When something happens to our health, we immediately become aware of how vulnerable our bodies are. It’s a stark reality and a bump down to earth after feeling invincible for so long.
It’s important that as a woman, you’re aware of what health problems are out there and what you might be more susceptible to than others. Some illnesses or health problems can come from genetics, they can come from age or from a number of factors that contribute to it.
There are some common health problems to be aware of as a woman and so with that in mind, this guide will share ten of those health problems and how to best avoid them. Hopefully, you can enjoy life and enjoy it with as few problems as possible!
Intimate health
We’re starting right off into the deep, personal end of health – your intimate health. It’s something that is likely one of the most important health problems and concerns to discuss because it very rarely gets discussed.
There does seem to be some sort of taboo in which all people can have an issue talking about their intimate parts of the body. What are the signs to spot an STI, for example? Do yeast infections cause blisters? What does a pap smear involve?
All these concerns and worries that we have around intimate health can often go unexplored and as a result, it can cause many women to find themselves with health problems in this area.
Be more active in your intimate health and if there’s a question or concern, get it checked out. Speak to those you feel most comfortable around and express your worries.
Heart disease
Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women? Women with this disease, in particular, are often underdiagnosed and undertreated as a result.
A heart attack can be a terrifying experience for a person to feel. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and weakness in the arms can be telling times of a heart attack taking place.
Women tend to go through a lot more pain in their lifetime. This can cause women to dismiss these symptoms as a bit of heartburn, or perhaps as working out a little too hard.
To help with heart disease, it’s important to get the heart checked regularly and to take more care when it comes to those who experience higher blood pressure and cholesterol. Women going through their menopause, for example, can cause the risk factors to rise, which is why it’s important to be more aware of it as you get older.
Mental health
Our mental well-being is slowly getting more recognition than it’s ever had before. Mental health has very much had a stigma that many generations before, simply didn’t understand.
Thankfully, this has improved over the years and now there’s a lot more help out there that hadn’t existed previously. Despite that, there are still those out there who see getting help for mental health, as a bad thing.
Many feel shameful about getting help for their mental well-being. Not everyone copes well in life with certain events. It may result in needing help and that’s the bravest, and best thing to do in these situations.
Diabetes.
Diabetes is not something that is just relative to women as everyone can be susceptible to diabetes. However, when it comes to women, diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease. Women can also be more susceptible to experiencing complications that are related to diabetes in particular.
Diabetes can also impact many other areas of the body, including difficulties during pregnancy. For a lot of women, who dream of being a mum, diabetes can heighten the risk of birth defects and miscarriage.
It’s important to be conscious of their diet, the level of exercise done as well as the health monitoring that comes with blood glucose. If there are any concerns or symptoms of diabetes show, then seeing a doctor immediately is important. Many will also associate diabetes being caused by having too much sugar and that’s simply not the case.
Quitting smoking can be something that helps to reduce the risk of diabetes, so if you’re currently smoking – consider cutting it out.
Maternal health
Not everyone wants children. Not everyone should have children either but that’s a debate for another day.
For many women, however, there’s a strong maternal instinct that can many can’t deny having. It’s a natural feeling that results in many getting pregnant and bringing in the next generation of children.
However, when it comes to a woman’s health, there are lots of rules and worries surrounding getting pregnant. Getting pregnant as you get older becomes harder and preconception care can be essential for helping make conception successful!
Health when it comes to the maternal side of the body can be impacted through genetics and other developing health issues. Whether that’s an iron deficiency to high blood pressure, both can influence the lack of success in getting pregnant. There are also problems that can occur during pregnancy due to health issues with the body.
Being checked over by a doctor and having checks on the ovaries, for example, can be important to help check that everything is working as it should be down there.
Stroke
Quite possibly one of the most worrying health concerns for many women is the chance of a stroke. A stroke can be devastating for some to experience because it can often be caused by a hemorrhagic or bleeding on the brain. The other type of stroke is an ischemic or blockage of the blood vessel that caused impaired blood flow as a result.
The first is likely to be the most dangerous of the two, but both can cause some serious damage to the body.
It’s important that every prevention is made to avoid strokes from happening. Of course, it’s often caused by stress on the cardiovascular system, which means taking care of your health by maintaining blood pressure and staying healthy.
Sexual health
Sex is a part of many people’s lives and makes up the relationship one person has with another. Whether that’s someone they’re dating or in a long-term relationship with, sexual health should be openly talked about.
For some, it’s still something that’s not necessarily discussed and as a result, it can cause a lot of problems for the body. There are those that won’t mention their own sexual health problems and potentially cause those same problems for others.
Talking openly with a partner before sex is going to help avoid passing on any infections. Looking after oneself when having sex is important too and there are many things that a person can do in order to look after their sexual health effectively.
With more than 30 types of sexually transmitted infections, it’s important to be aware of what these are and how to spot them or preventative measures to help avoid them.
Breast and ovarian cancer
Breast cancer and ovarian cancers are two very common cancers that occur in the woman’s body. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most common cancer.
When we hear that dreaded C-word, it’s something that everyone will be tearful over. The reality can be uncertain due to some cancers being more aggressive than others. A lot of women out there have an increased chance of breast and ovarian cancer.
That’s why it’s essential to check your breasts regularly for any signs of breast cancer, including lumps. A pap smear can help to spot the signs of ovarian cancer, which could be devasting for those who get it but have avoided getting checked out for years.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is another one of those awful illnesses that can take away a person from their body. What’s left is a shell of a person that used to exist. Their personality fades away and for families, it can be an excruciating way to lose a loved one.
For women, Alzheimer’s is a disease that can very much be more likely for women to occur. As women historically tend to live a lot longer than men, they’re more a risk of getting memory loss diseases. It can also be related to genetics too.
Looking after oneself when it comes to diet and brain activities, can help with the brain and its memory.
Insomnia and sleep disorders
Finally, sleep disorders like insomnia can be damaging to a woman’s health. While it might not be the worst disease or illness to get, it can still have a dreadful impact on the body’s health.
A lack of sleep is extremely damaging to the body and doesn’t allow the body to recover properly. That means injuries and sickness could be longer-lasting due to the inability to get a proper night’s sleep.
A high-stress lifestyle and a lack of a healthy diet can contribute to sleep disorders.
Keep an eye on personal health and well-being
Keeping an eye on your personal health and well-being is key to keeping oneself in good health. With that being said, be aware of all these health problems and introduce the preventions to help keep them at bay.
