Women are an integral part of human society. No ritual is ever complete without the presence of a woman by her Man’s side. As women are half of any given nation’s population, productivity is lowered when women’s health is poor. Over the decades, her changing role from the nurturer to a breadwinner re-emphasises her health matters. Understanding her health needs is the easiest strategy of prevention. Prevention means early diagnosis and timely intervention.
A woman’s health does not refer only to her physical condition but her emotional and mental wellbeing too. It refers to the branch of medicine which focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and conditions which affect a woman’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Healthy living takes a back seat in many a woman’s lives. It is time to increase awareness about women’s disease and encourage women to reach out for their health concerns.
COMMON WOMEN’S DISEASES
BREAST CANCER: It occurs almost entirely in women and 1 in 12 women are at risk of developing cancers at some point in their life. The most significant risk factor is being a woman and ageing. An early suspicion with a self-breast examination is the best way to beat it.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: Despite being a preventable disease. Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death among women. Factors such as diabetes, emotional stress and depression, smoking, menopause, pregnancy complications, inflammatory diseases and those with a family history of early heart disease can increase the risk of developing heart disease in women. They are likely to experience symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating/pain in one or both arms. A regular health check-up and physician’s opinion is a step away. Also, one can prevent it by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.
OSTEOPOROSIS: Women tend to lose bone mass more rapidly with age leading to osteoporosis. With menopause, there is a drop in oestrogen and this is more obvious at that time. Increasing calcium intake, proper maintenance of vitamin D levels and regular exercise can offset these risks.
MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES: Menarche to menopause, if you’re a woman, you will have to eventually deal with it. A woman could easily become overwhelmed worrying about her hormones in silence. A healthy lifestyle is crucial and a visit to your obstetrician in this regard would be ideal.
DEPRESSION: Studies have shown that more women are diagnosed with depression as compared to men. Negative life experiences infertility/gender inequality, isolation, physiological transition as pregnancy/motherhood and menopause impact on women’s mental health and wellbeing. Voicing aloud can be a stitch in time.
URINARY INFECTION: A shorter urethra in a woman decreases the length of the bacteria travels to reach the bladder. Hence UTI and incontinence are more common in women. A bladder infection may cause pelvic pain, increased urge to urinate, pain with urination and blood in the urine. Taking a sick day and ensuring adequate hydration could be crucial in the first 24 hours.
DIABETES: Not only is diabetes different for women it’s different among women. It increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases by about four times in women and has worse outcomes of a heart attack. Women with diabetes have more to manage and to expect and to stay on track with their clinicians in close quarters.
HEALTH TESTS RECOMMENDED FOR WOMEN
It is vital for women to undergo health check-ups and follow-ups to help identify the risk and prevent the development of many ailments. Recommended health tests for women are breast and pelvic examination, bone density test, thyroid test, vitamin D test, lipid profile, blood sugar evaluation and cardiac check-up/Pap smear. Be proactive! Consult experts when in doubt. Eat healthily, be active, manage stress and supplement wisely. A priority-driven approach both by the society and self can achieve a sustained healthy woman of tomorrow.
The writer is Lead Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster CMI Hospital.