkes, Kimberly Nicholson and Astrid Batchelor, who work under the supervision of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the University of the West Indies.