There are intra-sexual differences in both endothelial function and dysfunction. Although both sexes share the same hormonal receptors (estrogen and testosterone receptors) these differ in expression. Female estrogen receptors exert vascular protective action through nitric oxide–mediated genomic and non-genomic pathways. Women are ‘protected’ from atherothrombosis until menopause. The abrupt loss of vascular protection leads to a magnification of post-menopausal vascular damage, which is higher when endothelial dysfunction is already present. Women have a less oxidative vascular environment until menopause than men. Women experience more microvascular angina and less myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation, because they display more endothelial dysfunction when risk factors are present. Post-menopausal women develop more prominently systolic hypertension and therefore high...

This article briefly reviews the pandemics suffered by humankind throughout its history. Additionally, it analyzes the current pandemic caused by a "strange” virus that has generated a new and complex disease. A description of its "new" vascular wall-centered physiopathology (and more specifically from the endothelium) is given. Moreover, the possibility to detect a subclinical endothelial dysfunction in young patients who have shown different susceptibility and lethality indices is considered. Finally, the question “will this pandemic change us or will it help us change?” is attempted to be answered.