Six in 10 Americans admit they ignore symptoms that don’t feel “serious,” according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 adults evenly split by generation and gender found that more than half of women said they’re likely to ignore those symptoms (58%).
The survey explored the knowledge gap in understanding when symptoms that feel “mild” should be taken more seriously.
Results found that of those who ignore minor symptoms like rashes, sleep issues or digestive issues, 43% said it’s because they assume they’re not serious.
Men tend to push through symptoms, women fear overreacting
Men are more likely to ignore minor symptoms because they believe they can push through them (46% vs. 38%), while 44% of women say they don’t act on these symptoms because they don’t want to overreact.
Conducted by Talker Research for MD Live, the survey found that while the average person experiences pains and aches four times a week, women are more likely to experience them daily (23%).
Surprisingly, boomer women are the most likely to brush off these minor aches and pains than other generations (68%).
“Women’s health concerns have often been minimized or misinterpreted, leading many to second-guess their own symptoms,” explains Dr. Maggie Williams, medical director for Primary Care at MD Live by Evernorth. “This is particularly common among older women, who may assume symptoms are just part of getting older. However, conditions don’t always present the same way in women, and when these differences go unrecognized, critical warning signs can be missed.”
Two-thirds of those surveyed say they’re confident in their ability to identify what illnesses affect them based on their symptoms, with 65% of women feeling secure in their ability to do so.
However, the survey also revealed that there are significant knowledge gaps when it comes to how certain health conditions, like cardiovascular disease or mental health issues, can present differently in men and women.
The survey found that a majority aren’t aware that conditions like depression (61%), anxiety disorders (61%) and strokes (74%) don’t appear the same across genders.
Women were particularly unaware that their symptoms may look different for digestive disorders (70%), stroke (68%) and thyroid conditions (60%).
When it comes to depression, 47% didn’t acknowledge that women tend to experience sleep issues and another 38% didn’t name sadness as one of the symptoms for women, despite it being one of the telling signs.
When asked about acute cardiovascular complications, like stroke or heart attack, the majority of women missed symptoms that are common for their gender, including shortness of breath (53%), nausea/vomiting (80%), jaw pain (76%) and fainting (76%).
The survey also revealed that how and when people decide to act on their symptoms may be influenced by past experiences — especially for women.
Women feel they wait longer and are less believed
Women were more likely to agree that their gender has to wait longer for an accurate diagnosis (46% vs. 38%), and nearly half (47%) say cultural stereotypes about women have influenced the perception of how serious their symptoms are.
One-third of women have hesitated to seek further care because they were told their symptoms were “normal” for their gender.
For one in three women who have experienced a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis before, they admit their lack of symptom awareness contributed to that delay.
In fact, one in eight older respondents admit that aging hasn’t improved their ability to recognize signs of common illnesses they might have missed when they were younger.
While the access to health information online (74%) and on social media (56%) has made respondents feel more educated, two-thirds of people admit they come across health information every month that contradicts something they thought they knew, including 66% of women.
Moreover, one in five women say health information on social media has made them feel more confused about their health.
As a result, nearly a third of Americans have a hard time trusting health information they get from others who are not healthcare professionals (31%).
“Misinformation and conflicting advice can make it difficult for people to trust what they’re experiencing,” notes Dr. Williams. “While online resources can provide general guidance, there’s no substitute for speaking with a trusted, board-certified doctor who can assess symptoms in the right context and ensure they aren’t overlooked or dismissed.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans evenly split by generation and gender; the survey was commissioned by MD Live and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 19 to Feb. 26, 2025.
