Eight out of 10 women feel like they have a sixth sense (77%), according to a new study.
A survey of 2,000 women examined the strength of their intuition and found that more than half of respondents trust their intuition very much (56%), especially those who are mothers (74%).
On average, her gut instinct guides her about 68% of the time, especially when it comes to meeting new people (65%), making important life decisions (46%) and when it comes to her health (37%).
Conducted by Talker Research for MD LiveThe survey found that 81% of women trust their own “misparenting,” that is, feeling like something is wrong with their health before they know for sure.
However, women do not pay attention to their feeling that something is wrong (59%) and do not act on it (66%) until their symptoms interfere with their everyday life, rather than being proactive at the first sign that something is wrong.
The symptoms that would most quickly prompt action are unusual pain (41%), shortness of breath (35%) and heart palpitations (31%).
Women would wait a week to seek medical help if they suspected they had a respiratory problem (44%) or infection (48%).
Worse, they would delay seeing a doctor for at least a month for gynecological (57%) or psychological problems (58%).
In fact, they admit to completely ignoring the feeling of itching (19%), bloating (17%) and fatigue (17%).
A third of women admit that they deny their symptoms when something is wrong (34%), and 63% admit that they do not seek immediate medical attention if their poor education signals that something is wrong.
Intuition and Women’s Health: Trusting the “Sixth Sense.”
“Many common symptoms, such as unusual pain, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations, can be early signs of an underlying health condition,” explains Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, Associate Chief Medical Officer of MD Live by Evernorth. “Ignoring your body’s signals can prevent timely diagnosis and treatment. Trusting your intuition and acting on it early can make all the difference in managing your health.”
45% of women said they ignore their absences during the workday, and another 37% would not step away from work because they feel something is wrong.
Instead, many respondents are taking matters into their own hands by searching online for information about their symptoms (38%) or trying home remedies (37%).
The reason they delayed seeking medical help was because they felt their symptoms didn’t matter much (30%). Four in ten respondents reported experiencing “medical gaslighting” when a doctor dismissed or ignored their concerns about the symptoms they were experiencing.
Barriers to seeking medical care despite health concerns
Other reasons why women postpone professional treatment include the costs involved (24%), fear of a possible diagnosis (23%), the feeling of being a burden or being perceived as too dramatic (22%).
But the longer they wait, the longer they worry. 41 percent often wonder whether the feeling that something is wrong is more serious than they think.
Waiting certainly didn’t help the 43% of respondents who experienced a worsening of their health problems after ignoring their poor teaching.
“If you feel like something is wrong with your health, seek medical advice immediately,” said Dr. Roundtree. “Medical professionals are there to help you get to the bottom of your symptoms. Virtual care allows you to quickly connect with a board-certified physician to get the support and reassurance you need without unnecessary delays.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 women; The survey was commissioned by MD Live and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between September 10 and 16, 2024.
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