Alexis Anderson
Staff Writer
Living a healthy lifestyle can be harder for women than for men because many health issues occur in women at a higher rate. There are several prominent factors that can lead to women obtaining these stressful and sometimes deadly diseases. According to Dulce Zamora of www.webmd.com, women are at a greater risk of experiencing health problems ranging from heart disease to depression. In order to inform women about living healthy, we must examine the educational research and resources that will encourage women to take steps in living a healthier life.
Here are the top 5 health concerns that are harmful to the mental and physical well-being of women.
1. Heart Disease is one of the deadliest diseases for both women and men, however there are more reported deaths in women. According to http://www.cdc.gov, the disease has caused 29% deaths in women. There are a lot of women who suffer from heart disease or who may have signs of heart disease, but may not be knowledgeable of the illness. Some of the signs that women may potentially be a risk of having heart disease are—Shortness of breath, unable to walk up or down a staircase, or any physical activity. According to the American Heart Association, these are common risk factors for heart disease:
• Increase in age
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
2. Breast Cancer is the most sudden and catastrophic cancers found in women. It is the second deadliest disease next to lung cancer. Facts about breast cancer can sometimes be misleading or fictional, due to widespread horror stories and can cause women to make irrational decisions when it comes to getting medical guidance. It is imperative that women have regular scheduled screenings to aid in the early detection of this disease. Also, it is helpful to be a part of a support group, that can provide a spectrum of resources and advice for breast cancer patients and survivors. According to the American Cancer Society, these are some of the risk factors:
• Family history of the disease
• Poor diet
• Obesity
• Too much alcohol
3. Depression is another major health concern for many women. Factors including: insecurities, pregnancy, tragedy, and etc. can trigger depression in women. According to the National Institution of Mental Health, there are 12 million women who suffer from depression on a daily basis. Medical experts recommend women should consider finding hobbies or volunteering at a charity or community, which can greatly reduce depression. Also, women should have nurturing relationships with friends and family that can balance their personal life. Some of the risk factors that can lead to depression are:
• Substance abuse
• Family history of physical and sexual abuse
• Marital abuse
• Being a worrier or overly anxious
4. Autoimmune Disease is a combination of diseases that attacks the immune system and destroys the body tissue. The types of disorders include: lupus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, or any other chronic disease. According to American Autoimmune Related Disease Association, about 75% of these diseases happen to women. These diseases separately are not a major threat if treated properly treated, but as a group the disorders can lead to devastating effects. It is difficult to recognize the signs because of generality of the risk factors, depending on the disorders.
5. Osteoporosis, according to the CDC, is a disease that affects women of all ages. This disease can lead to back pain, painful fractures, and thinning of the bones. By the age of 20, the average woman has acquired most of her skeletal mass, however there has been a large decline of bone mass in older adults. A substantial decline in bone mass occurs in older adults. Both younger and older women can avoid this issue by having vitamin D and calcium consumption. The risk factors are:
• Smoking
• Diet low in calcium
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Increased Age
• Post menopause
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