How to Prevent Common Women’s Health Issues

Introduction

Women face many unique health challenges. Aside from menstrual and pregnancy issues, they also get certain diseases more often than men. Because of this, women need to be more conscious of their health to combat these challenges before they get worse.

In this article, we provide helpful insights on common women’s health issues and how we can prevent them.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases comprise a third of the most common chronic illnesses in the United States. These diseases affect women three times more than men. Experts now consider autoimmunity as a women’s issue. In fact, it is the eighth leading cause of death among women aged 15 to 64.

How does an autoimmune disease work? While a normal immune system protects the body from infection, the immunity of a person with an autoimmune disease mistakenly attacks its own body. These diseases, such as lupus and type 1 diabetes, attack one or multiple organs and can affect a woman’s quality of life forever.

How to Prevent It

There is no known cause for autoimmune diseases, but genetics, diet, and infections may be contributing factors. But to keep symptoms from worsening, early detection is key. Women need to see a doctor at the earliest signs of this disease, such as fatigue, low-grade fever, achy muscles, hair loss, or skin rashes.

Depression

Depression continues to debilitate millions of people worldwide. This mental disorder often affects more women than men. When it becomes long-lasting with increased intensity, it transforms into a serious health condition that women need to address immediately.

There are different types of depression, which can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.

• Recurrent depressive disorder

Women with this disorder experience repeated depressive episodes that affect their interest and energy in their daily activities for at least two weeks.

• Bipolar affective disorder

A person with bipolar disorder goes through both manic and depressive episodes with normal moods in between. When a woman experiences a manic episode, she becomes irritable and overactive and has an inflated self-esteem.

How to Prevent It

Many factors contribute to depression, including biological, psychological, and social. These factors can be interlinked. For instance, a person with an autoimmune disease can suffer from depression. Because of this, it’s important to seek help both from peers and healthcare professionals when struggling from a low point in your life.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

STDs affect both men and women, but the health problems they bring can be more severe for the latter. These are transmitted from person to person by having sexual contact with a person that has them.

Common STDs that affect women include chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, and Zika virus. Treatment will depend on whether these are brought by bacteria or a virus.

These diseases may cause similar symptoms, such as itching, discharges, and swelling in the vaginal area. During advanced stages of the disease, women may experience fever, sore throat, and headaches.

How to Prevent It

It’s easy for STDs to spread since some people that have them either do not show any symptoms of the condition or haven’t received a diagnosis yet. With this, women should practice safe sex. Having a monogamous sexual relationship with an unaffected partner is also considered safe. Condoms may help to prevent the spread of certain infections, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. But they don’t fully protect against other conditions like syphilis, genital warts, and AIDS.

It’s also best for women to protect their genital health. Proper hygiene and taking feminine probiotic supplements help protect and improve vaginal health and reduce the risk of infections.

Gynecological Cancer

Gynecological cancer is any cancer that occurs in women’s reproductive organs, often within a women’s pelvis. The five main gynecological cancers include:

• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Vulvar cancer

How to Prevent It

As with any type of cancer, there’s no way of knowing whether or not a woman gets the disease. That’s why it’s vital for women to always listen to their bodies and keep a close look at their health. This allows them to recognize the symptoms and receive proper treatment early on.

Women should see their doctors if they experience the common symptoms, which include unusual vaginal bleeding, longer and heavier periods, pelvic pain or pressure, bloating, and abdominal or back pain.

The Takeaway

Women face unique health challenges, but that shouldn’t deter them from being their best selves each day. With awareness, vigilance, and discipline, women can stay on top of their health and enjoy a great quality of life.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.