As a woman, it’s essential to keep track of your health. Despite men and women being exposed to infections in general, there are specific cases that affect only the latter.
Due to the infections being exclusive to women, identifying these is vital. Additionally, because most drug trials don’t feature women as test subjects and conditions affecting women remain undiagnosed, knowing these common health issues becomes necessary.
Here’s an overview of some of them so you can safeguard your well-being:
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a condition that affects 20% to 65% of women worldwide. This health condition affects a woman’s inner lining of their uterus by breaking through the walls of the uterus. Adenomyosis can cause severe muscle cramps, bloating before menstrual periods, and lower abdominal pressure.
If you suspect that you’re experiencing the symptoms of adenomyosis, it’s best if you see gynecologists right away. Although this health condition isn’t life-threatening, it can still have a negative impact on a woman’s life. When left untreated, this health condition can cause heavy bleeding during periods that can result in anemia and fatigue.
Endometriosis
This condition affects the woman’s uterus, and it happens while the baby grows in the womb. This occurs when certain tissues start growing in areas other than within the uterus. This growth can take place in the bowels, the ovaries, the bladder, or behind the uterus.
The symptoms of Endometriosis include very heavy periods, infertility, and pain. For those who experience pain, this is usually felt in the pelvic region, lower back, or abdomen.
However, not all women manifest these symptoms and later find out when they’re unable to conceive a baby.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer that affect women worldwide. This condition usually originates from the milk duct linings, and its most common symptom is a lump in the breast. Despite the many non-threatening causes of lumps, it’s best to get it diagnosed by having it screened by an oncologist.
However, if this isn’t immediately addressed, it can spread to other parts of the body. Several possibilities that affect the likelihood of breast cancer include:
- Genetic history
- Aging
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Previous history of chest radiation
- An abnormal breast biopsy in the past
- Obesity
- Medication for diethylstilbestrol
- Not conceiving
Osteoporosis
This condition leads to the weakening of your bones, making them fragile. Some symptoms may include back pain, fragility, and hunched backs. Osteoporosis wasn’t studied much in the past, but as technology developed, numerous researches show that it is preventable.
The main risk factors of this condition in women include:
- Steroid consumption
- Low body mass
- Genetics
- Specific prescriptions (e.g., certain anticonvulsants and glucocorticoids)
- Age factors
- Dormant lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Anorexia
Healthcare professionals use an ultrasound diagnostic or an X-ray test to detect osteoporosis. Fortunately, dealing with this condition is manageable as the severity of affected bones can be decreased.
Some effective methods to manage osteoporosis include weight-bearing physical activities, consuming enough calcium, and avoiding certain prescription drugs.
Heart Disease
According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2015-2017, almost as many women as men die of heart diseases every year in the US, but the former’s under-diagnosis poses a challenge. This illness continues to prevail since the most common symptoms of heart disease go unnoticed by both the patient and doctor. These symptoms include vomiting, nausea, shoulder aches, jaw pain, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Autoimmune Infections
This disease is triggered by the cells fighting off infections that attack the immune system, damaging or changing the tissues.
According to studies, the greater number of women suffer from autoimmune diseases than men, and researchers are yet to understand why this happens. Examples of autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, and lupus.
The trigger for autoimmune diseases is still to be discovered, but it’s thought to be caused by environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors. However, medical researchers are working to understand autoimmune infections in order to identify specific risk factors.
The symptoms of these diseases aren’t easily diagnosed, but the most common ones include:
- Skin irritation
- Mild fever
- Vertigo
- Exhaustion
- Pain
Since many the autoimmune infections are found in the stomach, an excellent way to reduce their severity is by embracing natural healing practices, such as:
- Reducing stress levels
- Eating less sugar
- Lowering toxic intake
- Eating less fat
Anxiety and Depression
Depression is more commonly found in women than in men. In some cases, the natural fluctuation of hormones is what triggers anxiety or depression.
For example, several women suffer from depression due to perimenopause. On the other hand, others experience it after childbirth, also known as baby blues.
These are examples of cases that make women more prone to depression. Other risk factors need to be considered, such as:
- Substance abuse
- Serious chronic illness
- Stressful events in life (e.g., death of a loved one)
- Anxiety disorder
- Eating disorder
- Marital problems
Similar to other illnesses, there are therapeutic and prescription treatments available to treat depression.
Takeaway
Identifying the most common health issues women suffer from is essential as this allows you to know the possible health risks one might have to face. There are still those who remain unaware of these ailments, and hopefully, reading this guide has added useful knowledge.