Women More Sensitive -- to Odors

Women have always beat out men when it comes to odor sensitivity. New research says it may be due to a lower tolerance to chemicals.

The National Women's Health Information Center says a University of Arizona study indicates women's chemical intolerance may be linked to a variety of illnesses, "particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, including asthma."

The study says other complaints include migraine headache, inability to concentrate, irritable bowel -- as well as breast and ovarian cysts. Researchers studied 181 men and women, asking them to fill detailed questionnaires on specific feelings of illness, plus answer a battery of questions about their present and past health.

The researchers stressed that the findings were preliminary, showing only that women tend to be far more affected than men by basic chemical presences and odors.