4 Common Women's Health Issues You Need to Know About
While both sexes have a number of health issues with which they should be concerned, there are a number of diseases that affect women both disproportionately and more severely. This is made more problematic by the facts that many of these diseases go undiagnosed and clinical trials for drugs to treat these ailments often exclude women as test subjects. It is important for all women to have a good understanding of the four conditions below.
Osteoporosis
According to studies, women possess less bone mass than men, and the gap gets wider with age. These factors combine to place women at a much greater risk to one day suffer from osteoporosis. Studies show one in two women will suffer from osteoporosis after the age of 50. The bones for a woman suffering from osteoporosis possess less mass and are structured abnormally. This condition makes the bones much more susceptible to breaking.
You can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis by eating a nutritious diet, participate in exercises that strengthen bones, get an adequate supply of vitamin D, and avoid both drinking and smoking. Magnesium and vitamin K supplements can also be useful to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
UTI's
A urinary tract infection can affect any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, or ureters. These infections can range in severity from a mild discomfort present in the bladder to a life-threatening infection that affects the kidneys.
Urinary tract infections do not always come with symptoms, but some possible symptoms include burning sensations during urination, small amounts of urine, cloudy urine, and urine with a pink or red tint to it. If you believe you have a urinary tract infection you will want to see a doctor as you will need antibiotics. MD Proactive warns that untreated urinary tract infections can cause complications such as cystitis and pyelonephritis.
Heart Disease
Texas Heart Institute reports that heart disease is no longer considered a disease that affects just men. In the past, women usually received less aggressive treatment for heart disease and were not referred for diagnostic tests as often. As a result, when many women were finally diagnosed with heart disease, they usually had more advanced disease and their prognosis was poorer. We now know that cardiovascular diseases affect more women than men and are responsible for more than 40% of all deaths in American women. While heart disease is also prevalent among men, it is important to raise awareness among women as only a little more than half of the women in the country know heart disease is the top risk to their health. Factors contributing to heart disease are high levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking.
Anxiety and Depression
According to the ADAA, the natural hormonal fluctuations experienced by women make them extremely susceptible to depression and anxiety. A few of these hormonal issues are premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, and postpartum depression. Women can also find themselves feeling depressed after the hormonal changes that accompany menopause.
A number of diseases affect women more often and with great severity than their male counterparts. The four issues above are common health issues all women should become knowledgeable about.
Everyone wants to live a happy and healthy life, so that’s why we at EVOQ Beauty want to help women find their best selves. We want to create a beauty environment free from toxins and hormone imbalances. That’s our promise to you!