Eight in 10 women feel they have a sixth sense (77%), according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 women looked at how strong their intuition is, and found that more than half of participants had a lot of confidence in their intuition (56%), especially mothers (74%).
On average, this gut feeling gets them right about 68% of the time, especially when it comes to meeting new people (65%), making important life decisions (46%), and when it comes to their health (37%).
Conducted by Talker Research for MD Livethe survey found that 81% of women report being “misinformed,” or feeling like something is affecting their health before they know it for sure.
However, women do not notice that something is off (59%), nor act on it (66%) until their symptoms interfere with their day, instead acting proactively at the first sign that something is wrong.
Symptoms that may lead to quicker action are unusual pain (41%), shortness of breath (35%), and heart palpitations (31%).
Women wait to seek medical care for one week if they suspect they have a respiratory problem (44%) or infection (48%).
Worse still, they put off seeing a doctor for gynecological conditions (57%) or mental health problems (58%) for at least a month.
In fact, they admit to completely ignoring feelings of misunderstanding about itching (19%), bloating (17%), and fatigue (17%).
A third of women admit to denying their symptoms when they feel something wrong (34%) and 63% admit to not seeing a doctor straight away when poor education suggests something is wrong.
Women’s intuition and 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. Vontrell Roundtree, associate chief medical officer at 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 a big difference in managing your health.
45% of women said they would ignore their miseducation during the workday, and another 37% would not quit work because they felt something was wrong.
Instead, many respondents take matters into their own hands by searching online for information about their symptoms (38%) or trying home remedies (37%).
Postponing seeking medical care comes from experiences where they felt their symptoms weren’t a big deal (30%), with four in 10 sharing that they had experienced ‘medical gaslighting’, when a medical professional dismissed or dismissed their concerns about the symptoms they were experiencing.
Barriers to seeking medical care despite health concerns
Other reasons women put off seeking professional care were the cost involved (24%), fear of possible diagnosis (23%), feeling like a burden, or being perceived as too sexy (22%).
But the longer they wait, the more anxious they become. 41% often wonder if feeling like something is wrong is more serious than they think.
Waiting certainly didn’t help the 43% who experienced worsening health concerns after their poor education was ignored.
“If you feel like something is unhealthy, seek medical advice immediately,” Dr. Roundtree said. “Medical professionals are here to help you get to your core symptoms. With virtual care, you can quickly connect with a board-certified doctor and 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 from September 10-16, 2024.
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