Some drugs and vaccines are designed to be injected into the gluteal (buttock) muscles, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream. In a recent study of 50 people, only 8% of the medications injected (using a standard needle) into the women reached their gluteal muscles, while 56% of the drugs given to the men did.
Reason: Men tend to have less fat in their buttocks than women.
Self-defense: Before getting a shot, ask the doctor whether a longer needle should be used or the injection should be given in another area, such as the thigh or upper arm.
Chest X-Rays Linked to Breast Cancer
In a study of 1,600 women who carry a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (a known breast cancer risk factor), those who reported ever having a chest X-ray were 54% more likely to develop breast cancer than those who had never had one. Theory: Genetic abnormalities can affect the body's ability to repair DNA damage caused by the ionizing radiation of chest X-rays.
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