Yes. Historically, women have been underrepresented in medical research.[1] Because of this, some health conditions are sometimes underdiagnosed due to a lack of understanding of how they affect women. For instance, heart attacks tend to present differently in women when compared to men. It is not uncommon for women to not feel any chest pain during a heart attack. Instead, they may experience much milder symptoms, along with pain in the back, chest, arm, neck, jaw, shortness of breath, and general fatigue. For this reason, increased representation in medical research is paramount in improving health outcomes for women.[2]
References
- ^Liu KA, Mager NAWomen's involvement in clinical trials: historical perspective and future implications.Pharm Pract (Granada).(2016)
- ^Keteepe-Arachi T, Sharma SCardiovascular Disease in Women: Understanding Symptoms and Risk Factors.Eur Cardiol.(2017-Aug)