6 Common Health Concerns Among Women, and What You Can Do About Them
6 Common Health Concerns Among Women, and What You Can Do About Them
Throughout life, men and women will face warnings about a number of health issues. That said, there are some more common health concerns for women that men don't have to be as worried about. And, according to Dr. Kira Ryskina, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, the health issues that affect women are often a result of aging. Some of these include breast cancer, fertility issues, and cardiovascular health.
Here, a list of the most common health concerns among women to be on the lookout for, and what you can try to do to prevent them.
1) Cardiovascular Health
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women, causing 1 in 3 women to die each year. Part of that, according to Ryskina, may be due to misdiagnosis.
When experiencing a heart attack, typically the left side goes numb and the chest tightens. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), however, the symptoms of a heart attack manifest differently on women, leading to misdiagnosis. The signs of a heart attack in women can include nausea, jaw pain, and slight discomfort.
2) Fertility Issues
According to the CDC, about 10% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 have struggle with getting pregnant and/or staying pregnant. Some of the underlying reasons why women may be having issues with fertility are endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to the Mayo Clinic. But sometimes, unfortunately, there's just no explanation.
3) Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is not a disease, but rather a clustering of health markers, such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and hypertension, according to the Mayo Clinic. These markers could then lead to more serious conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
4) Mental Health
According to the Office of Women’s Health, mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disease affect more women than men. Mental health can also be a little more common in women due to the possibility of developing postpartum depression and depression tied to menstruation.
5) Breast Cancer
According to the CDC, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, no matter the age or the race. Although there is a variety of factors that can cause cancer, the main one is simply being an aging woman.
There are, however, tests that can detect if you have a mutation that could cause you to develop breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, women should start getting mammograms at age 40 and should continue to get them every year. Your doctor may recommend you start earlier if there are two or more women in your family that have been detected with breast cancer.
6) Autoimmune Illnesses
The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) reports that 75 percent of the people diagnosed with an autoimmune illness are women. They are mainly genetic and tend to happen in clusters within families, according to the AAARDA. This means that although they may not have the same disease, women within the same family may suffer from diseases categorized as autoimmune related, which includes lupus, diabetes, and arthritis.
Taking care of yourself should always be your top priority.