Important Issues Related to Women’s Health
Whether you’re pregnant or a seasoned mother of two, there are many important issues related to women’s health that you should know about. Some of the topics covered include breast cancer, heart disease, sexual health, and more.
Breast cancer
Among females, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. It is estimated that in the United States, one woman out of eight will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. However, early detection and advances in treatment have dramatically increased the survival rates of this disease.
Risk factors for developing breast cancer include family history, genetics, and environmental influences. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can also increase the risk of this disease.
A diagnosis of breast cancer is made based on a complete medical examination and a biopsy specimen. This procedure can include invasive diagnostic tests, such as a guided core biopsy or surgical excision of the suspected lesion. Noninvasive screening tests, such as mammograms and ultrasound, can detect cancerous lesions before they become invasive.
Invasive breast cancer is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs and liver. The first site of spread is usually the lymph nodes under the arm.
The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in a tiny milk gland lobule. Invasive tumors can then spread to nearby lymph nodes and distant organs, such as the brain.
The current 5-year survival rate for females with breast cancer is 90%. The rate has improved significantly in the last two decades.
Heart disease
Among women in the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. More than 300,000 women die each year due to this disease.
There are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of having heart disease. Those risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, and a family history of early heart disease. Some women develop heart disease even if they have no symptoms.
Taking action to prevent and manage heart disease is an important part of your health plan. You should consult with a doctor or other health professional to learn more about your heart health and what steps you can take to keep yourself healthy.
When you have a heart attack, it’s important to get immediate medical help. You should call 911 within five minutes. This will increase your chances of survival and limit the damage to your heart.
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment for heart disease can vary. This depends on the severity of the symptoms you have. You may be given medication or a procedure.
While it’s not a surefire way to prevent heart disease, you can make small changes to your lifestyle that will decrease your risk of the disease.
High blood pressure
Getting diagnosed with high blood pressure can be a frustrating process. It can take multiple doctor visits, multiple tests, and even more medications. Fortunately, the condition is treatable. Keeping your pressure under control will decrease your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently announced new guidelines for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure. These changes did not affect people already diagnosed with the condition. The new recommendations are meant to reduce the number of cases of hypertension.
The main risk factor for high blood pressure is age. However, other factors, such as obesity and regular smoking, also increase the risk of developing hypertension.
Women are more likely to develop hypertension than men. It is common for men to develop the condition before they reach their mid-forties. This is because men have larger arteries than women. When the walls of the arteries become narrow, it can restrict the blood flow to the heart.
If you are a woman, you can lower your blood pressure by making lifestyle changes. For example, avoid heavy alcohol consumption, eat a Mediterranean-style diet, and exercise.
You should also keep track of your blood pressure numbers. Your healthcare professional can recommend the best ways to keep your pressure under control.
Infertility
Whether you have been trying to conceive for years or you are just beginning your journey, infertility and women’s health can be a difficult combination. It can cause feelings of inadequacy, shame, and frustration, and affect your physical, mental, and emotional health.
There are many factors that may be contributing to your infertility. For instance, your medical history, lifestyle habits, and environmental chemicals can all contribute to your infertility. There are treatments available for some of these issues, such as medicines, surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies. However, the remaining third of infertility problems are due to unknown causes.
Despite being considered one of the most important reproductive health problems, infertility has received relatively little research attention in population studies. Those studies have been primarily focused on disparities between African-American and Caucasian women.
The United States is a large country with a diverse population. There are significant disparities in access to care. Despite insurance coverage, Hispanic and African-American women are significantly underrepresented in infertility services.
In addition to the medical crisis that infertility can create, it can also lead to financial hardship. It can also put a strain on your relationship. In some cases, it can also lead to a breakup, separation, or divorce.
Postmenopausal diseases
During menopause, women experience many physiological changes that raise their risk of certain diseases. They also experience hormonal fluctuations that affect their energy, sleep, and concentration. It’s important for women to get the support they need to cope with this change in life.
One of the leading causes of death in women is coronary artery disease. However, the disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise. In addition, women who are in the early stages of menopause may be at greater risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
During this time, women’s cardiovascular risk increases due to low levels of HDL cholesterol and a rise in LDL cholesterol. This increase in heart disease risk also leads to increased rates of osteoporosis and fractures.
The best way to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease is to prevent it by maintaining a healthy diet and not smoking. In addition, exercise is a great way to keep your heart and brain healthy. During post-menopause, you can start to increase your bone density by performing weight-bearing exercises.
During post-menopause, you’ll likely experience symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. These symptoms may interfere with your daily activities and can be uncomfortable. You can minimize their impact by using menopause treatments to improve your quality of life.
Sexual Health
Providing age and gender-appropriate sexual health care is important to women’s health. In addition, young women are more at risk than men for certain STIs. However, they may be unaware of this threat. The USPSTF recommends Pap smears every three years starting at age 21. Typically, STI and HIV tests are covered without cost sharing in private plans under the ACA’s preventive services coverage requirements.
In addition to the physical changes involved, sexuality also includes emotional and mental factors. These can impact how a person behaves in a sexual situation. Understanding the attitudes and expectations of others is an important step toward a better understanding of healthy sexuality.
For all Canadians, sexual health education should be a priority. This is especially true for adolescents, who are at increased risk for STIs. While adolescent knowledge about STIs is generally high, adolescent knowledge in other areas is deficient.
The most common STI in Canada is chlamydia. This condition can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy. Approximately one in four women reports having an HIV test in the past two years.
Despite the availability of reversible contraceptives, such as condoms, only 14% of sexually active women use these. Title X clinics provide full-service contraceptive options for low-income clients.
Struggle for access to abortion
Throughout most of the world, women’s access to safe and legal abortion is restricted. Restrictions on reproductive bodily autonomy have long been used as a means of oppression and control.
However, research has shown that access to safe and legal abortion is linked to better first-order health outcomes. It is also critical for improved maternal health. In fact, 13 percent of maternal deaths worldwide are due to unsafe abortions.
As a result, abortion continues to be an important part of comprehensive health care. While the rate of unintended pregnancy has decreased since the 1970s, major disparities remain among low-income women. Those who do not have insurance coverage face a costly and time-consuming struggle to obtain an abortion.
Many of these women also live in rural areas or in other communities where access to reproductive health care is limited. Restrictions on insurance coverage, particularly for Medicaid patients, can increase inequities between women of different income levels and geographic regions.
In the United States, the rate of unintended pregnancy among low-income women is five times higher than that of women with high incomes. In 2011, approximately 112 per 1,000 women of childbearing age had an unwanted pregnancy. Those who cannot afford to pay for an abortion may be forced to carry a pregnancy to term.
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Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
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