10 Health Conditions That Are More Common for Women

Women and men are created with fundamental differences underlying the foundation of each gender. An example of that is the significant difference in skin structure in both genders. When it comes to health and to disease prevention, it is important to know that there are health conditions that are more prevalent in the female population. The first step women can take towards preventing these issues is to understand the cause and effect of each condition and apply the relevant strategy to counter its damaging effects. As the saying goes, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

Potential Threats

•    Heart Disease

Based on statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately every 3 out of 10 female deaths are caused by heart diseases. It is the leading cause of death for both genders, with women belonging to the higher risk group. The dangers of heart attack symptoms in women are constantly underestimated by women as most perceive cancer as the leading cause of death.

•    Various Types of Cancer

Following closely behind, cancer is responsible for 22% of the total deaths among women. Around 270,000 of female deaths are due to various types of cancer. Interestingly, breast cancer does not occupy the top position for the numbers of deaths. This accolade belongs to lung cancer, which can be brought on by excessive smoking. Breast cancer comes in at second place. The silver lining is that preventive measures can be taken to ward off these diseases. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of developing lung cancer significantly, while regular check-ups can help to detect early signs of breast cancer, increasing the chances of effective treatment and making a full recovery.

•    Depression

The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, United States, provides data that shows a distinct gender bias within families has resulted in higher rates of depression in women. It is believed that the female population are approximately 50% more at risk of depression when compared to men. Other factors that contribute to this prevalence include hormonal changes, excessive stress, childhood neglect or abuse, and lifestyle factors.

•    Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that affects more than 4.5 million Americans each year. The female population makes up more than half of this number, inevitably leading to more deaths. This disease can disguise itself in the form of symptoms commonly associated with old age, such as general confusion and forgetfulness. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it gradually leads to irreversible mental impairment.

•    Stroke

Due to the difference in body structure between both genders, women are exposed to a higher risk of stroke. While certain risk factors for stroke are shared between men and women, other risk factors are unique to the female population only. These factors include pregnancy, taking birth control pills, frequent migraine, thick waist, and high triglyceride levels.

•    Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are a group of conditions where the immune system attacks the body and modifies the structure of tissues. There are more than 80 chronic illnesses, some of them better known to the general public such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) states that women account for ¾ of all cases of autoimmune diseases. In general, hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors play an active role towards this phenomenon.

•    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

This specific category of diseases affects the lungs and airways. Similar to lung cancer, it is mainly caused by smoking, and it involves emphysema and bronchitis as well. Women first overtook men as the majority sufferers of COPD in 2000, and statistics have been going on an upward trend ever since. It is estimated that 64,000 women die from this condition every year.

•    Maternal Health

Naturally, maternal health affects the female population only. Slightly more than 300,000 of female deaths was due to complications experienced during pregnancy or childbirth. While these deaths could have been easily avoided if not for the lack of adequate medical attention, the health industry has made drastic improvements into offering instantaneous healthcare for pregnant women. Although the number of deaths still present a staggering figure, it has been on a uniform decrease over the past decade.

•    Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Sexually transmitted diseases can affect the global population with no discrimination towards gender. However, the difficulty in detecting STDs in women contribute to its prevalence among this gender group. It has been reported that at least 24,000 women suffer from infertility due to untreated STDs on a yearly basis.

•    Eating Disorders

Perhaps the latest entry to this list is eating disorders. Largely influenced by the sociocultural aspects of modern society, women are more susceptible to developing a negative self-image and poor self-esteem. With unrealistic standards of beauty constantly plastered across advertising boards, many women develop eating disorders in their bid to emulate these standards. The most common types of eating disorders include bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. While mostly treatable, death may result in severe cases.

Conclusion

Creating awareness of the most prevalent health conditions amongst the female population is helpful in highlighting the importance of engaging in a proactive mindset. With adequate knowledge of these risks, women are more equipped to protect themselves, increasing their chances of a longer lifespan. More importantly, women are able to conduct self-evaluation and determine if they require medical attention. Ultimately, total prevention and early detection exponentially increase the effectiveness of treatment methods in most cases.

References:

http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/statistical_reports.htm

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471577

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/womenshealth/conditioninfo/pages/howconditions.aspx

http://www.dualdiagnosis.org/mental-health-and-addiction/common-issues-women/