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Women's Health
Posted: 9/19/2006 2:17:00 AM
Many issues can potentially affect women’s health. The top 5 in the US are heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression and autoimmune disease. These can affect women of all ages and are responsible for premature death and disability. In a country where most women have access to health care, adequate nutrition and sanitation, it seems implausible that so many women are affected by these diseases. Heart disease alone, which is the #1 killer of women, took over 910,000 American women’s lives in the year 2003.
Heart disease (or cardiovascular disease) is actually a group of disorders including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. All of these conditions affect the heart and circulatory system, and all can be fatal if not treated or controlled. Lifetime costs in medical diagnostics and treatment can reach over one million dollars per woman with heart disease. Luckily, many of the risk factors for heart disease in women (and in men) can be significantly reduced by lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, lowering LDL blood cholesterol levels through diet and exercise, increasing physical activity and controlling weight. By adopting a healthful lifestyle in their teens, 20’s and 30’s, women reduce their risk of heart disease and can live long, productive, healthy lives. Often heart disease can go undiagnosed in women since the typical symptoms for women differ from those typically experienced by men. Men with heart disease generally complain of chest pain, whereas the symptoms of heart disease in women are generally milder and include nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, jaw pain and shoulder ache. It is important for women experiencing these kinds of symptoms to be persistent in getting an accurate diagnosis and treatments.
Another important concern for women is breast cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer sometime during her lifetime is approximately 1 in 8. It is one of the most common types of cancer in women, and the cause is unknown. There are many risk factors, some of which cannot be controlled, such as being older than 50 years, a family history of breast cancer or starting menstruation at an early age (younger than 12.) Some factors that increase the risk of breast cancer, such as not having children, not breastfeeding, using birth control pills or taking Hormone Replacement Therapy are choices which have to be weighed carefully against the increase in risk of breast cancer. Some of the risk factors for breast cancer, including being overweight, regular use of alcohol or not exercising can be significantly reduced through changes in lifestyle. Breast cancer is usually treated by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these procedures. Early detection of breast cancer is important for treatment, so most women’s health care practitioners recommend self-breast exams and mammograms for women over the age of 35. However, some researchers disagree about the importance of mammograms for early diagnosis.
As women get older, they are at increased risk for osteoporosis, a debilitating condition in which bones become porous often resulting in fractures and the inability to stand erect. In all bodies, there are cells which build bone and cells which break down bone, and in a person’s youth, the bones are being built up. After the age of 30, the breaking down of bone prevails over the building. In women who are past menopause, the reduction of estrogen levels in the body can cause a marked increase in bone density loss, and by age 65 some women may lose up to half of their bone mass. Some medications may contribute to a higher risk of bone loss, such as glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones, anticonvulsants, antacids containing aluminum and heparin. Calcium and Vitamin D can play a role in preventing osteoporosis, since calcium is a mineral found in bone, and Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption in the body. Dietary sources of calcium, such as dairy products, green leafy vegetables, almonds and dried beans are absorbed best. Many calcium fortified foods are available, such as orange juice and breads which are good sources of calcium. In addition to a calcium rich diet, weight bearing exercise plays a critical role in slowing the bone loss associated with osteoporosis. Regular exercise also helps to reduce the incidence of fractures since older people who exercise are stronger, have a better sense of balance and more agility, making falls less likely.
Depression is a serious illness which affects women twice as frequently as men. While everyone experiences a “down” mood now and then, clinical depression is when a person exhibits 3-5 or more symptoms persistently for more than two weeks. Some of the symptoms include the following: sad or depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, fatigue, diminished ability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, restlessness, indecisiveness, recurrent thoughts of death or attempted suicide. Risk factors for clinical depression include genetics, biochemistry, environmental stressors and other psychological factors. Depression often accompanies the onset of menopause and may be associated with a decline in estrogen levels. There are many treatment options for women suffering from depression, including drug therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Hormone Replacement Therapy and the use of herbs or supplements such as St. John’s Wort. It is also important for women suffering from depression to have a support network of friends or family.
Autoimmune Diseases are another group of disorders that affect mostly women, especially women in their childbearing years. The role of the healthy immune system is to attack foreign cells in the body, such as viruses and bacteria. However, in autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues, particularly connective tissue, nerves, muscles, endocrine system and digestive system. There are over 80 known autoimmune diseases. Some of the more common ones are Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Grave’s Disease (overactive thyroid) and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (underactive thyroid). In many cases of autoimmune diseases, patients will undergo periods of remission, where few or no symptoms are present and will also have recurring flare-ups of symptoms. It is unknown why some women’s bodies have an autoimmune response, but it is thought that a combination of genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Treatment of symptoms varies with the particular disease.
Despite these 5 hot topics in women’s health, many women are living long, healthy, disease-free lives. Those women who do suffer from disease have many treatment options available to them, including alternative therapies that may not have been used years ago. It is always important for a woman to listen to her body for signs that something is not right, and then to follow up with a health care practitioner. A healthful diet, frequent exercise and regular health exams are all critical components of a woman’s healthy lifestyle.
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