Skip to content
Call: 303-993-7910400 S. McCaslin Blvd, Suite 210, Louisville, Colorado 80027 | Get DirectionsFor Practitioners
Facebook page opens in new windowTwitter page opens in new windowPinterest page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new windowYouTube page opens in new windowLinkedin page opens in new windowRss page opens in new window
Dr. Jill Carnahan, MD
Your Functional Medicine Expert!
Dr. Jill Carnahan, MDDr. Jill Carnahan, MD

Flatiron Functional Medicine Newsletter

Join Dr. Jills' health community today and receive health tips, recipes and recommended products for a healthier you!
Join today and get Dr. Jill's Paleo-licious Snack Ideas for free! We promise never to share your email with anyone.
  • HOME
  • MY STORY
  • ABOUT
    • About Us
    • What is Functional Medicine?
    • Mission Statement
    • Meet Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP
    • Meet The Team
    • Location
    • Fees
    • FAQs
    • Forms
    • Testimonials
    • For Practitioners
  • SERVICES
    • Services
    • Functional Medicine Consulting with Dr. Jill
    • Naturopathic Consulting with Dr. Nicole
    • Massage Therapy with Rene
    • Nutritional Consulting with Judy
    • Nutritional Consulting with Megan
    • Chiropractic Care with Dr. JoEllen
    • Nutrition therapy and Private Yoga with Haley
    • Infrared Sauna Detox Therapy
    • IV Infusion Therapy
  • PRESS KIT
    • Press Kit
    • In the Media
  • EVENTS
  • PODCAST
  • DR. JILL’s BOOK
  • BLOG
    • Dr. Jill’s Blog
    • Dr. Jill’s Podcasts
    • Dr. Jill’s Recipes
    • Dr. Jill on Facebook
    • Dr. Jill’s Instagram
    • Dr. Jill on LinkedIn
    • Flatiron Functional Medicine on LinkedIn
  • ONLINE STORE
    • Online Store
    • Products We Love
    • Dr. Jill’s Book
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • MY STORY
  • ABOUT
    • About Us
    • What is Functional Medicine?
    • Mission Statement
    • Meet Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP
    • Meet The Team
    • Location
    • Fees
    • FAQs
    • Forms
    • Testimonials
    • For Practitioners
  • SERVICES
    • Services
    • Functional Medicine Consulting with Dr. Jill
    • Naturopathic Consulting with Dr. Nicole
    • Massage Therapy with Rene
    • Nutritional Consulting with Judy
    • Nutritional Consulting with Megan
    • Chiropractic Care with Dr. JoEllen
    • Nutrition therapy and Private Yoga with Haley
    • Infrared Sauna Detox Therapy
    • IV Infusion Therapy
  • PRESS KIT
    • Press Kit
    • In the Media
  • EVENTS
  • PODCAST
  • DR. JILL’s BOOK
  • BLOG
    • Dr. Jill’s Blog
    • Dr. Jill’s Podcasts
    • Dr. Jill’s Recipes
    • Dr. Jill on Facebook
    • Dr. Jill’s Instagram
    • Dr. Jill on LinkedIn
    • Flatiron Functional Medicine on LinkedIn
  • ONLINE STORE
    • Online Store
    • Products We Love
    • Dr. Jill’s Book
  • CONTACT

4 Reasons Environmental Illnesses Affect Women More Than Men

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Environmental Toxicity
  3. 4 Reasons Environmental Illnesses Affect…
Women

Women are much more likely to become sick due to environmentally acquired illnesses than men. Though this is a widely accepted fact in the medical community, there isn’t a clear reason as to why this is. Though, there have been a number of factors which have been hypothesized through studies and doctors’ experiences.

I treat environmental illnesses on a regular basis. Personally, I’ve seen each of the factors presented on this list play a major role in my own patients. Over the years I’ve watched the prevalence of environmental illnesses soar. I’ve also been amazed at the increase in toxin exposures. As a society, we are exposed to more toxins than ever before and our health is undeniably paying the price.

When referring to environmental illnesses, I am talking about anything that is instigated, triggered, or worsened by factors found in the world around us. Environmentally acquired illnesses can include, but are not limited to:

  • Mold illness
  • Chronic inflammatory response syndrome
  • Mast cell activation syndrome
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Cancer

On the whole, women are much more affected by these conditions. Environmental triggers can include both man-made chemicals and natural toxins such as mold. In an analysis of women and men in moldy environments, it’s often found that women are far more likely to have more symptoms.

So, why are women more likely than men to develop environmentally acquired illness?

This is a question that is near and dear to my heart. After years of seeing woman after woman in my office with confusing, chronic conditions, I see it as part of my life’s work to spread awareness as to why this might be.

I view environmentally acquired illness as a war of attrition, and taking whatever steps possible to reduce your overall toxic burden should be priority #1 for all men and women – regardless of their state of health.

I’m also on the board of the NEW professional society International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI). I encourage you to check out their website after this article. You can find them at their ISEAI website and on Facebook. I’m excited for the awareness and action ISEAI will bring against environmentally acquired illness!

If you are already worried about your environmental exposures and want to jump right into ways you can reduce your toxin burden, you can download my free guide and find out how to Reduce Your Daily Toxin Exposure.

 

1. Cosmetics and personal care products

Cosmetics and personal care products are shamefully toxic. Women apply an estimated 12 products per day, which contain an average of 168 unique chemicals. That is a staggering number of chemicals that are applied to the body every day. Talk about a war of attrition!

Over time these chemicals can build up, and if you’re body is having trouble detoxing, the effects can become stronger and much worse. I encourage you to clean out your personal care products and cosmetics and replace them all with extremely clean and safe options.

This toxin concern is one of the reasons I’ve started my own skin care line.

 

2. Harsh cleaning products

I totally get that it’s a little old fashioned to suggest women are more exposed to cleaning products than men. Obviously men can also be exposed to harsh cleaning chemicals on a regular basis, but cleaning occupations are still a female-dominated industry. Plus, cleaning products can be extremely toxic and definitely add to a person’s overall toxic burden, so there is no way we can leave it off this list.

Overall, our cleaning products are unnecessarily harsh. We don’t really need to be blasting our kitchen counters with bleach when vinegar does a fine job. Vinegar effectively kills germs and is much safer than commercial cleaners.

 

3. Chemical exposure in female-dominated jobs

For the same reason cleaning products must be mentioned, we can’t overlook that a number of female-dominated industries have a higher than normal toxin exposure. Women with careers as hair stylists, estheticians, and in cleaning-related positions are constantly exposed to a higher than average number of chemicals – and these chemicals can be extremely toxic.

Over 2 million deaths every year are due to work-related disease, though I suspect this number is actually much higher. Meaning, we can’t continue to ignore the impacts of these harsh chemicals in these industries any more.

 

4. Testosterone down-regulates autoimmunity

It’s a little known fact that testosterone actually down-regulates autoimmunity, meaning if your testosterone levels are low this could be part of the problem. When you think of testosterone, you probably associate it with men. But women need healthy levels of testosterone just as much as men do. When testosterone levels are low, it can contribute to inflammation levels and increase a woman’s risk for autoimmune disease.

I tell my female patients to think of testosterone as a protective hormone and their vitality hormone – because low testosterone levels can make you feel as though you’ve lost your spark. As you age, your testosterone levels naturally drop. So, if you’re older and struggling with your health in the autoimmune realm, you should absolutely have your testosterone levels checked.

Patients of mine that have their testerone levels corrected with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy usually report an increase in energy, libido, and an overall satisfaction with life.

 

Reduce Your Risk of Environmentally-Acquired Illness

We are bombarded by over 80,000 chemicals everyday, which makes it critical that you learn how to Reduce Your Daily Toxin Exposure. No matter where your health stands today, you should take steps to reduce your burden and support important detox pathways.

As a prominent educator about environmental toxicity and mold-related illness, and board-member of the organization, I am delighted to introduce the NEW professional society International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI) whose mission is to “raise awareness of the environmental causes of inflammatory illnesses and to support the optimal health of individuals affected by these illnesses through the integration of clinical practice, education, and research.”

You can find them at their ISEAI website and on Facebook. I’m excited for the awareness and action ISEAI will bring against environmentally acquired illness!

 

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5377931/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24570366

http://www.ilo.org/legacy/english/osh/en/story_content/external_files/fs_st_1-ILO_5_en.pdf

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.  Please review references sited at end of article for scientific support of any claims made.

Categories: Environmental Toxicity, Skin CareBy Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCPMay 16, 20184 Comments
Tags: chemical exposurecleaning suppliescosmeticsFunctional Medicinepersonal care productstoxictoxic productswomenwomen's health
Share this post
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook TweetShare on Twitter Pin itShare on Pinterest Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

Author: Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP

https://www.jillcarnahan.com/

Dr. Jill is Your Functional Medicine Expert! She uses functional medicine to help you find answers to the cause of your illness and addresses the biochemical imbalances that may be making you feel ill. She'll help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual. She may use diet, supplements, lifestyle changes or medication to treat your illness but will seek the most gentle way to help your body restore balance along with the least invasive treatment possible. Dr. Jill is a functional medicine expert consultant and treats environmental and mold-related illness as well

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:Walnut Sun-Dried Tomato PateNextNext post:Paleo Burgers with Caramelized Balsamic Onions & Avocado

Related posts

Limbic System
How Multiple Chemical Sensitivities May Be Linked to Your Limbic System
December 19, 2022
Mycotoxins and the Microbiome
Mycotoxins and the Microbiome: A Fascinating Look at How They Affect One Another
December 14, 2022
Is Gadolinium Helpful or Harmful
Is Gadolinium Helpful or Harmful? An Exploration of Gadolinium Retention and Toxicity
November 27, 2022
Give the Gift of Wellness this Season: Dr. Jill’s Personal Picks for 2022!
November 21, 2022
Immunotoxicity
Immunotoxicity: Are Environmental Toxins Throwing Your Immune System Off-Kilter?
November 3, 2022
emfs
EMFs and Children: What Kind of Impact Are EMFs Really Having on Our Kids?
August 15, 2022

4 Comments

  1. Chris G says:
    May 31, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    Thank you for this great blog, Dr Jill! I’ve shared it widely.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      June 1, 2018 at 7:01 am

      You are welcome, Chris!

      Reply
  2. Pingback: Are women more susceptible to environmental illness? | Cowaymega
  3. Ann Fuller says:
    June 28, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Hello Dr. Carnahan,
    In the article on glyphosate, you mentioned that toxins are often fat soluble rather than water soluble. In addition to the factors that you discuss above, I would think that because women have a larger percentage of body fat we should also consider that as a contributing factor. I mention this for two reasons. 1) the solubility issue that you previously discussed and 2) we know from research that animals care and accumulate more toxins in their body fat that in lean tissue. as one versed in the research and statistics I know that this may be a jump but it does provide enough information for us to at least consider. The cumulative factors of those that you mention along with the solubility issue may give us some hints.

    Environmental health has been a passion since my first class in community health as a nursing student. Thanks for you contribution to health.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Post comment

Search
Dr. Jill
Dr. Jill will help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual.
  • Address:
    400 S. McCaslin Blvd, Suite 210, Louisville, Colorado 80027
  • Get Directions
  • Phone:
    (303) 993-7910
  • Fax:
    (303) 993-4674
  • Specialty
    Functional Medicine Expert Trained in Family Medicine Board Certified Trained in Integrative Holistic Medicine

Find us on:

Facebook page opens in new windowTwitter page opens in new windowYouTube page opens in new windowRss page opens in new windowLinkedin page opens in new windowPinterest page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new window
Testimonials

I certainly understand how Dr. Jill got so popular! Love watching her very interesting videos on the site and have signed up for the newsletter. She exudes such an air of competence, authenticity, intelligence and humility!

Karin
Karin

Good day Jill, you Motivated me very much. In the Last years, I prepared to become a registered German Naturopath (Heilpraktiker). The webinars of Functional Medicine Practitioners I attended as often as I could. Best wishes from Europe.

Norbert
Norbert

In my many years and many experiences with doctors… you guys have them beat, hands down. You guys are great.

Jessica Hull
Jessica Hull

I just wanted to thank Dr. Carnahan and all the staff for a wonderful visit. What a great experience from start to finish. Of course, Dr. Carnahan is the icing on the cake! (Hmmm …need a healthier analogy) Anyway, I’m feeling excited optimistic, and hopeful after all these years of being sick. Again my thanks and blessings to you all. Warmly, Roberta

Roberta
Roberta

I just wanted to send a quick thank you for your time and advice today. I am so appreciative and I feel hopeful that the plan we have can really help me. I’ve been sick for a long time and recently I’ve been rather discouraged with where I’m at with my health. I believe that God has allowed our paths to cross and that He is going to use you help restore my body to health. Thank you for giving me hope. Blessings, Kara

Kara
Kara

I wanted to let you know you did an outstanding job at this past weekend at the IFM {Reversing Cognitive Decline} conference. I appreciate you sharing your personal health journey. You are a true inspiration!

Ronald Grisanti
Dr. Ronald GrisantiBoard Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist
Facebook
Jill Carnahan, MD
Functional Medicine Newsletter
Join Dr. Jills' health community today and receive health tips, recipes and recommended products for a healthier you!
Join today and get Dr. Jill's Paleo-licious Snack Ideas for free! We promise never to share your email with anyone.
Dr. Jill
Dr. Jill will help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual.
  • Address:
    400 S. McCaslin Blvd, Suite 210, Louisville, Colorado 80027
  • Phone:
    (303) 993-7910
  • Fax:
    (303) 993-4674

Find us on:

Facebook page opens in new windowTwitter page opens in new windowYouTube page opens in new windowRss page opens in new windowLinkedin page opens in new windowPinterest page opens in new windowInstagram page opens in new windowSoundCloud page opens in new window
Latest Podcasts
  • 131: Dr. Jill interviews Dr. Shelese Pratt on Gut Health with a Microbiome Deep Dive
    131: Dr. Jill interviews Dr. Shelese Pratt on Gut Health with a Microbiome Deep Dive
    December 1, 2022
  • Shaina Cahill
    130: Dr. Jill interviews Shaina Cahill, PhD on Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    November 28, 2022
  • #129: Dr. Jill interviews author Steven Kotler on Using Peak Performance & Flow States
    129: Dr. Jill interviews author Steven Kotler on Using Peak Performance & Flow States
    November 24, 2022
  • #128: Dr. Jill interviews Dr. Terry Wahls on Recovery from Multiple Sclerosis & Wahl’s Protocol
    128: Dr. Jill interviews Dr. Terry Wahls on Recovery from Multiple Sclerosis & Wahl’s Protocol
    November 19, 2022
Facebook
Jill Carnahan, MD
Dr. Jill Carnahan, MD

© 2023 Jill Carnahan. All Rights Reserved | Site by Yakadanda  | FAQS | Disclaimer | Financial Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

| Dr. Jill works as a functional medicine consultant in conjunction with your current health care team and is not considered a replacement for your primary care physician. She requires all new patients to have a primary care physician to cover emergencies and routine care and screening.

Go to Top
Flatiron Functional Medicine Newsletter
Thanks for Joining Me in the Microbiome Summit. Get Your Free Download Here
Join new and get your free copy of Paleolicious Snack Ideas. We promise never to share your email with anyone.
Flatiron Functional Medicine Newsletter
Join Dr. Jills' health community today and get SEVEN FREE health downloads
Join today and get Dr. Jill's Paleo-licious Snack Ideas for free! We promise never to share your email with anyone.
Functional Medicine Newsletter
Join Dr. Jills' health community today and receive health tips, recipes and recommended products for a healthier you!
Join today and get Dr. Jill's Paleo-licious Snack Ideas for free! We promise never to share your email with anyone.
Flatiron Functional Medicine Newsletter
Join Dr. Jills' health community today and receive health tips, recipes and recommended products for a healthier you!
Join today and get Dr. Jill's Paleo-licious Snack Ideas for free! We promise never to share your email with anyone.
Flatiron Functional Medicine Holiday Giveaway
Enter now to win your free Berkey Water Filtration Sysyem (my personal favorite).
We promise never to share your email with anyone.
RESOLVE YOUR MOLD EXPOSURE SYMPTOMS
Dr. Jill's long-awaited Miracle Mold Detox Box is finally here. This handcrafted and researched bundle includes all of the crucial pieces you need to release and flush out toxins in 30 days.
SHOP NOW