Gender differences and autoimmune diseases. These are the central themes of the XXXIX National Congress of the Italian Association of Women Doctors (AIDM). A difference, that between men and women, for a long time ignored even in the health sector and only recently returned to the fore thanks to the decree on gender medicine.
Not only different ways of getting sick for the same pathologies, but also different reactions to the health risks resulting from unhealthy lifestyles. Primarily alcohol, poor diet and, in particular, cigarette smoking.
The theme of smoking will be at the center of the symposium: "Cigarette smoking and gender rheumatological pathology: correlations and possible alternatives": the session promoted by Philip Morris Italia with PMI Science, will be conducted by AIDM President Antonella Vezzani, and by Professor Maria Sole Chimenti, Researcher at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" and President of ReDO - Association of Women Rheumatologists.
“Gender medicine and women's health continue to represent highly topical and important issues and as AIDM we are proud to be their spokesperson since 1921. Too often the biological difference between men and women has been ignored in medicine, as well as the different incidence of some pathologies compared to others” Dr. Vezzani explained “Cigarette smoking is undoubtedly emblematic in this sense: several studies have already demonstrated a different response from women compared to men and in the last 15 years the cancer diagnoses lung cancer in women increased by 45%. In women, the potency of the risk factor due to smoking is higher.”
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità itself estimates that in Italy there are 11,6 million smokers, more than one in five Italians. Of these, 4,5 million are women, especially in the regions of southern Italy.
“Smoking is the cause of many diseases, even fatal ones: not only lungs but also heart, reproductive system and joint diseases.” Prof. Chimenti continued “In the specific case of rheumatoid arthritis, a typical disease of the genre, the data indicate that smoking increases the risk of developing this pathology. It also highlights how lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, can delay or even prevent the onset of the disease."
The aim of the meeting is therefore to clarify the correlations between gender diseases and smoking but also to reflect on alternative technologies to smoking, such as heated tobacco products and the electronic cigarette and their potential in the fight against smoking.
“Smoking is bad for us and our task as doctors remains to try in every possible way to stop smoking patients from the habit of smoking. However, experience teaches us that many times our patients are unwilling or unable to quit smoking, even for purely psychological reasons. It is right to provide these patients with an alternative - be it the electronic cigarette or heated tobacco products - which, thanks to the absence of combustion, are able to reduce the toxic substances inhaled compared to cigarette smoke." concluded Dr. Vezzani.
