You know when you feel good and when you don’t feel well. Well, understanding your body is the key. In this era, it is essential that women take charge of their own bodies and comprehend how they can maximize their health and fitness. From heart disease to breast cancer to depression and arthritis, women are at high risk for these health problems but may not know it
There are a few things that a woman usually shares with her female friends or moms, women health problems in particular. Here are 8 women health problems that women are usually concerned about.
1. Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer is one of the growing problems and most common cancer in women. Though the cause of breast cancer is unknown, it is assumed that genetic or hormonal factors are the primary causes of breast cancer. Other factors that contribute to the risk of breast cancer are family history of breast cancer, age, late menopause and starting menstruation at an early age and being overweight after menopause. Here are the signs of breast cancer women shouldn’t ignore.
2. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Female reproductive health is the crucial concern for women. Sexual and reproductive health problems are responsible for one third of health issues for women between the ages of 15 and 44 years, one of them is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This condition causes small cysts to form on the ovaries during ovulation which increases male sex hormones leading to, decreased breast size, increased facial hair growth, acne etc. This may also cause reduced chances of conceiving.
3. Thyroid Disorder
Your thyroid produces thyroid hormone, which controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. Thyroid diseases cause it to make either too much or too little of the hormone. Depending on how much or how little hormone your thyroid makes, you may often feel restless or tired, or you may lose or gain weight. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after menopause. Read more about the symptoms of thyroid disorder.
4. Obesity/ Overweight
Weight gain in women differs from that of men. There are many reasons why women put on the pounds. Some of the causes for weight gain in women are:
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Stress
- Depression
- Birth control
- Not eating enough
Here are some simple weight loss tips for overweight women.
5. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
One of the most common female health problems is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Abdominal cramps, bloating, breast tenderness or swelling, muscle pain, constipation, acne along with emotional and psychological symptoms; such as mood swings, anxiety and depression are some of the PMS symptoms that usually occur one to two weeks prior the periods. Alterations in lifestyle can bring a significant difference in your health such as stress reduction, healthy diet plan and exercising.
6. Arthritis and Osteoporosis
These are the common women diseases which occur when women run out of vitamin D in their body. Women require certain essential nutrients such as folic acid, iron and most importantly calcium during various stages in their life. Vitamin D deficiency is usually caused by low exposure to sunlight. Low dietary vitamin D is another potential cause. Here are some simple ways to increase vitamin D.
7. Heart Disease in Women
Another leading women health problem is cardiovascular disease. According to a research the signs and symptoms of heart disease usually go misdiagnosed in female patients. More women die due to heart attack than cervical cancer or breast cancer. Some of the potent factors to be blamed are hectic schedules, stress and increased instances of smoking. Other factors such as use of oral contraceptives, irregular meal-time, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and inactivity are taking a toll as well. If left untreated, the disease can lead to heart attack and stroke.
8. Depression
Physically debilitating and an emotionally painful condition, depression, effects more women than men. There could be multiple reasons such as trauma, love, grief, relationship troubles, genetic, obesity, etc. Hormonal changes, particularly after pregnancy or around menopause, can trigger the condition. This is an added risk factor for women.
