Other disorders and conditions that affect only women include Turner syndrome, Rett syndrome, and ovarian and neck cancers. Issues related to women's overall health and well-being include violence against women, women with disabilities and their unique challenges, osteoporosis and bone health, and menopause. While both men and women get a variety of conditions, some health problems affect women differently and more commonly. In addition, many women's health conditions go undiagnosed and most drug trials don't include women being tested.
Still, women have unique health problems, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, menopause, and pregnancy. Women suffer more deaths from heart attack compared to men. Depression and anxiety occur more frequently among female patients. Urinary tract conditions occur more often in women, and sexually transmitted diseases can cause more harm to women.
Among the most common conditions in women, the following eight diseases pose significant health risks. In the United States, heart disease causes one in four deaths among women. Although the public considers heart disease to be a common problem among men, the condition affects men and women almost equally. However, only 54 percent of women realize that heart disease is the top health condition that threatens.
In the United States, 49 percent of all consumers suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoke; factors that contribute to heart disease. Breast cancer, which normally originates in the lining of galactophore ducts, can spread to other organs and is the most aggressive cancer affecting the world's female population. The condition occurs more frequently among female populations in developed countries because of its long lifespan. Initially, women with breast cancer may develop breast lumps.
Most breast lumps aren't threatening, but it's important for women to have each lumps checked by a care provider. Many people don't know the differences between ovarian cancer and cervical cancer. Cervical cancer starts in the lower part of the uterus, while ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tubes. While both conditions cause similar pain, cervical cancer also causes discharge and pain during sex.
Endometriosis is a problem that affects a woman's uterus, the place where the baby grows when the woman is pregnant. Endometriosis occurs when the type of tissue that normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else. May grow in the ovaries, behind the uterus, in the intestines, or in the bladder. Rarely does it grow on other parts of the body.
This “stray” tissue can cause pain, infertility, and heavy periods. Pain is usually in the abdomen, lower back, or pelvic areas. Some women don't have any symptoms, and having trouble getting pregnant may be the first sign that they have endometriosis. Uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing potential.
Fibroids are made up of muscle cells and other tissues that grow in and around the wall of the uterus or uterus. The cause of fibroids is unknown. Risk factors include being African American or being overweight. Symptoms of fibroids include: CDC provides information and educational materials for women and health care providers to raise awareness of the top five gynecological cancers.
Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that originates in a woman's reproductive organs. Gynecologic cancers begin in different places inside a woman's pelvis, which is the area below the stomach and between the hip bones. While women are prone to many of the same health problems as men, there are certain problems that affect women exclusively or predominantly. Disorders that affect women exclusively include menopause, postpartum depression, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Women are also more likely to suffer from depression than men, and for different reasons. It's important to understand these important women's health issues so you can take control of your own health care. Preventive care is the best way to stay healthy, and by being aware of the signs and symptoms of women's health problems before they develop, you can stay healthy longer. All women go through menopause, usually after their childbearing years have passed.
Menopause simply means that the body's reproductive system is no longer in the phase where it releases eggs for fertilization or builds a home for a potential fetus in the uterine wall. The ovaries stop releasing eggs during menopause, so there is no reason for the uterus to build up or shed the lining of blood and mucus that causes menstrual flow. Postpartum depression occurs immediately or soon after a woman gives birth. While it's normal for women to feel sad or even depressed after giving birth or having a miscarriage, postpartum depression is severe and lasts for months.
Even women who are excited about having a baby and have enough family support can develop postpartum depression. It's important to remember that if you experience the symptoms of postpartum depression, it doesn't mean you don't love your child. Mothers suffering from postpartum depression may find it difficult to bond with their newborn child and feel a sense of helplessness. This is common, but it is a serious problem that requires medical treatment.
PMDD, commonly confused with less severe PMS, is a condition that causes severe anxiety, depression, discomfort, pain, and tension before menstruation. It is estimated that between 3 and 8 percent of women of childbearing potential experience PMDD. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a serious condition that can cause significant discomfort to a woman before her period. The depression that accompanies PMDD is often severe and, in some cases, debilitating.
Depression occurs when a person feels a sense of lethargy, apathy, boredom, sadness, or general malaise for a significant period of time. While it's normal to have periods of depression throughout life, periods of depression that last longer than six weeks are indicative of a more serious problem. Contrary to popular belief, many people with depression aren't sad at all. In fact, they may have trouble feeling any emotion.
A common sign of depression is losing interest in things you used to enjoy. Of the Millions of Americans Suffering from Depression, 70 Percent of Them Are Women. One possible reason for this is that women tend to be caregivers, and the added burden of looking after the well-being of elderly parents, children and others can lead to feelings of helplessness. Others feel overwhelmed, which can also lead to depression.
Women's health problems can cause numerous emotional side effects, especially soon after diagnosis. If you or a loved one has received a recent diagnosis of a women's health problem, it's important to find a good support network. You may experience emotional symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and lethargy, all of which are common reactions to a recently discovered health problem. Mental health instability is a serious problem with both long-term and short-term effects.
In the short term, the affected person may exhibit erratic behavior or lose appetite. In the long term, deep depression and anxiety begin to appear and friends and family notice permanent personality changes. Antidepressants are some of the most common prescriptions prescribed for women's health problems, as they can be used to treat postpartum depression, general depression, PMDD, and certain menopausal symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is also frequently prescribed for women suffering from perimenopause.
Women are 70 percent more likely to experience severe clinical depression than men. Postpartum depression is a common form of depression in women, but depression can be triggered by many factors at any age. Even if you never experienced depression as a teenager, you may develop symptoms of severe clinical depression later in life. Women who notice symptoms of depression that last longer than six weeks should consult their doctor about possible treatment options for their health problems.
That is why WHO is working so hard to strengthen health systems and ensure that countries have strong funding systems and a sufficient number of well-trained and motivated health workers. Women's health problems are often misunderstood, and many women don't get the medical care they need and deserve because there simply isn't enough information available to them. Understanding your body is key, says Mark, senior medical advisor for the Office of Women's Health at the U. Helping to sensitize women to mental health issues and giving them the confidence to seek help is vital.
The real problem lies in premature death and disability, says Cindy Pearson, executive director of the National Women's Health Network. Pregnant women who are HIV-positive can work with their healthcare providers to ensure that their babies don't get HIV during pregnancy, delivery, or after delivery (through breast milk). The National Institute of Mental Health reports that about 12 million women are affected by a depressive disorder each year, compared to approximately 6 million men. CDC provides information and educational materials for women and health care providers to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer.
To take control of your health, it's important to first understand the various health problems that affect women at different stages of life. Combine the higher risk of poverty with other conditions of old age, such as dementia, and older women are also at greater risk of abuse and, in general, ill health. To make full use of this information, Saralyn Mark, MD, encourages women to take charge of their health. Two important factors influencing women's health, namely, girls' school enrolment rates and increased political participation by women, have increased in many parts of the world.
This means not only setting goals and indicators, but catalyzing commitments in terms of policies, funding and action, to ensure that the future brings health to all women and girls, whoever they are, wherever they live. Most STDs affect both men and women, but in many cases the health problems they cause may be more serious for women. . .
