There is a growing awareness of the need to invest more funding into women’s health in general, given the knowledge that women have historically been excluded from studies, trials and investment into better health outcomes overall, versus men. This is an encouraging sign of a trend moving in the right direction.
But a great deal of crucial information gets overlooked due to unusual symptoms, social stigma, or plain lack of knowledge. If women are aware of the risks, recognize the symptoms, and take preventive measures, they can safeguard their health and reduce long-term issues. Let’s discuss some pressing health issues that require us to be more aware and take timely action.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Lung Cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma lung cancer or SCC is a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and accounts for about 25% to 30% of overall NSCLCs. It’s closely associated with smoking. While some other lung cancers develop in the outer parts of the lungs, SCC develops in the central bronchi, resulting in symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough, and even coughing up blood.
Squamous cell carcinoma has been found to be a more common pathological type in men (99% compared to 93.1% in women), but the adenocarcinoma cases are more common in women compared to men.
Early diagnosis remains difficult since symptoms, like fatigue, hoarseness, or frequent pneumonia are only present when cancer has advanced. The best preventative intervention is smoking cessation since stopping at any age reduces the rate of cancer spread and enhances the outcome of therapy. Multimodal therapies involving radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy are available and usually prescribed based on the stage and genetic features of the cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women worldwide, yet its presentation is different in women compared to men. While chest pain is frequent, women experience subtle symptoms, including jaw or neck pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and inexplicable fatigue.
Hormonal changes in menopause can enhance risk factors since waning estrogen levels compromise vascular integrity and make women susceptible to hypertension and atherosclerosis. Issues related to pregnancy, such as preeclampsia may also raise your risk of CVD, making postpartum monitoring crucial.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for lowering your risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, you must engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week. It could be anything from brisk walking to muscle-strengthening activities. At the same time, pay attention to dietary modification, like reducing salt intake and increasing foods like salmon to get more omega-3 fatty acids – these foods also help improve arterial flexibility, which plays a big role in keeping CVD at bay.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes your bones to become porous and fragile. The condition affects more than 50% of post-menopausal women over 50, leading to fractured bones due to low density. The lower level of estrogen is the biggest factor accelerating bone resorption, but the condition gets worse when you don’t take enough calcium or have a sedentary lifestyle.
The issue is that early-stage osteoporosis doesn’t exhibit any symptoms, and the condition is usually already advanced by the time you notice signs like stooped posture, height loss, or spontaneous fractures.
It’s important to be proactive because you need to optimize your peak bone mass, starting from the age of 30. This can be achieved through weight-bearing exercises, like resistance training and adolescent nutrition. Ideally, you should take at least 1,200mg of calcium every day, mainly through fortified plant milks, leafy greens, or supplements, which should be paired with at least 600 IU of vitamin D to improve absorption.
Take Charge of your Health
Learning about the most common women’s health issues and early intervention can help prevent various conditions. Prioritizing regular health screenings and sticking to a preventive lifestyle will increase your chances of staying healthy. That’s the only way to avoid these silent yet devastating conditions.
