Women of all ages more likely to have serious mental health problems than men, report says

Women in every age group in the United States were more likely than men to have serious mental health problems, according to federal health statistics released Thursday.

The report from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that more than one-fourth of people age 65 or older who are afflicted with these mental health problems have difficulty feeding, bathing and dressing themselves.

People with serious psychological distress are also at greater risk for certain medical conditions: four times as likely to have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) as men and women without mental health problem and twice as likely to have heart disease or diabetes.

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